This Day in Pop Culture for April 2

1968: ‘2001 A Space Odyssey’ Premieres

While some people say Stanley Kubrick’s 2001 A Space Odyssey is a terribly boring film, others regard it as greatest and most influential films ever made. Nevertheless, the film premiered at the Uptown Theater in Washington, D.C. on this day in 1968. Starring Keir Dullea and Gary Lockwood, the movie was inspired by Arthur C. Clarke’s short story, “The Sentinel.” It is a story that follows a trip to Jupiter with the computer HAL who has a mind of its own. Some critics thought that the film was darkly apocalyptic in its tone while others were able to the view the film with a sense of hope. Nominated for four Academy Awards (including Best Director, Best Story and Screenplay and Best Art Direction) it won for Best Special Visual Effects. In 2010, The Moving Arts Film Journal named the film the “greatest film of all time.”

1902: The First Permanent Movie Theater Opens

Though the date is up for debate, the common theory is that on this day in 1902 Tally’s Electric Theatre opened its doors for the first time in Los Angeles. Before then, movies where shown in miscellaneous empty locations. Initially, the theatre was open from 7:30-10:30 p.m. but matinee showings were added soon after. Ten years later, the theatre was the first to show a color film. Tickets prices were just ten cents.

1792: Keep the Change

The United States Mint was established on this day in 1792 when the Coinage Act was passed authorizing the $10 Eagle, $5 half-Eagle & 2.50 quarter-Eagle gold coins & silver dollar, ½ dollar, quarter, dime and half-dime.

1977: ‘Rumours’ Becomes #1

Fleetwood Mac’s “Rumours” album went to the number one spot on Billboard and stayed there for 31 weeks.

1800: His First Symphony

Ludwig van Beethoven led the premiere of his First Symphony in Vienna on this day in 1800.

1956: Two Soap Operas Debut

CBS debuted the first two 30-minute-long soap operas, As the World Turns and The Edge of Night.

1970: ‘Patton” Took Charge of the Movie Theaters

Hollywood had been wanting to make a movie about WWII General George Patton since he passed away in 1945, but Beatrice, his widow, wouldn’t hear of it. the day after she died in 1953, producers began asking family members for access to Patton’s diaries. They also refused. It wasn’t until 1959 before the Army began to help with the project.

Although Francis Ford Coppola had written a script in 1963, former general Omar Bradley was brought in to give his input. However, it was well-known that he and Patton had opposing viewpoints and didn’t really get along.

Charlton Heston was considered for Bradley’s role in the film, but was given to Karl Malden. As for Patton’s role, Lee Marvin, Burt Lancaster, John Wayne, Robet Mitchum and Rod Steiger were all considered before settling on George C. Scott. Franklin J. Schaffner directed the movie which had a working title of Blood & Guts before changing it to simply, Patton.

Patton was nominated for 10 Academy Awards and won seven Oscars for Best Picture, Director, Actor (Scott), Screenplay, Art Direction, Film Editing and Sound.

1943: Chip and Dale are “Born”

Chip and Dale, the two curious rodents who frequently give Donald Duck a hard time, first appeared in in the short film, Private Pluto which was released on this day in 1943. The storyline entailed the pair wanting to store nuts inside a military base cannon. Not on Pluto’s watch! The chipmunks didn’t have any lines in the film, nor did they have names. It is believed that that Chip and Dale got their names after the furniture designer Thomas Chippendale.

It would be three more years before the duo would make another big screen appearance in Squatter’s Rights alongside Pluto and Mickey Mouse. Between the two films, they received a makeover. According to Disney animators, the first iteration of the chipmunks didn’t distinguish the two. So, the animators gave Chip a black nose, smooth fur and a more serious personality. Dale was shown with a red nose, buck teeth and his fur was disheveled. The chipmunks didn’t meet Mr. Duck until their third outing, Chip an’ Dale in 1947 and they’ve had a rivalry ever since.

The chipmunks appeared in 23 short films with three of them winning Academy Awards for Best Animated Short Film.

Years later, the pair starred in their own TV series, Chip ‘n’ Dale Rescue Rangers from March 1989 to November 1990. For the new show, the duo ran their own detective business, and the leads had a new wardrobe. Chip sported a fedora and bombers jacket while fun-loving Dale wore a Hawaiian shirt. A live action movie with the same title, but storyline closer to Who Framed Roger Rabbit, aired on Disney+ in 2022.