I’ve heard that it’s 420 somewhere

Bunkies, if you or your kid cut school or work today, once again, lock up the snacks. They may come home with a case of the munchies. Be thankful though, they’re not out celebrating the anniversary of the birth of Klara Hitler’s bouncing baby little evil bastard named Adolf on this date in 1889, (smackContinue reading “I’ve heard that it’s 420 somewhere”

Beatles just want to have fun

April 20, 1976 –George Harrison, who is good friends with Eric Idle, joined Monty Python on stage at the comedy troupe’s show at New York’s City Center, on this date. Dressed as a Canadian Mountie, Harrison joins the chorus for The Lumberjack Song. No mention is made of Harrison’s appearance, and few in the audienceContinue reading “Beatles just want to have fun”

Freddie Remembered

April 20, 1992 – The life and music of Queen frontman Freddie Mercury, who died five months earlier following complications from AIDS, was celebrated in a star-studded concert, A Concert For Life, at London’s Wembley Stadium, on this date. Organized by Mercury’s bandmates, the event not only featured an array of luminaries (including Elton John,Continue reading “Freddie Remembered”

Boyhood Daze premiered

April 20 1957– The Merrie Melodies short, Boyhood Daze, directed by Chuck Jones, debuted on this date. According to animation historian Don Markstein, Ralph Philips was Chuck Jones’ version of the literary character Walter Mitty. Both are meek, put-upon characters who seek to escape reality through daydreaming about being heroes or villains. The main differenceContinue reading “Boyhood Daze premiered”

Hollywood Canine Canteen premiered

April 20 1946 – The Merrie Melodies short, Hollywood Canine Canteen, directed by Robert McKimson, debuted on this date. This is the first Merrie Melodies short that Robert McKimson directed. Celebrity caricatures are (in order): Edward G. Robinson, Eddie Cantor, Jimmy Durante, Ed Wynn, Monty Woolley, Edgar Bergen and Charlie McCarthy, Stan Laurel and OliverContinue reading “Hollywood Canine Canteen premiered”

Spirited Away premiered (in English)

April 20, 2002 –An English dubbed version of the Japanese animated fantasy film written and directed by Hayao Miyazaki, Spirited Away (Sen to Chihiro no Kamikakushi,) opened at the San Francisco International Film Festival, on this date. It was the first anime film to be nominated for (and win) an Academy Award. At 125 minutes,Continue reading “Spirited Away premiered (in English)”

One needs a TV in order to get the program

April 20, 1939 –During the 1939 World’s Fair, David Sarnoff, president of RCA, unveiled the first commercial publicly accessible television broadcast, on this date. In Flushing NY, Sarnoff proclaimed “Now we add sight to sound” and during the opening ceremonies of the fair on April 30th, FDR became the first president to ever be televised.Continue reading “One needs a TV in order to get the program”

Soylent Green went on sale

April 19, 1973 – The sci-fi thriller Soylent Green, directed by Richard Fleischer, and starring Charlton Heston, Leigh Taylor-Young, and Edward G. Robinson (in his final film role), opened in New York City on this date. During shooting, Edward G. Robinson was almost totally deaf. He could hear people only if they spoke directly intoContinue reading “Soylent Green went on sale”

La Dolce Vita debuted

April 19, 1961 –Frederico Fellini’s iconic, La Dolce Vita, premiered in the United States on this date. When shooting the famous Fontana di Trevi scene, director Federico Fellini complained that the water in the fountain looked dirty. A representative of Scandinavian Airlines System (SAS) present at the shooting was able to supply the film teamContinue reading “La Dolce Vita debuted”