Beatlemania proved it wasn’t a fad

October 31, 1963 –The Beatles returned to London today in 1963 from a short tour of Sweden, their first outside England. They were greeted at Heathrow airport by photographers, journalists, and hundreds of screaming fans, adding to the growing evidence that Beatlemania was going to be around for more than a few weeks. Ed SullivanContinue reading “Beatlemania proved it wasn’t a fad”

It’s the one day of breaking out of your shell

ACME Eagle Hand Soap’s brief history of All Hallow’s Eve: The ancient Romans celebrated a holiday called Feralia on February 21. At first, it was simply a day off to recover from the holiday of February 20 (Salvia Divinorum) and to take care of last-minute shopping before the holiday of February 22 (Salta Boca). Coincidentally,Continue reading “It’s the one day of breaking out of your shell”

It was supposed to be a a simple joke

October 30, 1938 — The War of the Worlds was the Halloween episode of the American radio drama anthology series Mercury Theatre on the Air. Directed by wunderkind Orson Welles, the episode was an adaptation of H. G. Wells’s classic novel The War of the Worlds (1898). Welles’s adaptation is arguably the most well-known radioContinue reading “It was supposed to be a a simple joke”

This may seem familiar

October 30, 1942 –Rene Clair’s second Hollywood film, the delightful romantic comedy, I Married A Witch, starring, Veronica Lake, Fredric March, Susan Hayworth, and Robert Benchley, premiered on this date. Sol Saks, creator of Bewitched, stated in an interview for E! True Hollywood Story: Bewitched that he drew inspiration both from this film and BellContinue reading “This may seem familiar”

I can understand why it’s ranked so low in our area

Surprise, surprise, it’s National Candy Corn Day today. The famous candy is said to have been invented in the United States by George Renninger a candymaker at the Wunderlee Candy Company in Philadelphia, in the 1880s and it was originally made by hand. Nowadays, it’s mass produced by Jelly Belly® using a recipe unchanged sinceContinue reading “I can understand why it’s ranked so low in our area”

It’s OK – this isn’t on the test

October 29, 1787 –Mozart’s opera Don Giovanni opened in Prague., on this date The opera was first performed at the Prague’s Estates Theater with Mozart at the piano and conducting the orchestra. It was a sensational success – but what the hell do you care, Halloween is in two days and general election is inContinue reading “It’s OK – this isn’t on the test”

The Naked Kiss premiered

October 29, 1964 –The still shocking noir classic film, The Naked Kiss, directed by Sam Fuller and starring Constance Towers, Anthony Eisley, Michael Dante and Virginia Grey opened on this date. Samuel Fuller wrote in his autobiography that Constance Towers actually shaved her head for the opening scene, “without any qualms.” However, Towers denied thisContinue reading “The Naked Kiss premiered”