September 26, 1580 -
Francis Drake returned to Plymouth, England, on this date, ending a three-and-a-half year journey around the world (all the while, delivering his tasty little cakes.)
It was nearly four more centuries, however, before The Beverly Hillbillies premiered on CBS-TV (on this day in 1962).
The lengthy lapse between these watershed events has never been explained.
September 26, 1962 -
The cult film Carnival of Souls, premiered on this date
Upon release in 1962 the film was a failure in the box office, but its subsequent airings on late night television helped to gain it a strong cult following. Today it is regarded as a landmark in psychological horror.
September 26, 1964 -
S. S. Minnow started it's three hour tour (and lasted 98 shows) when Gilligan’s Island premiered on CBS-TV, on this date.
In the very first shot of the opening credits, the American flag over the harbor can be seen flying at half-mast. The reason was the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, shortly before the shot was filmed.
September 26, 1968 -
(The real) Hawaii Five-O moved to it regular broadcast night on CBS TV on this date.
Jack Lord lived in Beverly Hills when he was asked at the last minute to read for the part of McGarrett. He read for it on Wednesday, flew to Hawaii on Friday, and was in front of the cameras the following Monday. He later became a permanent resident and prominent figure in Hawaii, contributing to many local causes and charities, and often mentioned publicly in consideration for political office. After he died, the state erected a statue of him.
September 26, 1969 -
An unsuspecting American public is forced to deal with the vaguely incestuous family comedy series The Brady Bunch which premiered on ABC-TV on this date. Remember, the Bradys were so good, clean and wholesome that didn't even go to the bathroom (you never saw the toilet.)
Sherwood Schwartz's technique for auditioning child actors was to set out a bunch of toys on his desk, then during the interview see if the child paid attention to him or was distracted by the toys. If the toys went unheeded, Schwartz knew the child had the concentration needed to work on a television series.
September 26, 1969 -
The Beatles release the Abbey Road album in London, on this date.
It was their 13th album in the U.K. It was also their last album together as a group.
September 26, 1975 -
Great Scott! Twentieth Century Fox released upon an unsuspecting nation, The Rocky Horror Picture Show, when it premiered in Los Angeles on this date.
The set builders forgot to put an extra door in the lab set, thus Dr. Scott had to crash through the wall for his entrance.
September 26, 1980 -
The concert film of Bette Mildler's 1979 tour, Divine Madness, was released on this date.
The film was edited together from four separate concerts filmed over three consecutive nights at Pasadena's Civic Auditorium in Pasadena, California in 1979.
Today in History:
September 26, 1895 (he may have been born in 1901 - who knows) -
George Raft was an American film actor who was most closely identified with his portrayals of gangsters in crime melodramas of the 1930s and 1940s, was born on this date. George may have achieved an unenviable place in Hollywood folklore as the actor who turned down some of the best roles in screen history, most notably High Sierra, The Maltese Falcon, Casablanca and Double Indemnity.
Also, George Raft also gave more actresses and bit players 'the clap' than any other actor during the 30s.
What a wonderful way to be remembered.
September 26, 1687 -
Troops laid siege to Athens led by Venetian general Francesco Morosini rained cannon fire down on the Acropolis and the Turkish soldiers garrisoned inside. One cannonball penetrated the Parthenon, which happened to serve as the Turks' gunpowder magazine.
Oops, sh*t happens.
September 26, 1937 -
The Empress of the Blues, Bessie Smith, sustains grave injuries in a traffic accident on US Highway 61 on this date. She is taken to a colored hospital in Clarksdale, Mississippi and her arm amputated. Smith died later that day from blood loss.
According to legend, Bessie had been refused treatment by a closer, whites-only hospital.
September 26, 1945 -
Secretly, I wanted to look like Jimi Hendrix, but I could never quite pull it off.
Bryan Ferry (the Lord of Louche) lead singer of the group Roxy Music and solo artist, was born on this date.
September 26, 1960 -
John F. Kennedy and Richard Nixon faced off in the first televised presidential debate. Nixon had been recuperating from illness yet refused to wear makeup for the camera, looking haggard and gray.
Radio viewers gave positive opinions for Nixon's performance but so many people saw the debate televised that Kennedy gained the lead in the polls, ultimately winning the election.
Remember what I said about Checkers, his kids' dog.
September 26, 1983 -
The Soviet Union's early warning system wrongly signaled the launch of a US Minuteman intercontinental ballistic missile. Lt. Col. Stanislav Petrov, in charge of the system, decided the alarm was false and did not launch a retaliatory strike. (Please thank Col. Petrov in your prayers tonight for saving the world.)
Because of military secrecy and international policy, Petrov's actions were kept secret until 1998. In 2004 the San-Francisco-based Association of World Citizens presented Petrov a World Citizen Award.
September 26, 2003 -
Robert Palmer, the famous blue eyed soul singer also known for his sharp suits, died in Paris of a heart attack on this date.
His first big break into the music business was a stint as lead singer for The Alan Bown Set in the late sixties.
And so it goes
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