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July 10, 1942 –Orson Welles‘ butchered masterpiece, The Magnificent Ambersons, was released by RKO Pictures, on this date. After a disastrous preview (which occurred a week after the Pearl Harbor attack,) it was clear to the execs at RKO that the film was too long, too dense and too somber. Orson Welles, however, had decampedContinue reading “The Magnificent Ambersons opened”

July 10, 1972 –Harry Nilsson’s eighth album, Son of Schmilsson was released on this date. It featured George Harrison under the name George Harrysong and Ringo Starr, listed as Richie Snare, on some of the tracks. Peter Frampton also played guitar on most of the album.

July 9, 1966 –The Beatles song Paperback Writer, went to No. 1 on the Billboard Charts on this date. The B-side to this single was John Lennon’s Rain. Paul and John would always compete for the A-side of The Beatles singles.

July 9, 1983 –The Police song Every Breath You Take went to No. 1 on the Billboard Charts on this date. This is one of the most misinterpreted songs ever. It is about an obsessive stalker, but it sounds like a love song. Some people even used it as their wedding song.

July 9, 1999 –Universal Pictures finally shined a light on the world of pastriality when American Pie, starring Jason Biggs, Chris Klein, Tara Reid, Seann William Scott, Eugene Levy, and Shannon Elizabeth was released in the US on this date. Eugene Levy was told he could improvise much of the dialogue for his character, includingContinue reading “American Pie first offered up a slice”

July 9, 2001 – The mockumentary The Office, created by Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant, and starring Ricky Gervais and Martin Freeman first aired on BBC Two, on this date. The series started as a small, home-made video by Stephen Merchant when he was trying to get a job at the BBC. He came upContinue reading “The Office premiered”

On the Fourth of July in 1850, President Zachary Taylor snacked on cherries and milk while attending a ceremony at the Washington Monument. It was a hot day, and the heat made him sick. He got sicker and sicker and died on July 9. He remains the only U.S. president to have died from indigestionContinue reading “Bunkies, the heat will kill you”

July 7, 1989 –The second single from their album The Raw & the Cooked, Good Thing by the Fine Young Cannibals, topping the Billboard Hot 100 chart on this date. At the height of their popularity, the group was hounded to accept sponsorship deals, including a ridiculous one involving this song. “The worst thing wasContinue reading “Good Thing went to No. 1”

July 8, 1932 – Tod Browning’s groundbreaking shockfest Freaks, featuring genuine carnival sideshow performers, premieres at the Rialto theater in New York on this date. F. Scott Fitzgerald was a member of the MGM writing department at the time the movie was in production. It is said that one day, as he came into theContinue reading “One of Us”

July 8, 1964 –Probably Jerry Lewis‘ most self-reflexive film about film making, The Patsy, premiered on this date. (This was Peter Lorre’s last film; he died four days after completing his role. Lorre hated the experience and death must have seems a welcome release.) In the opening scene when Lewis makes his entrance he’s wearingContinue reading “The Patsy opened”