Author Archives: dcaligari

Time waits for no one

October 16, 1974 –The Rolling Stones release their the 12th British (and 14th American) studio album, It’s Only Rock N’ Roll, on this date. It’s Only Rock ‘n Roll was an important transitional album for the Rolling Stones. Following the departure of long-time producer Jimmy Miller, the album was self-produced by guitarist Keith Richards andContinue reading “Time waits for no one”

Was 1 a good year?

October 16, 1966 – The film adaptation of the Stephen Sondheim musical, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, directed by Richard Lester and starring Zero Mostel, Jack Gilford, Phil Silvers, Buster Keaton, Michael Crawford, Michael Hordern, and Roy Kinnear premiered on this date. Stephen Sondheim was reportedly so upset with theContinue reading “Was 1 a good year?”

The original Gilligan’s Island pilot finally aired

October 16, 1992 – The pilot for Gilligan’s Island was finally aired – 28 years after the series began. Although the pilot was filmed in 1963, because of cast changes, it wasn’t aired this date. The pilot’s cast differed from the series with Kit Smythe as Ginger, John Gabriel as the high school science teacher/professor,Continue reading “The original Gilligan’s Island pilot finally aired”

Oscar Fingal O’Fflahertie Wills Wilde

October 16, 1854 –Today is the birthday of Oscar Wilde – known for his barbed wit, one of the most successful playwrights of late Victorian London, and among the greatest celebrities of his day. Between bouts of sparkling repartee and posing for his Sodomite Trading Card photo, he somehow found time to write the followingContinue reading “Oscar Fingal O’Fflahertie Wills Wilde”

We should be thinking more about how to die than how to live.

Tell the old ladies in the back of the church that it’s the feast day of your favorite saint – they’ll be duly impressed: Saint Teresa of Ávila (I mention her at least twice a year). She’s also known as the Roving Nun (not to be confused with the Wandering Nun, the Meandering Nun, orContinue reading “We should be thinking more about how to die than how to live.”

You can still tune in to her somewhere

October 15, 1951 –A former starlet convinced the alcoholic, womanizing head of a television network to run the TV version of her somewhat successful radio program. I Love Lucy, the television situation comedy, starring Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz, also featuring Vivian Vance and William Frawley, went on to run on CBS for 181 episodesContinue reading “You can still tune in to her somewhere”

The Cincinnati Kid premiered

October 15, 1965 – The poker playing version of The Hustler, The Cincinnati Kid, directed by Norman Jewison, and starring Steve McQueen, Ann-Margret, Karl Malden, Tuesday Weld, Edward G. Robinson, Joan Blondell, Rip Torn, and Cab Calloway opened in New Orleans on this date. Mitzi Gaynor campaigned for the role of Lady Fingers, but itContinue reading “The Cincinnati Kid premiered”

Let’s put a new coat of paint

October 15, 1974 –Tom Waits releases his second album, The Heart of Saturday Night, on this date, written as a tribute to Beat novelist Jack Kerouac. Speaking before the first-ever performance of the title song, which appeared on radio station KFPK, Waits said it was a tribute to “Kerouacians,” meaning fans of American novelist JackContinue reading “Let’s put a new coat of paint”