Tex Avery

February 26, 1908 –What, all this junk, the yak-yak-yak? It would’ve broke my heart! Dialogue gags are a dime a dozen, but a good sight gag is hard to come by. Frederick Bean (Tex) Avery, animator, cartoonist, and another member of the legendary Termite Terrace was born on this date.

Your Show of Shows premiered

February 25, 1950 –The comedy-variety program Your Show of Shows, starring Sid Caesar, Imogene Coca and Carl Reiner, debuted on NBC-TV on this date. (This is not from the first episode) Writers for the show included Mel Brooks, Neil Simon and Larry Gelbart. A common misconception is that Woody Allen wrote for Your Show ofContinue reading “Your Show of Shows premiered”

Dylan appears on the Steve Allen Show

February 25, 1964 –Bob Dylan appears on the Steve Allen Show, on this date, and performed The Lonesome Death Of Hattie Carroll. This song gives the account of the killing of 51-year-old barmaid Hattie Carroll by the wealthy young William Devereux “Billy” Zantzinger and his subsequent sentence of six months in jail. The actual incidentContinue reading “Dylan appears on the Steve Allen Show”

Ernie expresses his love for his tub toy for the first time

February 25, 1970 –Ernie sings his signature song, Rubber Duckie, on Sesame Street for the first time, on this date. It goes over so well that the song is released as a single, which in September reaches #16 on the Hot 100. Rubber ducks were around since at least the 1940s, but they had aContinue reading “Ernie expresses his love for his tub toy for the first time”

The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie premiered

February 24, 1969 –Twentieth Century-Fox adaptation of the novel and play, The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie, directed by Ronald Neame and starring Maggie Smith and Pamela Franklin, premiered in London on this date. According to Pamela Franklin, even though they were eighteen, she and the other young girls were asked not to eat theirContinue reading “The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie premiered”

Roberta Flack’s version of Killing Me Softly went to No. 1

February 24, 1973 –The song, Killing Me Softly with His Song by Roberta Flack topped the charts on this date. Robert Flack heard Lori Lieberman original version of the song on an in-flight tape recorder while flying from Los Angeles to New York. She loved the title and lyrics and decided to record it herself.Continue reading “Roberta Flack’s version of Killing Me Softly went to No. 1”

Third time’s the charm

February 23, 1964 –The Beatles appear for the third consecutive appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show on this date. They performed Twist and Shout and Please Please Me and closed the show once again with I Want to Hold Your Hand. The third broadcast, February 23, showed a performance taped earlier in the day ofContinue reading “Third time’s the charm”

It Happened One Night premiered

February 22, 1934 –Frank Capra’s romantic comedy It Happened One Night, starring Clark Gable and Claudette Colbert, premiered at Radio City Music Hall on this date. Clark Gable gave the Oscar he won for his performance in this movie to a child who admired it, telling him it was the winning of the statue thatContinue reading “It Happened One Night premiered”