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January 22, 1972 – The Jack Webb midseason replacement series, Emergency!, starring Randolph Mantooth and Kevin Tighe premiered 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 an emergency hospital. There, he learnedContinue reading “911, What the emergency?”

January 22, 1968 –The comedy show Rowan and Martin’s Laugh-In, hosted by Dan Rowan and Dick Martin, premiered on NBC television 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 such a way that the showContinue reading “Found on Funk and Wagnalls’ front porch”

January 21, 1984 –The prog rock group Yes song, Owner of a Lonely Heart, hit No. #1 on this date. This is the first single from 90125, and was the group’s one and only #1 charting hit. The album was a drastic departure from Yes‘ progressive sound in the ‘70s, containing distorted guitar and synthesizersContinue reading “Owner of a Lonely Heart topped the charts”

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, 1982 –Hsin-Yen Chang’s martial arts film Shaolin Temple (Shao Lin si,) starring Jet Li in his debut role opened on this date. This film was the first Hong Kong-China co-production to be filmed in mainland China. The film was also the first such to use a Mainland cast and crew.

January 20, 1936 –King George V of England was euthanized with injections of cocaine and morphine on this date, after a painful cancer illness. His final words, a mumbled God damn you!, were addressed to his nurse when she gave him a sedative before his final lethal injection. His physician, Bertrand Dawson (later becoming ViscountContinue reading “Regicide is usually frowned upon”

January 20, 1993 –The Supreme Court let stand on this date, a $2.5 million award to Tom Waits over use of what the singer had charged was a sound-alike artist to mimic his voice in a television commercial. Although Tom Waits was notoriously against selling himself in commercials, he did let his principles slip slightlyContinue reading “It’s hard to win when you always lose.”

Today is National Disc Jockey Day – The day is 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 ofContinue reading “Last Night a DJ saved my life”

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, 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, 2006 –Kenny Ortega mega-hit teen musical, High School Musical starring Zac Efron, Vanessa Hudgens, and Ashley Tisdale premiered on the Disney Channel, on this date. (This was my daughters favorite movie for a time – when they were very young children.) Zac Efron’s singing voice was that of Drew Seeley, who tested forContinue reading “Get’cha Head in the Game”