August 3, 1929 –Four famous vaudevillian performers took a chance on the new medium of ‘talking pictures‘ with the general release of the film, The Cocoanuts, starring the Four Marx Brothers Chico, Groucho, Harpo and Zeppo, on this date,. Filmed on a stage in New York City. Sound films were still so new that soundproofingContinue reading “The Cocoanuts opened”
Category Archives: Uncategorized
Clear the decks – we have a lot to celebrating to do
The first Saturday in August is National Mustard Day (in my home it is National Moutarde Day, we leave the ‘s‘ off for savings.) In case you didin’t know, Mustard is a condiment made from the seeds of a mustard plant (white or yellow mustard, Sinapis hirta; brown or Indian mustard, Brassica juncea; or blackContinue reading “Clear the decks – we have a lot to celebrating to do”
Weird Science premiered
August 2, 1985 –Universal Pictures released the sci-fi comedy film Weird Science, directed by John Hughes and starring Anthony Michael Hall, Kelly LeBrock and Ilan Mitchell-Smith, on this date. In the scene where Bill Paxton is speaking to Kelly LeBrock while interrogating everyone over what had happened the previous night, in the background, Suzanne SnyderContinue reading “Weird Science premiered”
Parenthood premiered
August 2, 1989 –Universal Pictures released Ron Howard’s film, Parenthood, starring Steve Martin, Mary Steenburgen, Dianne Wiest, Martha Plymton and Keanu Reeves on this date. This movie is based on Ron Howard, Brian Grazer, Lowell Ganz, and Babaloo Mandel’s experiences as parents.
Force Majeure
August 2, 1100 – (Those of you with delicate sensibilities may wish to skip this story.)You may have wondered when the phrase Act of God first came into use. You’ve seen it on legal forms and may have unfortunately encountered it when trying to collect on your home insurance policy. As with many things, theContinue reading “Force Majeure”
Mandatory Fun topped the charts
August 2, 2014 –Weird Al Yankovic’s fourteenth studio album, Mandatory Fun goes to No. 1 on the Billboard Album Charts, on this date. It’s the first No. 1 comedy album on Billboard’s charts since Allan Sherman’s My Son, the Nut in 1963 – the album that contained Sherman’s biggest hit, Hello Muddah, Hello Fadduh.
Concerts For Bangladesh
August 1, 1971 – George Harrison presented the first of his two Concerts For Bangladesh at Madison Square Garden in New York City, on this date. The concert was mainly intended to provide financial aid to refugees from the Bangladesh area, who were fleeing by the thousands. In total, the concert and other efforts stemmingContinue reading “Concerts For Bangladesh”
A Hard Day’s Night went to No. 1
August 1, 1964 –The Beatles’ single A Hard Day’s Night went to the top of the Billboard Charts on this date. It became the fifth US No. 1 single the Beatles scored in seven months. The title was taken from an expression Ringo used to say. In a 1964 interview with DJ Dave Hull, RingoContinue reading “A Hard Day’s Night went to No. 1”
Yes, once they just played music
August 1, 1981 –MTV launched 44 years ago today, starting with the video, Video Killed the Radio Star by The Buggles followed by Pat Benatar’s You Better Run. Western civilization has been on a rapid decline ever since.
Eureka
August 1, 1769 –Spain sent an exploratory expedition from San Diego to Monterey on this date, to survey the area and identify locations worthy of settling and converting the locals to Catholicism. The expedition was led by Gaspar de Portolá, nephew of the celebrated Spanish comedian Uncle Porky, and included a number of religious missionariesContinue reading “Eureka”
The Haus of Dcaligari 