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    Black Tot Day

    History Short: What Thing of the Past Do You Miss the Most?

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    By on Cinema & TV, Education, Inventions, July 31, Lil' History Chips, Literature, Music, Religion, Sports

    A Brief History On July 31, 1970, the British Royal Navy experienced one of the darkest days in their long and glorious history, Black Tot Day.  On that day, the RN ended its long tradition of giving each sailor at sea a drink of rum. Digging Deeper While you may not personally miss this bygone practice, we ask, “What do you miss the most?” Some possible answers could be: (for Catholics) The Latin Mass School Dress and Grooming Codes Drive-in Movies Decent Meals and Service on Airliners Polaroid Cameras Phone Booths The Milkman Vinyl Records Sears Catalog Cheap Gasoline Hot…

    Helen Beatrix Potter

    History Short: Beatrix Potter, Children’s Author is Born

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    By on July 28, Literature, writers

    A Brief History On July 28, 1866, Helen Beatrix Potter was born in London, England, to a moderately well to do family of Unitarians.  Her father was a barrister and her mother came from a wealthy cotton trading and shipbuilding family.  (See our other articles about some great women.) Digging Deeper Potter is most famous as the author of the classic children’s book, The Tale of Peter Rabbit, published in 1902.  Potter was also renowned as an illustrator, a talented artist that designed greeting cards and contributed illustrations to the books of other authors.  She was also a keen businesswoman…

    Hattie McDaniel

    Black History Month, Iconic Fictional African Americans

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    By on Cinema & TV, February 29, Lists, Literature

    A Brief History On February 29, 1940, for her portrayal of Mammy in the classic motion picture, Gone with the Wind, Hattie McDaniel became the first African American to win an Academy Award, better known as an Oscar.  On the last day of February, the month we celebrate as “Black history Month,” we take the time to honor some famous and well loved fictional African American characters.  We have previously featured many real great African Americans, but today we take the time to recognize how even fictional characters can present people in a positive light, even as an example for…

    2021

    Was 2021 Worse than 2020?

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    By on Cinema & TV, Crime, December 31, Health/Medicine, Literature, Military, Music, Politics, Sports

    A Brief History On December 31, 2021, we take a look back at the year that is just ending, with no particular reason for optimism.  The pandemic continued, political division in the United States remained high, (as always) many significant people died, and some of my favorite television shows were cancelled!  (Obviously we are only scratching the surface of our selected topics, so feel free to make your own comments and observations about 2021 to expand the “big picture.”)  Former President Trump got booted from Twitter!  Yes, and the weather sucked, too. Digging Deeper Late breaking bad news: Terrible wildfire…

    Dune

    All Three Cinematic Versions of Dune Compared!

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    By on Cinema & TV, Literature, November 22

    A Brief History On November 22, 2021, we take a look at the three major motion pictures based on the 1965 Frank Herbert science fiction novel, Dune, along with the television miniseries on the same topic. Digging Deeper The first effort to produce a Dune themed motion picture came as early as 1973, with the Alejandro Jodorowsky proposed film prepared to feature an incredible cast of major stars and celebrities, including Orson Welles, Salvador Dali, Hervé Villechaize (the actor that played “Tattoo” on the television series Fantasy Island), Gloria Swanson, Geraldine Chaplin and Mick Jagger.  Music would be supplied by…