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January 21, 1968 –The soundtrack album for the film The Graduate was released on this date. The Graduate was one of the first major films to use rock music in its soundtrack, using songs written by Paul Simon (notably, Mrs Robinson, which became a hit).

January 21, 1957 –NBC recorded and later broadcasted the second inaugural ceremonies of US President Dwight D. Eisenhower. It is the first national broadcast of a previously recorded event.

January 21, 1957 –Patsy Cline sang Walking After Midnight on Arthur Godfrey’s nighttime television show, quickly launching her career on this date. The song became a crossover hit, charting at #2 Country and #12 Pop, and established Cline as a Country singer capable of mainstream success.

To A City-Park Squirrel Dear little exile from woodlands dear,How can you keep your wilderness grace,How can you bound so merrily here,Shut in this narrow and formal place? Still your fancies are forest-free,Still as gallant you swing and glide From dusty tree to skeleton treeAs once you roamed through the woodlands wide Surely you must,Continue reading “A rat with a cuter outfit!”

January 20, 1949 –A surprise hit for writer/ director Joseph L. Mankiewicz (which garnered for him his first two Oscars,) A Letter to Three Wives, first opened on this date. Joseph L. Mankiewicz had a real battle with the American censors at the time who would not permit him to use words like “laxative” andContinue reading “A Letter to Three Wives premiered”

January 20, 1941 – Raoul Walsh’s crime-drama High Sierra, starring Humphrey Bogart and Ida Lupino opened on this date. In addition to Hal B. Wallis, Humphrey Bogart also sent several telegrams to studio head Jack L. Warner, begging to be cast as Roy Earle. After Paul Muni left Warner Bros. in a contract dispute andContinue reading “High Sierra premiered”

Today is National Disc Jockey Day, celebrated in remembrance of the death of Albert James “Alan” Freed, (AKA Moondog,) the man who coined the term “Rock ‘n’ Roll”. The first DJ, or Disc Jockey, was sixteen-year-old student Ray Newby, who played the first records over the airwaves at Herrold College of Engineering and Wireless locatedContinue reading “Last night a DJ saved my life”

January 19, 1952 – In the first match-up between Wile E. Coyote and Bugs Bunny, Operation: Rabbit, directed by Chuck Jones, premiered on this date. This was the second cartoon to feature Wile E. Coyote (following 1949’s Fast and Furry-ous), and the first in which he is identified by his full name. It is alsoContinue reading “Wile E. Coyote, Super Genius”

January 19, 1940 –Any resemblance between the characters in this picture and any persons, living or dead, is a miracle. The Three Stooges short You Nazty Spy! about the Nazis released on this date. Filmed in 1939, not released until 1940, the film was the first Hollywood film to spoof Adolf Hitler, released nine monthsContinue reading “A very famous Three Stooges episode”

January 19, 1942 –The first of nine films to feature Spencer Tracy and Katharine Hepburn, Woman of the Year opened on this date. Knowing of Spencer Tracy’s reputation as a heavy drinker, Katharine Hepburn served him strong tea between scenes. She also got him to paint, as she did, as an escape from the pressuresContinue reading “Woman of the Year premiered”