Author Archives: dcaligari

August 16, 1940 – The first of Alfred Hitchcock’s war-time thrillers, Foreign Correspondent, starring Joel McCrea, Laraine Day and Herbert Marshall, opened on this date. Shooting was completed on May 29, 1940, after which director Alfred Hitchcock made a visit to England. He returned on July 3 with the word that the Germans were expectedContinue reading “Foreign Correspondent premiered”

Each year on August 16th, many people at amusement parks and theme parks across the country participating in National Roller Coaster Day which is celebrated on this date. J.G. Taylor received one of the earliest patents (US patent #128,674) for an inclined railway in 1872. In 1878, Richard Knudsen received a patent (US #198,888) forContinue reading “Throw your hands up and enjoy the ride”

Always remember: If you’re alone in the kitchen and you drop the lamb, you can always just pick it up.. It’s the 111th birthday of Julia Child – Chef, Spy, Philosopher and in my opinion, one of the greatest Americans of the last century. Besides Julia’s, today is the birthday of Napoleon Bonaparte (1769) RoseContinue reading “What were their folks doing on November 22 the year before”

August 15, 1965 – The Beatles played to nearly 60,000 fans at Shea Stadium in New York City, on this date, marking the birth of stadium rock. People tend to forget that this was one of the first major stadium concerts by a rock group.

While the Feast of Assumption of Mary, also known as the Dormition of the Mother of God, only became a Holy Day of Obligation recently – on November 1, 1950, Pope Pius XII defined the Assumption of Mary to be a dogma of faith. In fact, the Feast of the Assumption is one of theContinue reading “Today is the Feast of Assumption of Mary.”

August 15, 1979 –Neal Israel’s futuristic comedy film, Americathon, starring John Ritter, Fred Willard, Peter Riegert, Harvey Korman, and Nancy Morgan, with narration by George Carlin, premiered in the US on this date. Dorothy Stratten appears in an uncredited role wearing a Playboy Bunny style costume in the scene where Roy Budnitz donates blood.

August 15, 1979 – The very long delayed epic, Apocalypse Now, premiered in NYC on this date. (Order some Banh xeo and a couple of bottles of Tiger Beer, and watch the Redux version, in honor of the anniversary.) It took Francis Ford Coppola nearly three years to edit the footage. While working on hisContinue reading “Who’s in charge around here?”

August 15, 1918 –The Sinking of the Lusitania, written and directed by Winsor McCay, went into general release in the U.S. on this date. It is the first full-length feature cartoon documentary, featuring over twenty five thousand individual drawings which took twenty-two months to produce. The twelve minute silent film is a an educational explanationContinue reading “Ripped from the headlines”

August 15, 1981 –Diana Ross and Lionel Richie started a nine week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with Endless Love, on this date. This was released on the Motown label, which was home to both artists (the Commodores were a Motown act, and Richie stayed on the label as a solo artist).Continue reading “Endless Love topped the charts”

August 10, 1950 – Billy Wilder’s caustic, black-hearted masterpiece, Sunset Boulevard opened in New York City, on this date. The “Desmond mansion” was located not on Sunset Blvd. but at 641 S. Irving Blvd. on the corner of Crenshaw and Irving. It was built in 1924 by William Jenkins, at a cost of $250,000. ItsContinue reading “I’m ready for my close-up”