Category Archives: Uncategorized

August 1, 30 BC (again, this date is not fixed in stone; the annual calendar makers orgy and dinner dance was held on this date as well) –Mark Antony, (not the not so handsome ex-husband of J-Lo but) lover of the Egyptian queen Cleopatra VII and claimant to the Roman throne, was the most interestingContinue reading “The death of Mark Antony”

The festival of Lammas marks the beginning of the harvest, when people go to church to give thanks for the first grain to be cut. This is the long way of saying that it’s August again. How did a single month become so important? Like almost everything else that’s difficult to understand, the history ofContinue reading “Always summer … the fruit always ripe.”

August 1, 1973 –Universal premiered George Lucas ode to early 1960s, American Graffiti, starring Richard Dreyfuss, Ron Howard, Paul Le Mat, Harrison Ford, Charles Martin Smith, Cindy Williams, Candy Clark and Mackenzie Phillips, opened on this date. The film was shot in sequence, so as filming went on and the actors grew tired from theContinue reading “American Graffiti premiered”

August 1, 1981 – MTV launched 42 years ago today, starting with the video, Video Killed the Radio Star by The Buggles followed by Pat Benatar’s You Better Run. Western civilization has been on a rapid decline ever since.

August 1, 1971 – George Harrison presented his two Concerts For Bangladesh at Madison Square Garden in New York City, on this date. The concert was mainly intended to provide financial aid to refugees from the Bangladesh area, who were fleeing by the thousands. In total, the concert and other efforts stemming from it raisedContinue reading “The Concerts For Bangladesh opened”

July 31, 1971 –One of the most expensive car rides occurred on this date, Apollo 15 crew members, James B. Irwin and David R. Scott took the Lunar Roving Vehicle or “Moon Buggy” on its premiere jaunt on the surface of the Moon.

July 31, 1991 –The Jim Abrahams spoof of Top Gun, Hot Shots!, starring Charlie Sheen, Cary Elwes, Valeria Golino, Lloyd Bridges, and Jon Cryer, opened on this date. The aircraft carrier on which the movie takes place is actually a wooden deck built on the edge of a cliff at a deserted Marineland facility. TheContinue reading “Hot Shot! premiered”

July 31, 1977 –For a reason only known to CBS executives, the one hit wonder group Starland Vocal Band’s show, The Starland Vocal Band Show debuted on CBS TV on this date. The band started out as John Denver’s backup group. The comedy was provided primarily by veteran D.C – based satirist Mark Russell andContinue reading “The Starland Vocal Band Show premiered”

July 31, 1976 –Blue Oyster Cult single, from their album, Agents of Fortune, (Don’t Fear) the Reaper, was released on this date. (Don’t Fear) The Reaper was written and sung by Blue Öyster Cult’s lead guitarist, Donald Roeser, also known as Buck Dharma. It was rumored to be about suicide, but it actually deals withContinue reading “(Don’t Fear) the Reaper dropped”

July 30, 2003 –The last ever ‘old style‘ Volkswagen Beetle, #21,529,464, rolled off the assembly line at the Volkswagen de Mexico manufacturing plant in Puebla, Mexico on this date. The classic Volkswagen Beetle was produced in Mexico from 1955 where it was used as a taxi. The Mexican government effectively ended the Beetle’s production becauseContinue reading “The last of the original Volkswagen made”