The first of Alfred Hitchcock's war-time thrillers, Foreign Correspondent, starring Joel McCrea, Laraine Day and Herbert Marshall, premiered on this date
Shooting was completed on May 29, 1940, after which Alfred Hitchcock made a visit to England. He returned on July 3 with the word that the Germans were expected to start bombing at any time. Ben Hecht was hurriedly called in and wrote the tacked-on final scene set at a London radio station. It was filmed on July 5, and the real-life bombing started on July 10, 1940.
If your joy is derived from what society thinks of you, you're always going to be disappointed.
Happy Birthday to the Material Girl.
Today in History:
August 16, 1819 -
60 cavalrymen charge into a crowd of approximately 70,000 protesters at St. Peter's Field in Manchester, England on this date.
The soldiers begin to hack away at the people with their sabers and trample them under hoof. 11 die and 400 are wounded in the Manchester Massacre, also called the Battle of Peterloo.
August 16, 1858 -
U.S. President James Buchanan inaugurates the new transatlantic telegraph cable by exchanging greetings with Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom.
However, once again America was ill advised by the request for Prince Albert in a can: Victoria was not amused. The cable linked Ireland and Canada and failed after 5 days.
August 16, 1930 -
Fiddlesticks, was Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer's first sound cartoon. It is about a happy-go-lucky, needy frog, named Flip the Frog.
This cartoon was created by Ub Iwerks in 1930. He had drawn a frog and his girlfriend in "Night'",one of the last Silly Symphonies short films he drew while working for Walt Disney.
August 16, 1938 -
Blues musician Robert Johnson, who presumably sold his soul to the devil (the story was refered to in the movie Crossroads), was poisoned by a jealous husband in Three Forks, Mississippi and died on this date.
Besides being a seminal figure in the history of the Blues, Johnson is often cites as an early influence in the development of Rock and Roll.
August 16, 1956 -
Bela Lugosi, Broadway star, Hollywood star, portrayer of the undead in countless films and formaldehyde connoisseur, died of a heart attack on this day while lying in bed in his Los Angeles home. He was 73.
Bela Lugosi was buried wearing one of the many capes from the Dracula stage play, per the request of his son and fifth wife, in the Holy Cross Cemetery in Culver City, California. Contrary to popular belief, Lugosi never requested to be buried in his cloak; Bela Lugosi, Jr. has confirmed on numerous occasions that he and his mother, Lillian, made the decision.
August 16, 1977 -
Elvis Presley died (or not) in his home at the age of 42, while sitting on the toilet. While doing his business, he had been perusing The Scientific Search for the Face of Jesus. Presumably, Elvis' search was concluded shortly thereafter.
Elvis has long left the building
Remember, add more bran to your diet.
August 16, 1987 -
Mercury, Venus and Mars all get bunched up near the Sun in what some call the Harmonic Convergence on this date.
Thousands of nutballs clustered at sacred locations like Mount Shasta, California begin meditating their asses off for some damn reason.
August 16, 1991 -
Shamu the Whale died at 16, from respiratory failure, on this date.
After a brief service and very moving service, the Japanese mourners at the graveside were invited to consume the dearly departed; wasabi sauce was served on the side.
And so it goes.
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