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July 20, 1970 –Richard and Karen Carpenters appear on The Dating Game, where they perform (They Long To Be) Close To You and each select from three suitors (and not each other,) on this date. Karen Carpenter appeared on segment 1 and she was the girl interviewing the three bachelors. Richard on segment 2 asContinue reading “Maybe not that Close to You”

July 20, 1990 –In one of the late (good) performances of Marlon Brando, the TriStar Pictures‘ The Freshman, directed by Andrew Bergman and co-starring Matthew Broderick, Bruno Kirby, Penelope Ann Miller, and Frank Whaley, opened on this date. During post-production, Marlon Brando publicly condemned this film and claimed it would be the biggest turkey ofContinue reading “The Freshman premiered”

July 19, 1986 –Genesis had their first (and only) #1 Hot 100 hit as Invisible Touch tops the chart, on this date. The Invisible Touch album marked Genesis‘ complete transformation from complex, theatrical music (starting when Peter Gabriel was lead singer) to condensed pop songs. They lost some fans along the way, but gained manyContinue reading “Invisible Touch reached No. 1”

July 19, 1941 –Prime Minister Winston Churchill launched his “V for Victory” campaign in Europe on this date. The BBC World Service began regular broadcasting throughout Europe with the opening four notes of Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony, which in Morse Code spell V for “Victory.“

July 19, 1996 –Danny Boyle’s brilliant adaptation of Irvine Welsh’s equally celebrated novel, Trainspotting, starring Ewan McGregor, Robert Carlyle and Kelly MacDonald opened on this date. Kelly Macdonald got the part when the production crew were handing out flyers across Glasgow, for anyone eager to audition. When Danny Boyle first laid eyes on her, withContinue reading “Trainspotting premiered”

July 19, 1941 – MGM released the Hanna/ Barbera cartoon, The Midnight Snack, starring Tom and Jerry, on this date. William Hanna and Joseph Barbera originally had the cat named Jasper and the mouse was Jinx, in 1940’s Puss Gets the Boot cartoon. This is the first cartoon with their names, Tom Cat and JerryContinue reading “The first Tom and Jerry Cartoon (where they’re named Tom and Jerry)”

July 18, 2008 –Warner Bros. released the Christopher Nolan superhero film The Dark Knight, starring Christian Bale, Michael Caine and Heath Ledger, in US theaters, on this date. In preparation for his role as The Joker, Heath Ledger hid away in a motel room for about six weeks. During this extended stay of seclusion, LedgerContinue reading “The Dark Knight premiered”

July 18, 1939 – Hunter S. Thompson’s birthday is today. He was once considered, armed, and dangerous. Now he is no more than soot on the window sills of his and his neighbors homes. Dr. Thompson founded the Gonzo school of journalism in the 1970s; graduates from that school can today be seen every nightContinue reading “Buy the ticket, take the ride.”

July 18, 1980 –Closer, the second and final album from Joy Division, was released on this date, just two months after the suicide of founding member and singer Ian Curtis. Despite or perhaps because of the tragedy surrounding Joy Division, the band has had an indelible effect on the post-punk music scene, which later morphedContinue reading “Closer went on sale”

July 18, 1936 –After Carl Mayer approached his uncle Oscar with the idea of driving a giant hot dog through Chicago streets, the first Oscar Mayer Wienermobile rolled out of General Body Company’s factory on this date. The Wienermobile started as a smallish 13-foot affair – Carl Mayer drove around with his head sticking throughContinue reading “The first Hot Dog drove down the road”