1985: ‘The Black Cauldron’s’ Scary Opening
Originally set to open during Christmas of 1984, Disney’s animated, The Black Cauldron didn’t open in theaters until this day. Known as Disney’s first animated film to receive a PG rating, the movie was delayed due to a disastrous test screening where young children were supposedly running out of the theater scared to death. The scenes in question included beheadings and other gruesome images. Hardly family friendly. Disney’s studio chairman at the time, Jeffrey Katzenberg, was so incensed, he ordered certain scenes be dropped from the final film.
When producer Joe Hale objected, Katzenberg edited the film on his own and only stopped when CEO Michael Eisner asked him to. However, with so many scenes now missing from the film, new scenes needed to be animated, and the film was delayed. Unfortunately, the changes were not enough to fix the film’s troubles.
The Black Cauldron went over budget and under performed in the movie theaters. The movie received mixed reviews from audiences and critics alike. Unlike other Disney films, the movie wasn’t released on video until 1998, 13 years later.
While The Black Cauldron does have its fans, it is one of the least successful Disney films of all time. (Image: Walt Disney Animation)
1990: Roseanne Barr Butchers the National Anthem
We all can’t be Whitney Houston. Roseanne Barr was asked to sing “The Star-Spangled Banner” at the Jack Murphy Stadium during a baseball game between the San Diego Padres and the Cincinnati Reds. Most people said that she was disrespecting the song, but Barr swears that she couldn’t hear herself over the public-address system, so she just sang as loud as she could.
After the incident, Barr did admit that the Padres had suggested that she “bring humor to the song.” Many people criticized her performance including President George H.W. Bush who said her performance was a “disgraceful” one. But it was memorable.
There is a lot a pressure when asked to sing America’s most famous song in front of a huge crowd. Barr is not the only one to get bad reviews. In 2018, Fergie sang a bizarre version of the song the NBA All-Star Game and on July 15, 2024, country singer Ingrid Andress butchered the song at the MLB Home Run Derby. She later admitted that she was drunk at the time.
Movies Released
- 1980: Caddyshack
- 1997: Good Burger
- 2003: Seabiscuit
- 2003: Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over
- 2008: Step Brothers
- 2014: And So It Goes
- 2014: Hercules
TV Series Debuts
- 2014: Castle Rock
- 2019: Another Life
Famous Birthdays
- 1923: Estelle Getty (actress)
- 1935: Barbara Harris (actress)
- 1954: Walter Payton (football player)
- 1967: Matt LeBlanc (actor)
- 1979: Juan Pablo Di Pace (actor)
- 1985: James Lafferty (actor)
- 1985: Shantel Vansanten (actress)
- 2000: Mason Cook (actor)
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