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July 6, 1972 –Don’t tell your poppa or he’ll get us locked up in fright … David Bowie scandalized British home viewers on this date, while performing Starman on the TV show, Top Of The Pops, by singing with his arm draped around the shoulder of guitarist Mick Ronson – this was the moment BowieContinue reading “Bowie shocks the old folks at home”

July 5, 1794 –Sylvester Graham was born in Suffield, Connecticut, on this date. He was ordained in 1826 as a Presbyterian minister. He was an early advocate of dietary reform in United States most notable for his emphasis on vegetarianism, and the temperance movement, as well as sexual and dietary habits. Graham believed that aContinue reading “The cracker that soothes the urge”

July 5, 1989 –The pilot for Seinfeld, called The Seinfeld Chronicles (Good News, Bad News) aired on NBC on this date. Julia Louis-Dreyfus did not appear in this pilot episode. In fact, she was unaware that the episode existed until it was released as part of the DVD box set in 2004.

July 5, 1956 –MGM released boxer Rocky Grazaiano’s film biography, Somebody Up There Likes Me, starring Paul Newman and Pier Angeli on this date. Originally, the movie was to be filmed on-location in New York City in Technicolor with James Dean in the lead role. However, after James Dean’s death, it was decided the filmContinue reading “Somebody Up There Likes Me premiered”

July 5, 1954 –Elvis Presley recorded his first commercial song, That’s All Right (Mama) on this date. The song, which hadn’t been rehearsed by Elvis, was recorded at Sun Records by Sam Phillips (who is commonly credited for discovering him.) The following evening, Blue Moon of Kentucky was recorded as the B side. That’s AllContinue reading “Elvis first stepped into a recording studio”

July 4, 1826 –Frienemies Thomas Jefferson and John Adams, both lay dying in there respective homes on this date. Jefferson, the nation’s third president, deeply in debt at age 83, died at one o’clock in the afternoon and correctly surmised that Adams had outlived him. John Adams, the second president died at age 90 inContinue reading “Some days it’s not so good to be President”

July 4, 1966 –The Lovin’ Spoonful release their song Summer in the City on this date. The song was a collaboration between John Sebastian, The Lovin Spoonful’s bassist Steve Boone, and the frontman’s brother (and non-group member) Mark Sebastian. Mark was 15 years old when he wrote a poem that John used as the basisContinue reading “Summer in the City went on sale”

July 4, 1970 –Casey Kasem’s American Top 40debuts on station KDEO in El Cajon/San Diego, California on this date. The concept of playing the 40 most popular songs from a national chart was a new one, and no one was sure of the success of the show at the time.

July 4, 1966 –The Beatles played two shows at Rizal Memorial Football Stadium, Manila, in the Philippines to over 80,000 fans, on this date. The Beatles did not appear at a palace reception hosted by President Marcos‘ family, who were not informed that the Beatles had previously declined their invitation. The Philippine media misrepresent thisContinue reading “The not so Thrilla in Manila”

The Dog Days of Summer begin today. (That’s an inside joke for astronomers.)