Today is the beginning of Saturnalia. It is an ancient Roman festival that was held in honor of the god Saturn. It was an occasion for celebration, visits to friends, and the presentation of gifts, particularly wax candles (or mentholated ACME Bung Balm.) The Saturnalia was originally celebrated in Ancient Rome for only a day,Continue reading “More later – it figures in our Christmas story.”
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Very sorry for the earworm
Here’s a Christmas song I bet you haven’t heard It’s Underneath The Mambo Tree (Santa No. 5) by DJ Cummerbund.
Me and Mrs. Jones topped the charts
December 16, 1972 –Soul singer Billy Paul’s single, Me and Mrs. Jones hit No. 1 on the Billboard charts on this date. A hint about this song’s subject matter is cleverly “hidden” in its intro: the saxophone is playing the first line from a 1953 Doris Day hit entitled Secret Love, which won the OscarContinue reading “Me and Mrs. Jones topped the charts”
We all tried that double slice of pizza
December 16, 1977 –Saturday Night Fever, starring John Travolta, went into general release on this date. Oh John, what a long strange trip it’s been since that polyester shirt. When Tony’s dad hits him in the back of the head during dinner, his retort of “just watch the hair!” and complained about being hit onContinue reading “We all tried that double slice of pizza”
We found out the true water level at the embankment today
December 16, 1971 –Don McLean’s eight-minute-plus version of American Pie was released and became one of the longest songs to ever hit the pop charts. If you prefer the clip with Don singing in it, here you go. Youngster, can use the song as the Cliff Notes (Shmoop, if you prefer) for what happened duringContinue reading “We found out the true water level at the embankment today”
The first time Snyder came up to fix the sink
December 16, 1975 –The groundbreaking sitcom (for it’s time) One Day At A Time starring Bonnie Franklin, Mackenzie Phillips and Valerie Bertinelli premiered on this date. Mackenzie Phillips and Valerie Bertinelli are only five months apart in age. Bertinelli was the younger of the two, so Phillips was cast as the older sister.
Santa became the point
Most Christmas songs are likely to feature one of two people: Jesus or Santa. And while people have been singing Christmas hymns and carols about Jesus since the Fourth century, songs about Santa Claus arrived a little later. It’s believed that the tune, Up On the Housetop, written in 1864 by Benjamin Hanby, a churchContinue reading “Santa became the point”
Heinz Beans never had a better platform
December 15, 1967 –The Who release their third album, The Who Sell Out, on this date. There are fake radio jingles between songs, including one for the deodorant Odorono.
The shame lives on.
December 15, 1968 –Philadelphia Eagles fans, and for that matter, all Philadelphia sports fans, have a long reputation for being exceptionally hostile, with plenty of individual instances to show for it. Philadelphia Eagles fans pelted Santa Claus with snowballs on this date. The “real” Santa Claus who was supposed to appear was stuck in aContinue reading “The shame lives on.”
For those in search of their master’s thesis
December 15, 1966 –Walt Disney, alleged neo-nazi, commie hater, union-buster and alleged child pornography lover died on this day. And he’s not a giant frozen popicle in Cinderella’s Castle nor buried beneath the Pirates of the Caribbean ride! Let us compare of two of the modern era’s finest and most influential artists: Georges Seurat (DecemberContinue reading “For those in search of their master’s thesis”
