December 22, 1965 – David Lean’s Russian epic, Dr Zhivago, starring Omar Sharif, Julie Christie, Geraldine Chaplin, Tom Courtenay, Rod Steiger, Alec Guinness, Ralph Richardson, Siobhán McKenna, and Rita Tushingham, opened in the US, on this date. Critics tore the film apart upon release. Newsweek commented about “hack-job sets” and “pallid photography“. Director David LeanContinue reading “Dr Zhivago premiered”
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OMG, what’s that behind you!
December 22, 1932 – Universal Pictures released the horror film The Mummy, directed by Karl Freund and starring Boris Karloff on this date. Boris Karloff was virtually unknown when he appeared as the creature in Frankenstein. He created such a sensation that when this was made, only a year later, Universal only had to advertiseContinue reading “OMG, what’s that behind you!”
A reminder that light follows even the darkest night
The Winter Solstice in Northern Hemisphere will be at 4:21 AM PM (EST), the shortest amount of daylight of the year and the longest night. It’s officially the first day of Winter and one of the oldest known holidays in human history. Anthropologists believe that solstice celebrations go back at least 30,000 years, before humansContinue reading “A reminder that light follows even the darkest night”
Hi Ho, Hi Ho!
December 21, 1937 – The first feature-length color and sound cartoon, Walt Disney’s Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, premiered on this date. The animation took over two years and a then astronomical $1.5 million to create. Disney had to mortgage his house to pay for the film’s production.
We first hear their battle cry – Exterminate!
December 21, 1963 – The Doctor Who story arc The Daleks, the second story of Season One, first aired on the BBC on this date. The episodes mark the first appearance of the Doctor’s mortal enemies, the Daleks, a race of genetically engineered mutants who abhor all other races.
The Timid Toreador premiered
December 21, 1940 –Another classic Porky Pig cartoon, The Timid Toreador, opened on this date. Bob Clampett was briefly sick during this time period, leaving two Porky Pig cartoons (The Timid Toreador and Porky’s Snooze Reel) unfinished, Leon Schlesinger told Norman McCabe to complete the directorial duties—hence the co-director credit under their main titles.
Nope, it didn’t happen
December 21, 1969 –Diana Ross and the Supremes make their final television appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show, on this date. The song they sang, Someday We’ll Be Together, would become the last of their 12 number one singles.
Time is definitely on their side
December 20, 1971 –The Rolling Stones’ first anthology album Hot Rocks 1964-1971 was released on this date. The album remains one of their all-time best sellers. While the emphasis is on the hits, Hot Rocks also includes several iconic album tracks such as Play With Fire, Under My Thumb, and Gimme Shelter.
Gulliver’s Travels premiered
December 20, 1939 – The Paramount Pictures animated version of Gulliver’s Travels directed by Dave Fleischer, opened in NYC on this date. Even though the film was a box-office success, it never managed to recover its enormous cost, which went nearly $500,000 over budget due to the relocation of the Fleischer studios, transportation of filmContinue reading “Gulliver’s Travels premiered”
Ah, youth is wasted on the wrong people.
December 20, 1946 –The Frank Capra film It’s A Wonderful Life had a preview showing for charity at New York City’s Globe Theatre, a day before its official premiere. Due to a clerical error at NTA‘s copyright office, the copyright wasn’t renewed when it expired in 1974. The film became public domain, meaning anyone whoContinue reading “Ah, youth is wasted on the wrong people.”
The Haus of Dcaligari 