Author Archives: dcaligari

February 8, 1968 – Planet of The Apes opened in NYC on this date, confirming Charlton Heston’s position as one of the greatest “One Note Actors” of his generation. All the ape actors and extras were required to wear their masks even during breaks and in between shots because it took so much time toContinue reading “You Maniacs! You blew it up!”

February 8, 1975 –Ohio Players’ single Fire went to No. # 1 on the Billboard Charts on this date. Lead Ohio Player Leroy “Sugarfoot” Bonner, who also wrote the lyrics about getting hot for a smokin’ woman, recalled how the song came to life in the studio. “We were in the studio making tracks andContinue reading “The way you walk and talk really sets me off”

On February 7, 1863, English chemist John Newlands published one of the first tables of elements. Newlands divided the known 56 elements into 11 groups based on the “Law of Octaves.” His table suggested that anyone element will have similar properties to elements eight places before and behind it on the table. While this theoryContinue reading “National Periodic Table Day”

February 7, 1974 – Mel Brooks’ Blazing Saddles opened on this date. (One could not make this film again.) Hedy Lamarr sued Mel Brooks over the use of the name Hedley Lamarr and settled out of court. Brooks said he was flattered by this attention. The reference to suing Hedy Lamarr was from Harvey Korman’sContinue reading “Screw you, I work for Mel Brooks”

February 7, 1914 – Charlie Chaplin first appeared as The Tramp, in his first film Kid Auto Races at Venice which was released by Keystone Studios, on this date. The Tramp, as portrayed by Chaplin, was a bumbling but usually good-hearted character who was most famously presented as a vagrant who endeavors to behave withContinue reading “A character is born”

February 7, 1999 –Blondie went to No.1 on the UK singles chart with Maria, giving the group their sixth UK No.1 single, 20 years after their first No.1, Heart of Glass. This was Blondie’s comeback song – at the age of 54, lead singer Debbie Harry became the oldest female to make No.1 in theContinue reading “She moves like she don’t care”

February 7, 1964 – It was 62 years ago today, The Beatles arrived at JFK International Airport to begin their first tour of the United States. They helped bring about a social revolution whose effects can be felt to this day. They had nothing to declare but their genius. The Beatles came from Britain, sometimesContinue reading “Trust me – there’s a connection here”

February 6, 1965 –The Righteous Brothers song You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin’ hit No. # 1 on the Billboard charts on this date. The husband-and-wife songwriting team of Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil wrote this song at the request of Phil Spector, who was looking for a hit for an act he had just signedContinue reading “You never close your eyes anymore …”

February 6, 1966 – No amount of sweet tea, fresh hay or willing fillies could induce Bamboo Harvester (yes, I know he was a gelding,) to go on and the final episode of Mister Ed, Ed Goes to College aired on CBS TV on this date. Mister Ed’s ability to talk was never explained andContinue reading “You know they couldn’t put him out to stud”

can spring be far behind? We are halfway between the Winter Solstice and Spring Equinox, which is the scientifically correct way of saying it’s the middle of winter, such as it is in the Northeast. I used to hope that by the second half of Winter, we could coast to the start of Spring. GivenContinue reading “O, wind, if winter comes,”