Small English group makes a splash on a Really, Really Big Show

February 9, 1964 – The Beatles made their US live debut on CBS-TV’s The Ed Sullivan Show; they performed five songs including their current No.1 I Want To Hold Your Hand on this date. Never before had so many viewers tuned-in to a live television program, which with 73 million viewers, was three-fourths of theContinue reading “Small English group makes a splash on a Really, Really Big Show”

The Bradys premiered

February 9, 1990 –Proving that you can throw good money after bad, CBS TV tried with an hour-long Comedy-Drama(?) version of The Brady Bunch, The Bradys, starring the usual suspect, which debuted on this date. The show lasted six episodes. Once again Robert Reed fought with Sherwood Schwartz over script quality. When Schwartz refused toContinue reading “The Bradys premiered”

The Life and Times of Grizzly Adams premiered

February 9, 1979 –Based on the 1974 independent film of the same name, The Life and Times of Grizzly Adams, starring Dan Haggerty and Ben the Bear (Bozo), premiered on NBC TV on this date. The series was shot in Northern Utah countryside locations. The production office was based in Park City, Utah. The productionContinue reading “The Life and Times of Grizzly Adams premiered”

Mintonette was invented on this date

February 9, 1895 –William G. Morgan met James Naismith, inventor of Peachball, while Morgan was studying at Springfield College in 1892. Like Naismith, Morgan pursued a career in Physical Education at the YMCA. Morgan was greatly influenced by Naismith and his new game, basketball. On this date, in Holyoke, Massachusetts, Morgan invented a less vigorousContinue reading “Mintonette was invented on this date”

We were forced to hear Dyn-o-mite for the first time

February 8, 1974 – The spin-off from the sitcom Maude, that wasn’t quite a spin-off, Good Times, premiered on CBS-TV on this date. Norman Lear hired artist Ernie Barnes to paint the pictures which J.J. used in the show. Barnes’ work displays elongated African-American subjects in everyday scenes. Eddie Murphy owns the original The SugarContinue reading “We were forced to hear Dyn-o-mite for the first time”

High tight, I promise it all connects (somehow)

February 7, 1964 –It was 59 years ago today, The Beatles arrived at JFK International Airport to begin their first tour of the United States. They helped bring about a social revolution whose effects can be felt to this day. They had nothing to declare but their genius. The Beatles came from Britain, sometimes knownContinue reading “High tight, I promise it all connects (somehow)”

Maria top the charts (in the UK)

February 7, 1999 –Blondie went to No.1 on the UK singles chart with Maria, giving the group their sixth UK No.1 single, 20 years after their first No.1, Heart of Glass. This was Blondie’s comeback song – at the age of 54, lead singer Debbie Harry became the oldest female to make No.1 in theContinue reading “Maria top the charts (in the UK)”