On the way home

July 21, 1969 –Apollo 11 astronauts Neil Armstrong and Edwin “Buzz” Aldrin blasted off from the Moon after twenty-one and a half hours on the surface and returned to the command module piloted by Michael Collins on this date. The lunar module’s lower section, left behind, has a plaque mounted upon it, reading, “Here menContinue reading “On the way home”

UHF premiered

July 21, 1989 –Orion Pictures‘ comedy UHF, (written by and) starring Weird Al Yankovic, David Bowe, Fran Drescher, Victoria Jackson, Kevin McCarthy, Michael Richards, Gedde Watanabe, Kevin McCarthy, Anthony Geary, Emo Philips and Trinidad Silva opened in US theatres on this date. The soundtrack features many of Yankovic’s signature song parodies, as well as aContinue reading “UHF premiered”

Stormy Weather premiered

July 21, 1943 –Twentieth Century Fox’s musical spectacular, Stormy Weather, starring Lena Horne, Bill Robinson, Cab Calloway, Katherine Dunham, Fats Waller, Fayard Nicholas, Harold Nicholas, Ada Brown, and Dooley Wilson, opened in the US on this date. Two musical numbers were deleted from the release print: Good-for-Nothin’ Joe (music by Rube Bloom, lyrics by TedContinue reading “Stormy Weather premiered”

He did it without being on the juice, that’s all I’m saying

July 20, 1976 –Hank Aaron, considered one of the greatest players in Major League Baseball history, hit his last home run (#755) off the California Angels’ Dick Drago at Milwaukee County Stadium, on this date. He is perhaps most famous for breaking the record for career home runs, which he held until Barry Bonds toppedContinue reading “He did it without being on the juice, that’s all I’m saying”

Surf City topped the charts

July 20, 1963 –Jan and Dean’s single Surf City, co-written by Brian Wilson (who doesn’t know how to surf,) hits #1 on the Billboard Charts on this date. Brian Wilson was working with a few different artists at the time, including the girl group The Honeys. He was extremely productive during this period, emulating PhilContinue reading “Surf City topped the charts”

What do you know … it wasn’t made of cheese

July 20, 1969 –56 years ago today, in a live transmission from the Moon, viewed by 720 million people around the world, Neil Armstrong stepped foot onto the Moon. It was a brave thing to do (and unfortunately caused Buzz Aldrin to have his post-Apollo 11 period of alcoholism and depression.) It was also theContinue reading “What do you know … it wasn’t made of cheese”