Category Archives: Uncategorized

Its National Peanut Butter Day. By law, any product labeled “peanut butter” in the United States must be at least 90 percent peanuts, (don’t ask about the other 10%.) Boldly celebrate the lowly legume Arachis hypogaea, (except for the 1.5% of US students allergic to peanuts.) Former President Bill Clinton says one of his favoriteContinue reading “Everything in between is just another excuse to eat peanut butter”

January 24, 1940 – John Ford’s film version of John Steinbeck’s novel, The Grapes of Wrath, starring Henry Fonda, opened in New York City on this date. Prior to filming, producer Darryl F. Zanuck sent undercover investigators out to the migrant camps to see if John Steinbeck had been exaggerating about the squalor and unfairContinue reading “The Grapes of Wrath premiered”

January 24, 1927 –Alfred Hitchcock’s first film, The Pleasure Garden, went into general release on this date in England. The film is often overshadowed by Hitchcock’s later masterpieces, but it was definitely a significant milestone in his early career. Although shot in 1925, and shown to the British press in March 1926, the film wasn’tContinue reading “The Pleasure Garden opened”

January 24, 1947 –Well, I was interested in playing the piano from as early as I can remember. Warren William Zevon, singer-songwriter and musician, was born on this date.

The Writing Instrument Manufacturers Association (WIMA) established today as National Handwriting Day back in 1977, in order to celebrate John Hancock’s birthday (who was born on January 12th, so go figure,) one of our Founding Fathers, as well as the first signer of the U.S. Declaration of Independence. Most people who were around then wereContinue reading “Sign your name (across my heart)”

January 23, 1995 – Another comedy series that was aired on the launch date of UPN TV, Pig Sty, starring Sean O’Bryan, Liz Vassey, Timothy Fall, Brian McNamara, Matt Borlenghi, and David Arnott, first aired on this date. The show only lasted 13 episodes and was canceled at the same time Platypus Man was canceled.

January 23, 1995 –A series based on Richard Jeni’s HBO’s comedy special from 1992, Platypus Man, starring Richard Jeni,Ron Orbach, Denise Miller, and David Dundara, first aired on UPN TV on tis date. The series lasted 13 episodes. This show was the first comedy series to premiere on UPN when the network launched in JanuaryContinue reading “I almost didn’t believe this was a real series”

January 23, 1965 –Petula Clark’s song Downtown, hit No. #1 on the Billboard Charts on this date. This was Petula Clark’s first hit in the US, which was slow to discover her talents. In the UK, she was a star as a singer and as a television performer, where she was a regular on theContinue reading “Downtown topped the charts”

January 22, 1968 –The comedy show Rowan and Martin’s Laugh-In, hosted by Dan Rowan and Dick Martin, first aired on it’s regularly scheduled night on NBC, on this date. One of the trademarks of the series was the fast cutting that happened in between videotaped segments. Blackouts, one-liners and sketches were edited together in suchContinue reading “You bet your sweet bippy”

January 22, 1972 –The Jack Webb midseason replacement series, Emergency!, starring Randolph Mantooth and Kevin Tighe first aired in it’s regularly scheduled time on NBC TV on this date. The series originated when producer Robert A. Cinader was in the Los Angeles area researching for a new medical drama series that took place in anContinue reading “Emergency! series premiered”