August 1, 1769 –Spain sent an exploratory expedition from San Diego to Monterey on this date, to survey the area and identify locations worthy of settling and converting the locals to Catholicism. The expedition was led by Gaspar de Portolá, nephew of the celebrated Spanish comedian Uncle Porky, and included a number of religious missionariesContinue reading “Eureka”
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The Six Wives of Henry VIII debuted in the US
August 1, 1971 – An acclaimed BBC series originally airing in 1970, The Six Wives of Henry VIII premiered on PBS, on this date. Costume Designer John Bloomfield worked for nearly a year on the mini-series. He spent three months doing basic research at the National Portrait Gallery, Windsor Castle, and various libraries, going throughContinue reading “The Six Wives of Henry VIII debuted in the US”
The Sonny and Cher Comedy Hour premiered
August 1, 1971 –Slotted as as a summer replacement show, CBS television aired The Sonny and Cher Comedy Hour, on this date. And Cher will outlive us all.
June and July were just practice
The festival of Lammas marks the beginning of the harvest, when people go to church to give thanks for the first grain to be cut. This is the long way of saying that it’s August again. How did a single month become so important? Like almost everything else that’s difficult to understand, the history ofContinue reading “June and July were just practice”
All our times have come
July 31, 1976 –Blue Oyster Cult single, from their album, Agents of Fortune, (Don’t Fear) the Reaper, was released on this date. (Don’t Fear) The Reaper was written and sung by Blue Öyster Cult’s lead guitarist, Donald Roeser, also known as Buck Dharma. It was rumored to be about suicide, but it actually deals withContinue reading “All our times have come”
You have a big mountain there sir
It was on this day in 1954 that human feet first stood upon the summit of Pakistan’s K2, the second-tallest mountain in the world. K2 was known to the Chinese as the “Great Mountain,” and to Indian and Pakistani locals as “That Big Thing Over There.” It wasn’t until 1856, when T.G. Montgomerie of Britain’sContinue reading “You have a big mountain there sir”
Enchanted April premiered
July 31, 1992 – Miramax Films released the Mike Newell’s film Enchanted April, starring Miranda Richardson, Josie Lawrence, Joan Plowright, Alfred Molina, and Jim Broadbent in the US on this date. The film was made for British television in 1991, but was well-produced enough to be released in theaters in the United States in 1992.
Don’t lie, you didn’t see it either
July 31, 1977 –For a reason only known to CBS executives, the one hit wonder group Starland Vocal Band’s show, The Starland Vocal Band Show debuted on CBS TV on this date. The band started out as John Denver’s backup group. The comedy was provided primarily by veteran D.C.-based satirist Mark Russell and David Letterman,Continue reading “Don’t lie, you didn’t see it either”
Harry James Potter
July 31, 1980 (I’m going with 1980 and not getting involved in the 1979 controversy) –Harry Potter, an orphan who discovers that he is a wizard was born on this dates. J K Rowlings, the Harry Potter brand author, and unfortunately loony bigot, shares a birthday with her creation (born 1965). Her ‘children’s stories‘ haveContinue reading “Harry James Potter”
Yesterday… and Today topped the charts
July 30, 1966 –The Beatles’ album Yesterday… and Today, went #1 and stayed #1 for five weeks, on this date. The record was released just after John’s infamous interview in which he stated that the Beatles were “bigger than Jesus“, which angered Americans and provoked many bans on their music and public incineration of memorabilia.Continue reading “Yesterday… and Today topped the charts”
The Haus of Dcaligari 