Category Archives: Uncategorized

August 31, 1920 –John Lloyd Wright, son of famed architect Frank Lloyd Wright, was issued a patent for “Toy-Cabin Construction,” which are known as Lincoln Logs. (U.S. patent 1,351,086) Wright sold his rights to Playskool for $800, to supplement his meager salary, at the time. It is estimated that over 100 million sets of LincolnContinue reading “Lincoln Logs were patented”

August 31, 1985 –Dire Straits’ album, Brothers In Arms, started a nine-week run at No.1 on the US album charts on this date. The album also topped the charts in 25 other countries and went on to sell over 20 million worldwide. The title of the album was inspired by the Falklands War, which wasContinue reading “Brothers In Arms topped the charts”

August 31, 1997 –On August 28, 1997, Mrs. Dr. Caligari and I were coming out of the revolving doors at the Ritz Hotel in Paris and a very famous couple were coming in. A few days later on this date, a charming, slightly addled, beautiful divorcee with two children decides to take a car rideContinue reading “Princess Diana”

August 31, 1987 –Epic/CBS Records released the Michael Jackson album, BAD on this date. A nearly 18 minute video of the title song, written by novelist and screenwriter Richard Price and directed by Martin Scorsese, debuted on CBS-TV on this same day, as well.

August 31, 1946 – Warner Bros. introduced Foghorn Leghorn and the Barnyard Dawg, when the Merrie Melodies cartoon Walky Talky Hawky, (directed by Robert McKimson,) premiered on this date. Foghorn Leghorn was closely based on Sen. Claghorn, a blustery, windbag Southern politician on radio’s The Fred Allen Show -played by Allen’s announcer Kenny Delmar –Continue reading “The first appearance of Foghorn Leghorn”

August 30, 1984 –Originally scheduled to lift off in June, Discovery (STS-41-D), the twelfth space shuttle mission, launched on this date. The Discovery carried six crew members to space: Commander Henry Hartsfield, Pilot Michael Coats, Mission Specialists Judith Resnick, Steven Hawley, Richard Mullane and Payload Specialist Charles Walker. During the mission, three communications satellites wereContinue reading “The Discovery’s first launch”

August 30, 1975 –KC & The Sunshine Band’s single Get Down Tonight reached No. 1 on the Billboard Charts (the first of five chart-toppers for the group,) on this date. Written and produced by Harry Wayne (KC) Casey and his writing partner (and bass player) Richard Finch. Casey and Finch would sneak into nightclubs inContinue reading “Get Down Tonight topped the charts”

August 30, 1993 –Moving himself and his gang of cohorts from NBC-TV, The Late Show with David Letterman premiered on CBS-TV, on this date. David Letterman originally wanted to call Paul Shaffer’s musical ensemble “The NBC Orchestra,” but that name was already taken by Doc Severinsen and company on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson.Continue reading “Letterman moved to CBS”

August 30, 1967 –John Boorman’s crime drama thriller, Point Blank, opened on this date. Lee Marvin didn’t think John Vernon was good for the role, as the actor “wasn’t strong enough to contend with him.” It came to a head during filming when Marvin punched Vernon in the stomach during a fight scene, causing VernonContinue reading “Point Blank premiered”

August 29, 1986 –BBC1-TV aired a Paul McCartney special, McCartney for the first time, on this date. Originally conceived as a long-form promotional piece for the Wings album, Press to Play, the BBC staffer (Richard Skinner) persuades Paul McCartney to talk about much more, including one of the more in-depth interviews about Wings.