Tuesday, October 27, 2009

Remember, don't mention the war.

October 27, 1939 -
John Cleese, actor, writer and all around funny guy was born on this date. (Oh yeah, I think he was in a comedy group in the late 60's, early 70's.)



After John Cleese referred to a New Zealand town as "suicide capital of New Zealand" and one of the world's most boring cities, the town returned the favor by naming a local city dump after the comedian.

October 27, 1955 -
What's now seen like the quintessential 50's movie, Nicholas Ray's masterful, Rebel Without a Cause, was released on this date.



When the scenes were shot for the chickie run aftermath when the teenagers ran to the edge of the cliff to look down; they witnessed what looked like the sun rising and exploding. Steffi Sidney, who played Mil, would later comment that it looked like an atomic bomb went off, and it was. What they witnessed was "Zucchini", the 14th and final thermonuclear bomb (weighing 28 kilotons) launched for Operation Teapot.


October, 27, 1956 -
A good late period Elmer vs. Bugs, Wideo Wabbit, premiered on this date.



I wish my brother George was here.


Today's word -
Gnathonize: verb, to flatter. Please stop trying to gnathonize me, my ass is already damp from your kisses.


Today in History:
October 27, 1553 -
Michael Servetus, noted theologian, was honored in Switzerland for his discovery of the pulmonary circulation of the blood, on this date by being burned at the stake just outside Geneva with what was believed to be the last copy of his writing chained to his leg. Historians record his last words as: "Jesus, Son of the Eternal God, have mercy on me.".


John Calvin is given a good deal of credit for having arranged these honors, which may have had something to do with his own gratitude to Mr. Servetus for having raised an important theological question.

Throughout history, such important theological questions have caused almost as much bloodshed as important theological answers. That doesn't mean theology's an especially bloody field—there's been just as much carnage from philosophy, political science, economics, linguistics, and the rest of the humanities.

It's probably all that blood that puts the "human" in the "humanities."


The New York City subway system opened officially 105 years ago today. It ran from the Brooklyn Bridge uptown to Broadway at 145th Street with a fare of one nickel.



This means New Yorkers can look forward to 365 days of riding the World's Most Crowded, Smelly and Largest Transportation System! Let Joy Reign Supreme!!!


October 27, 1954 -
"... It was all started by a mouse." Walt Disney's 1st TV show, "Disneyland," premieres on ABC



Both CBS and NBC rejected the idea of a weekly Disney program, in part because any network airing the show was asked to help finance Walt’s idea for a new kind of amusement park: a clean, family-friendly park consisting of different themed areas. ABC signed on to the idea with the hope Walt could deliver a major success for the struggling network, which could only boast of two moderate hits in the early 1950s: The Lone Ranger and The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet.


October 27, 1964 -
In a private ceremony, Sonny and Cher exchanged rings in Tijuana (on this date) and told others they were married,



they were not legally married until 1969.



And so it goes.

1 comment:

zoe said...

ha! don't forget the hard sciences, my friend...there are just as many crazed blood-suckers in that arena :)