Category Archives: Uncategorized

Christmas trees are known to have been popular in Germany as far back as the sixteenth century. In England, they became popular after Queen Victoria’s husband Albert, who came from Germany, made a tree part of the celebrations at Windsor Castle. In the United States, the earliest known mention of a Christmas tree is inContinue reading “O Tannenbaum”

December 12, 1531– Juan Diego Cuauhtlatoatzin, an indigenous peasant, had visions of the Virgin Mary. Legend held that the Virgin Mary appeared to Juan Diego outside Mexico City and left an imprint on his cactus-fiber poncho. The poncho became an icon for the Virgin of Guadalupe. It’s early and I’ll stop hurting your brain withContinue reading “It’s the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe”

December 12, 1968 –Only good girls keep diaries. Bad girls don’t have time. After a long and well enjoyed life, Tallulah Bankhead died in St. Luke’s Hospital in New York City of double pneumonia, complicated by emphysema and malnutrition, on this date. Her last coherent words reportedly were “Codeine… bourbon.” (I absolutely will be stealingContinue reading “Tallulah Bankhead”

December 12, 1954 –BBC Television aired the landmark adaptation of George Orwell’s Nineteen Eighty-Four on this date. It was the most expensive drama produced to date. Unusually for a British TV production of that era, this story survives as a telerecording. At the time, the majority of television was transmitted live, and most shows wereContinue reading “Beware the savage jaw of 1984”

December 12, 1915 –It’s the birthday of Francis Albert today. Once again, under advise of legal council, I have make no jokes or innuendos about Mr. Sinatra’s alleged organized crime connection, especially since I work at a union facility (Please note – I did not use the word, Mafia.) And once again, We here atContinue reading “Francis Albert Sinatra”

December 12, 1972 –Irwin Allen’s ocean disaster movie, The Poseidon Adventure, opened in NYC on this date. Paul Gallico was inspired to write his novel by a voyage he made on the Queen Mary. When he was having breakfast in the dining room, the liner was hit by a large wave, sending people and furnitureContinue reading “The premiere of the original Poseidon Adventure”

December 11, 1980 – Hawaiian shirts and free mustache rides were the order of the day when Magnum PI, starring Tom Selleck, debuted on CBS-TV on this date. Orson Welles provided the voice of Robin Masters, whose face was never seen on this show. Producers eventually wanted Welles to be revealed as the face ofContinue reading “Magnum PI premiered”

December 11, 1968 – Filming began on The Rolling Stones‘ Rock And Roll Circus movie, on this date. Conceived by Mick Jagger, the event was comprised of two concerts on a circus stage and included such acts as John Lennon and his fiancée Yoko Ono performing as part of a supergroup called The Dirty Mac,Continue reading “The Rolling Stones‘ Rock And Roll Circus”

December 11, 1982 –Toni Basil’s surprise hit Mickey reached No. 1 of the Billboard charts on this date. This was originally recorded as Kitty by a group called Racey, which released it in 1979. In the original lyric, Kitty is a girl. Toni Basil changed the title from Kitty to Mickey and the gender fromContinue reading “Mickey topped the charts”

Don’t forget to light your menorah before sundown today If you’ve forgotten how to light your Hanukkah Candles (Psst – From Left to Right) – Another reason Hanukkah feels better than Christmas – Never a silent night among Jewish families. After hosting the fourth night of Hanukkah, now is the time to figure out howContinue reading “We’re halfway through”