Just in time for the upcoming warm weather

June 13, 1970 –The Mungo Jerry song, In The Summertime hit #1 in UK, on this date. The song was written by Ray Dorset, who was the group’s lead singer and guitarist. He penned the song in 1968 when he was working for Timex in the UK – his band was just getting started andContinue reading “Just in time for the upcoming warm weather”

Still a very controversial film

June 13, 1962 –Stanley Kubrick’s take on Vladimir Nabokov’s controversial novel, Lolita, premiered on this date. Stanley Kubrick held a special screening for Vladimir Nabokov a few days before the film’s premiere. It was at this time the author learned that most of his screenplay had been jettisoned, but he reported himself very happy withContinue reading “Still a very controversial film”

The breadth of charity widens the narrow heart of the sinner

It’s the feast day of Saint Anthony of Padua. One of the most beloved of saints, his images and statues are ubiquitous. Proclaimed a Doctor of the Church on January 16, 1946, he is sometimes called the Evangelical Doctor. He is especially invoked for the recovery of things lost (I’ve often wondered if Marcel ProustContinue reading “The breadth of charity widens the narrow heart of the sinner”

Baseball was not invented on this date

June 12, 1839 –Alexander Cartwright, and not, Abner Doubleday, should be credited with the invention of Baseball, which was not created on this date. On the one hundredth anniversary of the apocryphal story, June 12, 1939, the National Baseball Hall of Fame opened in Cooperstown, New York (in an effort to bring tourists to town.)Continue reading “Baseball was not invented on this date”

The birthday gift that keeps giving

June 12, 1942 –A young Dutch girl received the crappy gift of a diary as a birthday present on this date. She natters on for a little more than two years of small, inconsequential things young girls usually do in their diaries and then she abruptly stops writing. Today, her diary has been published inContinue reading “The birthday gift that keeps giving”

I’m almost certain you didn’t see this one

June 12, 1989 –The short lived TV comedy series Doctor, Doctor starring Matt Frewer, premiered on CBS TV on this date. It series was picked up for a full season the following fall. A second season followed in fall 1990, but the show was cancelled at the end of the 1990-1991 season, due to lowContinue reading “I’m almost certain you didn’t see this one”

Feel free to bring this up at your next cocktail party

June 12, 1981 –A bizarre coincidence for sure, but Mel Brooks’ History of the World Part 1 and Lucas/ Spielberg’s Raiders Of The Lost Ark both premiered on this date. According to Mel Brooks, the Moses scene was a last minute addition. “Sometimes, you will get very lucky, and the set will give you ideasContinue reading “Feel free to bring this up at your next cocktail party”