1971: Apollo 14 took off for the moon

Apollo 14 put the US back in space.   It happened on this day in 1971, or about 9 months after the problems of Apollo 13.    The men were Allan B. Shepard, who first went into space in 1961, Edgar Mitchell and Stuart A. Roosa.

Frankly, I miss these space missions.   They made us so proud!

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1964: Dr. Strangelove premiered in the US

On this day in 1964, a very strange movie opened in the US.   

It was: Stanley Kubrick’s Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb!     It was based on a rogue officer who decides to use nuclear weapons against the old USSR.

This is what Roger Ebert wrote about the movie:

"Dr. Strangelove" (1964) is filled with great comic performances, and just as well, because there's so little else in the movie apart from faces, bodies and words. Kubrick shot it on four principal locations (an office, the perimeter of an Air Force base, the "War Room," and the interior of a B-52 bomber). His special effects are competent but not dazzling (we are obviously looking at model planes over Russia). The War Room, one of the most memorable of movie interiors, was created by Ken Adam out of a circular desk, a ring of lights, some back-projected maps, and darkness. The headquarters of Gen. Jack D. Ripper, the haywire Air Force general, is just a room with some office furniture in it.
Yet out of these rudimentary physical props and a brilliant screenplay (which Kubrick and Terry Southern based on a novel by Peter George), Kubrick made what is arguably the best political satire of the century, a film that pulled the rug out from under the Cold War by arguing that if a "nuclear deterrent" destroys all life on Earth, it is hard to say exactly what it has deterred.
"Dr. Strangelove's" humor is generated by a basic comic principle: People trying to be funny are never as funny as people trying to be serious and failing. The laughs have to seem forced on unwilling characters by the logic of events. A man wearing a funny hat is not funny. But a man who doesn't know he's wearing a funny hat ... ah, now you've got something.

Frankly, it was very strange!

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Dr Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb by Peter ... https://t.co/TNooiKMBox via @amazon

— Silvio Canto, Jr. (@SCantojr) January 29, 2017

Dr. Strangelove Or: How I Learned To Stop Worrying And Love The Bomb Amazon In... https://t.co/dR8LDzxp84 via @amazon

— Silvio Canto, Jr. (@SCantojr) January 29, 2017

1955: Joe DiMaggio elected to Hall of Fame

On this day in 1953, or his first year of eligibility, Joe DiMaggio was selected to The Hall of Fame.

According to his Hall of Fame page:  

"On the ball field Joe DiMaggio could do it all. He could hit for average and power and patrolled center field in Yankee Stadium so gracefully that he earned the nickname “The Yankee Clipper”, a reference to the great sailing ship."

Was he the greatest?  Tough question but he was one of the best.

P.S.  You can listen to my show (Canto Talk).  If you like our posts, drop a dime here.

1953: "Lucy had a baby" episode

On this day in 1953,  Lucy had a baby and a large TV audience joined in.   They say that 68% of TV were tuned in.

The entire series is now for sale.

P.S.  You can listen to my show (Canto Talk).  If you like our posts, drop a dime here.

2009: Pres. Bush's farewell speech!

Back on January 2009, President Bush's speech was simple and clear.   

He kept the country safe and that was a major accomplishment.

Why do I think that Bush will look better with time?

Rick Moran has an interesting post:

"For good or ill, George Bush will be remembered as a consequential president whose footprint will affect presidents’ policies far into the future.Witness Barack Obama keeping many of his foreign policies – even ones he criticized during the campaign.Right or wrong, those policies cannot be easily tossed aside or, even more surprisingly, Obama found upon being briefed that the policies were sound and correct after all.This is true to a large extent of Iraq.Our withdrawal under Obama will differ only at the margins from Bush’s plan."

Thank you Pres. Bush!

P.S.  You can listen to my show (Canto Talk).  If you like our posts, drop a dime here.

The Rolling Stones "Singles Collection" to remember Mick Jagger's birthday

How do you build a rock collection and replace all of those scratchy 45's in your closet or garage?   It will take time and a few dollars.   We will begin with this recommendation:   "The singles" or the 45's released in the London label......B-sides included....

We remember Guy Williams (1924-89)

We remember Armando Joseph Catalano who was born on this day in New York City in 1924.    He died in Argentina in 1989.   

He took the name of Guy Williams and had big TV roles:  "El Zorro" and Mr. Robinson in "Lost in space".

I do not remember Williams as "El Zorro" but "Lost in Space" was one of my favorite shows many years ago.  I also did not know that he was hugely popular in Argentina because of "El Zorro":

 

P.S.  You can listen to my show (Canto Talk).  If you like our posts, drop a dime here.

 

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We remember Rod Taylor (1930-2015)

We remember Rod Taylor, who was born in Australia on this day in 1930.  My memory of Rod Taylor is "The birds", a very scary movie and then on a couple of Doris Day movies.......He was also the star of "The Time Machine" ...........he died in 2015 at 84.....

P.S.  You can listen to my show (Canto Talk).  If you like our posts, drop a dime here. 

1918: President Wilson and "The Fourteen Points"

On this day in 1918, President Woodrow Wilson spoke to Congress and presented what came to be known as "The Fourteen Points", or his outline or vision for a stable, long-lasting peace in Europe.    

It did not really work out and Europe was fighting again 20 years later!  

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We remember William Peter Blatty, author of "The exorcist"

We remember William Peter Blatty who was born in New York City on this day in 1928.  He died in 2017 at age 89.

Back in 1973, many people were talking about "The exorcist", a very scary movie.   It was based on William Peter Blatty's book:   

“The Exorcist,” the story of a 12-year-old girl possessed by the Devil, was published in 1971 and sold more than 13 million copies. 
The 1973 movie version, starring Linda Blair and directed by William Friedkin, was a runaway hit and earned Mr. Blatty, who wrote the screenplay, an Academy Award. (It was also the first horror movie nominated for the best-picture Oscar.)

I did not see the movie or read the book.  Nevertheless, they were both very consequential.   

The movie can be downloaded HERE.

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The Three Wise Men put Christ in Christmas

It is a story right out of The Bible:

"When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. 11On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped Him. Then they opened their treasures and presented Him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh. 12And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route."

Unlike Santa Claus, these wise men did bring gifts to the baby Jesus.

Don't misunderstand.   I have nothing against Santa Claus, "Jingle Bell Rock" or Christmas office parties.    I love them too.  

 I'm just saying that the story of The Three Wise Men is about the baby Jesus and that's what Christmas is really all about.   This is why I love the story so much.   This is why I'm thankful that I grew up hearing the story.

We remembered Three Wise Men on Tuesday's show with Tersi Bendiburg (storyteller) and Amarilys Rassler (author).  

P.S.  You can listen to my show (Canto Talk) and follow me on Twitter.  If you like our posts, drop a dime here.

Check Out Christianity Podcasts at Blog Talk Radio with Silvio Canto Jr on BlogTalkRadio

We remember Kid Gavilan (1926-2003)

We remember today Gerardo Gonzalez who was born in Camaguey on this day in 1926.  

 

He became “Kid Gavilan” or “The Cuban Hawk”, one of the greatest professional boxers ever.   

Gavilan began his professional career in 1943 and enjoyed success in Cuba and Mexico before moving to the United States in the fall of 1946.

His first title match was on July 11, 1949, when he lost a 15-round decision to the defending world welterweight champion, Sugar Ray Robinson. 

 

In 1951. Gavilan won his first title by defeating Johnny Bratton in a 15-round match.

Gavilan was inducted into The Ring magazine’s Boxing Hall of Fame in 1966.    He died in Miami in 2003.

 

P.S.  You can listen to my show (Canto Talk).  If you like our posts, drop a dime here.

1942: Bob Feller went into the US Navy

On this day in 1942, Bob Feller, who had won 76 games over the last three seasons, went into the US Navy.

We learned a few Decembers ago that Bob Feller passed away at age 92.

I did not see Feller pitch but every baseball fan knows about Bob Feller. 

This is an account of his baseball career:    266 wins, 2,581 K's, 3 no-hitters, 12 one-hitters and 44 shutouts.  

But there is more!

He enlisted after Pearl Harbor and served in World War II for almost 4 years!

What a remarkable life! 

P.S.  You can listen to my show (Canto Talk).     If you like our posts, drop a dime here.

 

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“Mr Ed” and those early days in the US

Back in our early days in Wisconsin, we spent a lot of family time watching TV.   It was also a way of learning English and watching the snow fall on the grass.

One of our favorites was “Mr. Ed”, or “Que cosa mas grande, un caballo que habla” as my mother used to say!

The Amazing “Mr. Ed” made its debut on this day in 1961.

It was first on syndication and then became a part of the CBS lineup in the fall or October 1961.   Our family picked it up in 1964-65.

One of my favorite shows was when Mr. Ed went to Dodger Stadium.

By the way, Mr. Young (or Wilbur as Mr. Ed called him) died in May 1996.

I loved this show!

P.S.  You can listen to my show (Canto Talk).  If you like our posts, drop a dime here.

 

"Inferno", a good movie from 1953

Not long ago, TCM featured "Inferno", a movie from 1953.  

Let me give you a little heads up on the story:  

On a desert outing a wealthy playboy breaks his leg and his wife and business partner use a ruse of going to get help as a way of taking off together on a torrid affair, but the husband tracks them down and engages in a showdown with the man who stole his wife.

The ending is great but I will let you watch the movie.

P.S.  You can listen to my show (Canto Talk).     If you like our posts, drop a dime here.

"Inferno"....a 1953 movie.... https://t.co/CL60j3uXrl via @amazon

— Silvio Canto, Jr. (@SCantojr) January 14, 2018

1974 and 55 was the new speed limit!

 

January 2, 1974:  President Nixon signed "The Emergency Highway Energy Conservation Act", setting a new national maximum speed limit.....or 55 MPH! It was intended to save fuel.......it probably did but it also drove a lot of people crazy driving down our highways!

— Silvio Canto, Jr. (@SCantojr) January 2, 2018