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Today is Maundy Thursday. It’s also known as Holy Thursday, Sheer Thursday (as in to cleanse or “sheer off” sin), Covenant Thursday, Great and Holy Thursday, and Thursday of Mysteries. A day with many names, each pointing to something sacred, ancient, and deeply human. This day commemorates the Last Supper – Jesus‘ final meal withContinue reading “Grace is rarely tidy”

April 17, 1987 – The final episode of Remington Steele, Steeled With a Kiss, starring Stephanie Zimbalist, Pierce Brosnan, Doris Roberts, James Read, Janet DeMay, and Jack Scalia, aired on this date. The series was cancelled at the end of season four, on May 15, 1986, with a 60-day option left on the show. ThatContinue reading “Brosnan got screwed”

April 17, 1981 –The United Artist movie Caveman, starring Ringo Starr, Shelley Long, Barbara Bach, Dennis Quaid, Jack Gilford, and John Matuszak premiered on this date. The picture was nominated for Worst Picture at the Hastings Bad Cinema Society’s 4th Stinkers Bad Movie Awards in 1981. There it was a Worst Picture nominee for ‘MostContinue reading “Caveman unfortunately opened”

April 17, 1937 – Happy Birthday Daffy! Porky’s Duck Hunt, starring Porky Pig, is notable for being the first appearance of the character who would later be named Daffy Duck. It also notable that this is the first cartoon in which Mel Blanc voices both Porky and Daffy.

April 17, 1971 –Three Dog Night’s single, Joy to the World, made it to the top of the pop music charts on this date. The song was number one for six weeks. Hoyt Axton wrote this for an animated TV special called The Happy Song that never materialized. Axton, who was a popular Country singer/songwriterContinue reading “Once again, sorry for the ear worm”

April 17, 1970 – A little known solo artist Paul McCartney releases his first solo album, McCartney, on this date. Although no singles were released from the album, Maybe I’m Amazed was regarded as an instant classic, gaining massive AM and FM radio airplay. In 1977, a live version of Maybe I’m Amazed peaked atContinue reading “McCartney went on sale”

April 16, 1956 –The I Love Lucy Episode, Lucy’s Italian Movie (the grape stomping episode) first aired on CBS TV on this date. This is considered on of the funniest episodes of the series. The grape stompers were actual Italian women who didn’t speak English. In a 1974 interview with Dick Cavett, Lucille Ball wentContinue reading “They’re still laughing at the old Desilu Studio”

April 16, 1932 –Moment by moment one of the funniest Laurel and Hardy sound movies, The Music Box, opened on this date. The idea for the film came to a Hal Roach comedy writer in 1927 when he passed a long flight of stairs in the Silverlake area of L.A. and thought it would beContinue reading “The Music Box premiered”

An important date in ACME History A mid-1950s construction worker involved in the demolition of the J. C. Wilber Building finds a box inside a cornerstone. He opens it to reveal a singing, dancing frog (that came to be called Michigan J. Frog,) complete with top hat and cane. According to the cartoon, One FroggyContinue reading “Duly Noted”

April 16, 1973 –In order to fulfill a contractual obligation with Lew Grade, Paul McCartney appeared in his first TV special (since the disastrous Magical Mystery Tour,) James Paul McCartney, on this date. Although it was very highly anticipated – McCartney received a cover story on TV Guide – the reviews were dreadful. The NewContinue reading “Another not so good Paul McCartney special”