Uncategorized – Page 5 – The Haus of Dcaligari

This was a strange little show

January 28, 1978 – Fantasy Island, starring Ricardo Montalban and Herve Villechaize, debuted on ABC-TV on this date. The network wanted Orson Welles for Mr. Roarke, but Spelling rejected him, knowing of his irritable nature on sets. He also rejected the idea of a sexy female sidekick to join Roarke and Tattoo.

No, I’m not a monkey’s uncle

January 28, 1953 –J. Fred Muggs joined NBC’s Today Show on this date. Muggs was an instant sensation with children, and later their parents. As Dave Garroway’s “right-hand monkey,” he performed comedy routines, had a wardrobe of 450 outfits, and played the piano. Within weeks, the floundering show had a significant boost in its audienceContinue reading “No, I’m not a monkey’s uncle”

I really like this word

A special word for today Serendipity – the effect by which one accidentally discovers something fortunate, especially while looking for something else entirely. The word derives from an old Persian fairy tale, The Three Princes of Serendip, (Serendip is the Persian name for Sri Lanka,) and was coined by Horace Walpole on January 28, 1754Continue reading “I really like this word”

It saddens me to have to say Never Again again

The United Nations General Assembly designated this date, the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp, as International Holocaust Remembrance Day. On this annual day of commemoration, the UN urges every member state to honor the six million Jewish victims of the Holocaust and millions of other victims of Nazism and to develop educationalContinue reading “It saddens me to have to say Never Again again”

Remember to celebrate responsibly

It’s Punch the Clock day. I have no idea why anyone would want to celebrate the soul-numbing activity of having to punch into work. So instead, let’s listen to a deep cut from the Elvis Costello album Punch the Clock, Charm School.

Silkwood premiered

January 27, 1984 –The Mike Nichols’ drama, Silkwood, starring Meryl Streep, Cher, and Kurt Russell, opened in the US on this date. Cher was nervous about meeting Meryl Streep for the first time. “I thought it was going to be like having an audience with the Pope,” she said. Streep, however, immediately put her atContinue reading “Silkwood premiered”

Davis Rules debuted

January 27, 1991 –The little remembered TV series,Davis Rules, starring Randy Quaid and Jonathan Winters premiered on ABC TV on this date. (The series moved to CBS TV for its’ second and final season.) The show premiered right after the Super Bowl in 1991.

It located down at the end of Lonely Street

It located down at the end of Lonely StreetJanuary 27, 1956 –Elvis Presley released the first of his 14 records in a row that sold more than a million copies, Heartbreak Hotel, on this date. It climbed to the top of the pop chart reaching #1 in April and spending eight weeks at the top.Continue reading “It located down at the end of Lonely Street”

Toilets are the best place for awards.

Thomas Crapper died on January 27, 1910. In popular American folklore, the British Mr. Crapper was the man who invented – and lent his name to – the flush toilet. Unfortunately, there is little historical evidence to support Mr. Crapper as anything more than a friendly British plumber. I say “unfortunately” because the world isContinue reading “Toilets are the best place for awards.”

I can see the red taillights headin’ for Spain

January 26, 1973 –Elton John’s sixth studio album, Don’t Shoot Me I’m Only the Piano Player, was released on this date. It was his second straight No. 1 album in the US. According to Elton John: The Definitive Biography, here’s how the album got its title: While in Los Angeles, Elton was introduced to theContinue reading “I can see the red taillights headin’ for Spain”