December 23, 1954 –Walt Disney’s live-action film, 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, premiered on this date. In 1969, Captain Nemo’s pipe organ, which had been on display in Disneyland, was redressed and now resides in the ballroom of Disneyland’s Haunted Mansion. A duplicate was constructed for the ballroom of Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom HauntedContinue reading “Wonder if there was a tie-in with Mrs. Paul’s”
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… And to all, a good night
December 23, 1823 –The famous poem A Visit From St. Nicholas was first published on this date. It begins, Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house / Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse …. Fourteen years after its first publication, an editor attributed the poem to a wealthy professorContinue reading “… And to all, a good night”
You don’t have to ask the old ladies in church about this
December 23, 1972 –Franco Harris of the Pittsburgh Steelers grabbed a deflected pass from quarterback Terry Bradshaw to score a touchdown, winning the game for the Steelers 13-7 over the Oakland Raiders, on this date. The NFL’s Immaculate Reception, as it has become to be known, is one of the most famous plays in theContinue reading “You don’t have to ask the old ladies in church about this”
Another Day In Paradise topped the charts
December 23, 1989 –Phil Collins single Another Day In Paradise started a four week run at No. 1 on the US singles, on this date. Taken from his No. 1 album …But Seriously, the song was written to bring attention to the problem of homelessness. Collins told The New York Times how the song cameContinue reading “Another Day In Paradise topped the charts”
Ok Bunkies,
Today is the fourth and last Sunday of the Advent season. The day is called the Fourth Sunday of Advent, sorry no fancy french or latin name. The fourth candle is often called the Angel candle. It represents the messengers who announced the birth of the Messiah. Go talk to the old ladies in theContinue reading “Ok Bunkies,”
Rodents top the charts
December 22 1958 –The song by Dave Seville and The Chipmunks, The Chipmunk Song (Christmas Don’t Be Late), hit No. 1 on the Billboard charts, on this date, and stayed there for four weeks. (Sorry about the ear worm.) The song, written and performed by Ross Bagdasarian Sr. (a.k.a. David Seville) who varied the tapeContinue reading “Rodents top the charts”
Dr Zhivago premiered
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”
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.
