Category Archives: Uncategorized

December 24, 1994 –Pearl Jam’s third studio album Vitalogy went to No.1 position on the US album charts on this date. The Vitalogy album was released as a vinyl record two weeks before it was issued on CD. Vinyl was completely outdated and not yet retro-cool, but many people still had record players and PearlContinue reading “Vitalogy topped the charts”

December 24, 1940 –George Cukor’s classic film-comedy The Philadelphia Story, starring Cary Grant, Katherine Hepburn, and Jimmy Stewart opened on this date. Cary Grant demanded top billing and $100,000 salary–a huge amount at the time. As it turned out, however, he donated his entire earnings to the British War Relief Fund.

December 24, 1953 –Jack Webb’s series Dragnet aired a special episode, The Big Little Jesus on this date. The episode was network television’s first half-hour color film. It was the only color show of the series. Those of you with very sharp eyes can tell with some prompting that this is not the color episode.

December 23, 1972 –Franco Harris of the Pittsburgh Steelers grabbed a deflected pass from quarterback Terry Bradshaw to score a touchdown, winning the game for the Steelers 13-7 over the Oakland Raiders. The NFL’s Immaculate Reception, as it has become to be known, is one of the most famous plays in the history of AmericanContinue reading “People are still arguing this one”

December 23, 1823 –The famous poem A Visit From St. Nicholas was first published on this date. It begins, Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house / Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse …. Fourteen years after its first publication, an editor attributed the poem to a wealthy professorContinue reading “Geez, they even lied to us about Christmas”

December 23, 1989 – Phil Collins single Another Day In Paradise started a four week run at No. 1 on the US singles, on this date. Taken from his No. 1 album …But Seriously, the song was written to bring attention to the problem of homelessness. Collins told The New York Times how the songContinue reading “Another Day In Paradise topped the charts”

Festivus for the rest of us As not to embarrass yourself tonight at your Festivus family gathering, here are the four tenets of the holiday: The Festivus Pole: During Festivus, an unadorned aluminum pole is displayed. The pole was chosen apparently in opposition to the commercialization of highly decorated Christmas trees, because it is “veryContinue reading “Now with less of the annoying tinsel”

December 23, 1954 –Walt Disney’s live-action film, 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, premiered on this date. In 1969, Captain Nemo’s pipe organ, which had been on display in Disneyland, was redressed and now resides in the ballroom of Disneyland’s Haunted Mansion. A duplicate was constructed for the ballroom of Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom HauntedContinue reading “What’s not to like – a giant squid and Peter Lorre too!”

December 23, 1964 –The Beach Boys made their first appearance on ABC-TV’s musical variety series Shindig!, on this date, (the performance was tape on December 14th.) Besides Dance, Dance, Dance, the band went on to perform Little Saint Nick, Monster Mash, Papa Oom Mow Mow, Johnny B. Goode,and We Three Kings of Orient Are. (OnlyContinue reading “The Beach Boys on Shindig”

December 22, 1977 –Thomas Helms, a 27-year-old artist from Hawaii, climbed to the edge of the observation deck on the eighty-sixth floor of the Empire State Building, and jumped, intending to kill himself on the streets 1000s of feet below. But the winds blew him onto a narrow ledge on the 85th floor. Helms sufferedContinue reading “File this under: Yes Virginia, there are Christmas miracles.”