Author Archives: dcaligari

October 26, 1959 –A gentle and yet still relevant Cold War comedy, The Mouse that Roared, opened in the US on this date. While filming, Peter Sellers was acting on stage in the comedy Brouhaha, which also dealt with a mythical kingdom whose ruler develops an outlandish plot to secure U.S. aid. Five days aContinue reading “The Mouse that Roared debuted”

October 26, 1970 –Elton John released his first hit single Your Song, on this date. This was one of the first songs John wrote with Bernie Taupin. They met after a record company gave John some of Taupin’s lyrics to work with. Eventually, they both moved into John’s parents’ house, where they started working together.

October 26, 1965 –Queen Elizabeth decorated The Beatles with the Order of the British Empire, at Buckingham Palace, on this date. The Beatles, ever polite, allowed Her Majesty to add chintz curtains and tufted sofas in their living rooms.

October 25, 1986 –For the first time in the Billboard Chart’s history, the top three positions are all held by solo female artists: No. 1 was Cyndi Lauper’s single True Colors, Lauper’s good friend Gregory Natal had recently died of AIDS when Lauper heard the demo of the song. She was thinking of Natal whenContinue reading “A trifecta of hits”

October 25, 1982 –Bob Newhart’s second successful-sitcom Newhart, premiered on CBS-TV on this date. The show was videotaped in the first season, but later episodes were filmed. It was Bob Newhart’s idea to begin using film from season two onward in order to give the show a more realistic look.

October 25, 1975 –Quite arguably the funniest episode ever broadcast on network TV, The Mary Tyler Moore Show – Chuckles Bites the Dust first aired on this date. This episode culminates in a funeral for a clown that becomes a celebration of his life and career. There is an annual festival of clowns known asContinue reading “A little seltzer down your pants”

Not that we’re counting: but there are 6 days until Halloween. Make sure you have enough apples and razor blades, there are 10 days until the general election. You may have to save some of those razor blades for yourself. (Early voting starts today.) There are 33 days until Thanksgiving. Hopefully the government will reopen,Continue reading “Time’s a-wasting”

‘Reason alone cannot give you a whole steak, but it sure helps with identifying bologna’. – Peter Kreeft Mitch Hedberg said that, “Bologna is a deli meat for people with eyes.” It was funny when he said it but it still doesn’t quite make sense. Just don’t ask how they make it.