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.)
Once I know his stance on the amount of vermouth in martinis, I might have to reconsider my vote this year.
October 27, 1955 -
The quintessential 50's movie (although quite startling at the time,) Nicholas Ray's masterful, Rebel Without a Cause, was released on this date.
Natalie Wood was first considered too naive and wholesome for the role of Judy. She began changing her
looks and eventually attracted the notice of director Nicholas Ray, who began an affair with her but still would not guarantee her the part, though he eventually relented. Both Ray and Wood later claimed that he changed his mind after she was in a car accident with Dennis Hopper and someone in the hospital called her a "goddamn juvenile delinquent".
October, 27, 1956 -
One of the better late period Elmer vs. Bugs Looney Tunes, Wideo Wabbit, premiered on this date.
Among the television programs parodied are You Bet Your Life starring Groucho Marx, You Are There with Walter Cronkite and The Liberace Show, starring Liberace.
October 27, 1964 -
Another Paddy Chayefsky scripted classic from the 60's (although unappreciated), The Americanization of Emily, starring James Garner and Julie Andrews, premiered on this date.
The role of Lt. Cmdr. Charles E. Madison was originally offered to William Holden, while James Garner was considered for the part of "Bus" Cummings.
(An abbreviated) 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 or as one of my faith readers put it, the 'hard' in hard science.
The Interborough Rapid Transit Subway, New York City's first underground subway line opened officially 108 years ago today. It ran from the Brooklyn Bridge uptown to Broadway at 145th Street with a fare of one nickel.
The ride currently costs $2.25 and if you're lucky, you can have a rat travel in the car with you.
October 27, 1954 -
"... It was all started by a mouse." Walt Disney's first TV show, Disneyland, premiered on ABC-TV on this date
All of the ABC episodes were filmed in color, even though they aired in black and white. When the show moved to NBC in 1961, many of the ABC episodes that re-aired on NBC were shown in color and have been that way ever since, even when those episodes aired on The Disney Channel and released on home video.
October 27, 1962 -
The British comedy stage revue Beyond the Fringe, written by and starring Peter Cook, Dudley Moore, Jonathan Miller and Alan Bennett opening in NYC on this date.
This show is often seen as the beginning of the British satirical comedy of the 60's and many of the members Monty Python found this show highly influential.
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.
Don't stare too long at Dave but wait about 90 seconds and watch what happens.
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