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October 17, 1998 –The first big hit for Barenaked Ladies, One Week went to No.1 on the Billboard Charts on this date. The band has said that this song is about a big fight in a relationship. The lyrics are essentially meaningless, but wildly entertaining, showing off their clever wordplay in a rapid-fire interplay betweenContinue reading “One Week topped the charts”

October 16, 1968 –American athletes Tommie Smith and John Carlos sparked controversy at the Mexico City Olympics by giving “black power” salutes during a victory ceremony after they’d won gold and bronze medals in the 200-meter race on this date. (And you think people were pissed at the ‘kneeling during the anthem‘ thing.) Little rememberedContinue reading “Sometimes, it seems, you don’t have your rights”

October 16, 1992 – The pilot for Gilligan’s Island was finally aired – 28 years after the series began. Although the pilot was filmed in 1963, because of cast changes, it wasn’t aired this date. The pilot’s cast differed from the series with Kit Smythe as Ginger, John Gabriel as the high school science teacher/professor,Continue reading “The test drive for the three hour tour”

October 16, 1979 –The comedy sketch show Not the Nine O’Clock News, starring Rowan Atkinson, Chris Langham, Pamela Stephenson and Mel Smith debuts on BBC 2, on this date. The original pilot episode had a different cast: Rowan Atkinson and Chris Langham were joined by Chris Emmett, Christopher Godwin, John Gorman, Willoughby Goddard and JonathanContinue reading “Not the Nine O’Clock News premiered”

October 16, 1974 –The Rolling Stones release their the 12th British (and 14th American) studio album, It’s Only Rock N’ Roll, on this date. It’s Only Rock ‘n Roll was an important transitional album for the Rolling Stones. Following the departure of long-time producer Jimmy Miller, the album was self-produced by guitarist Keith Richards andContinue reading “We got to like it for the first time”

October 15, 1951 –A former starlet convinced the alcoholic, womanizing head of a television network to run the TV version of her somewhat successful radio program. I Love Lucy, the television situation comedy, starring Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz, also featuring Vivian Vance and William Frawley, went on to run on CBS for 181 episodesContinue reading “I Love Lucy premiered”

October 15, 1893 –The New York Times declared Coney Island “Sodom-by-the-Sea” for the thrilling rides that let men and women clutch each other. The Elephantine Colossus, a 200-foot-tall elephant-shaped hotel had a howdah on its back, topped with a gilded crescent was built on Surf Avenue, in 1885. It housed a concert hall and eventsContinue reading “When was the last time you hung out at Sodom by the Sea”

October 15, 1954 –The eponymously named series The Adventures of Rin Tin Tin debuted on ABC-TV on this date. A popular children’s record titled Rinny and Rusty and Rip was released in the 1950’s about the three lead characters. It was a 78 rpm Golden Records release, sung by Anne Lloyd and The Sandpipers, withContinue reading “The Adventures of Rin Tin Tin premiered”

October 15, 1988 –UB40’s cover of Neil Diamond’s Red Red Wine reached the top of the Billboard Charts on this date. UB40 recorded this as a cover of the Tony Tribe 1969 reggae version, which reached #46 in the UK charts. The band did not realize until after it topped the charts that Neil DiamondContinue reading “Red Red Wine topped the charts”

October 14, 1972 – The TV-series Kung Fu, starring David Carridine, debuted on ABC-TV on this date. The only reason this show went off the air was because David Carradine quit the series. He had sustained so many injuries, he felt he could not go on. The show got high ratings for all three seasonsContinue reading “Kung Fu premiered”