June 11, 1977 –Electric Light Orchestra’s record Telephone Line reached #7 on the Billboard Charts in the US, giving the band its first gold single. ELO’s first manager was Don Arden. When he lost interest in the group, he gave them to his daughter Sharon who ran Jet Records. Sharon married Ozzy Osbourne a fewContinue reading “Telephone Line charts”
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A Day at the Races premiered
June 11, 1937 –The Marx Brothers film, A Day at the Races, opened on this date. Irving Thalberg protested the scene in which Harpo Marx frantically mimes to Chico Marx that Hackenbush (Groucho Marx) is in danger. It changed Harpo, said Thalberg, from a character who DIDN’T talk into a character who COULDN’T talk. Thalberg,Continue reading “A Day at the Races premiered”
Fear not, today is World Gin Day.
Today is the 13th World Gin Day, started by Neil Houston and Emma Stokes in 2009, always celebrated on the second Saturday in June, (National Martini Day is coming up on Sunday, June 19, Father’s Day – I will just have to pace myself!). I wait patiently by the phone for confirmation that I haveContinue reading “Fear not, today is World Gin Day.”
Sometimes, it is not good to be the king
June 10 1190 –While en route to the Holy Land for a jolly vacation of pillaging and sodomy (The Third Crusade) with his fellow sovereigns, Richard (of the Lionheart fame) and Phillip II of France, Emperor Frederick Barbarossa drowned near Silifke Castle in the Saleph river, on this date. Accounts of the event are conflicting.Continue reading “Sometimes, it is not good to be the king”
3 Feet High and Rising was released
June 10, 1989 –De La Soul’s debut album, 3 Feet High and Rising, peaks at #24 on the Billboard 200 chart. On the same day, Me, Myself and I hits #1 on the R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.
The Prince Philip Movement
I believe that celebrations will be muted today in some isolated jungle villages in the South Pacific nation of Vanuatu, who usually celebrate the birthday of everyone’s favorite itinerant Greek sailor Philip Mountbatten (Prince Philippos of the House of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg.) Vanuatu remains one of the most vulnerable countries on the planet to the negative effectsContinue reading “The Prince Philip Movement”
The best time for ice cream sodas is always.
It’s National Black Cow Day – Everybody grab a root beer float today and run around to celebrate. Especially if you add bourbon to the drink. According to several websites, the Black Cow was made by Frank J. Wisner, of Cripple Creek, Colo., in 1893. He was already making sodas for the people of hisContinue reading “The best time for ice cream sodas is always.”
Sopranos finale
June 10, 2007 – The final episode of (what could arguably have been the greatest television series ever broadcast) The Sopranos aired on this date. I’m not even going to comment upon what actual happened in the last few moments of the broadcast. Coincidence or not, Italian Businessman John Gotti died on this date inContinue reading “Sopranos finale”
Sen. Joseph McCarthy self-implodes
June 9, 1954 –Have you left no sense of decency? During Senate-Army hearings, Sen Joseph McCarthy charged that one of Joseph Welch’s attorneys had ties to a Communist organization. As an amazed television audience looked on, Welch responded with the immortal lines that ultimately ended McCarthy’s career. At that point, the Senate gallery erupted inContinue reading “Sen. Joseph McCarthy self-implodes”
Nero was having a bad day
June 9, 68 –Rather than suffer a Senate – imposed death by flogging, Nero implored his secretary Epaphroditus to slit his throat. The freedman complies, giving the condemned emperor a quick death on this date, just as centurions arrive at the villa to haul him away. As Nero’s four faithful servants prepared his funeral pyre,Continue reading “Nero was having a bad day”
