2007: Hollywood Goes on Strike
On this day in 2007, film, TV and radio writers went on strike after negotiations break down with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP). Lasting until February 26, 2008, the strike shut down production on more than 60 TV shows. Not surprisingly, the strike is said to have caused a loss of $3 billion to the local Los Angeles economy. TV stations were forced to air reruns over and over again. Some audience even learned how to read a book again. (Main Image: Wikimedia)
2005: ‘The Incredibles’ Arrive to Save the Day
It was on this day in 2005 when Disney/Pixar released the animated hit movie, The Incredibles. The family of superheroes included Mr. Incredible (who is super strong), Mrs. Incredible (whose maiden name was Elastigirl), daughter Violet (who can become invisible and create protective force-fields), son Dash (who is super fast) and baby Jack Jack (who the family thought had no superpowers, but it turns out, they were wrong.) The family the fights crime together, stays together. The Incredibles was directed by Brad Bird and won the 2004 Annie Award for Best Animated Feature as well as two Oscars. Although fans requested a sequel for years, Incredibles 2 did not arrive in theaters until June 15, 2018, which also did “super” in the box office. (Image: Disney/Pixar)
1917: Snail Mail
It was on this day in 1917 when 21-year-old Walter Butler sent a postcard from the battlefield to his fiancée, Amy Hicks to let her know that he was still alive. The postcard didn’t arrive until February 2007! Sent from the Flanders trenches, it read, “I am quite well. Letter follows at first opportunity. I have received no letter from you for a long time.” Nobody seems to know why the postcard arrived so late (although it was stamped with the date July 28, 1915), but the card arrived safely to the residence of Walter’s and Amy’s daughter, Joyce Hulbert (who was 82-years-old at the time) and living in her mother’s home. (Image: Annie Spratt/Unsplash)
1937: An Un-Silly Symphony Wins Oscar
In the mid 1930’s, Walt Disney released a series of short cartoons called “Silly Symphonies” which featured animation synched to music and little if any dialogue. It was on this day that The Old Mill, which was the first to be released by RKO Radio Pictures and the first to use Disney’s multiplane camera which gave the picture a lot more depth. The story featured a worn out mill and the creatures that lived inside of it and what happens during a terrible wind and rain storm. Surprisingly realistic, there was nothing silly about this picture. It won the Academy Award that year for Best Short Subjects: Cartoons. (Image: Disney/Wikipedia)
Birthdays
- 1900: Natalie Schafer (actress)
- 1911: Roy Rogers (actor)
- 1913: Vivien Leigh (actress)
- 1931: Ike Turner (singer)
- 1940: Elke Sommer (actress)
- 1941: Art Garfunkel (singer)
- 1943: Sam Shepard (playwright)
- 1955: Kris Jenner (talent manager)
- 1959: Bryan Adams (singer)
- 1960: Tilda Swinton (actress)
- 1963: Tatum O’Neal (actress)
- 1965: Famke Janssen (actress)
- 1968: Sam Rockwell (actress)
- 1987: Kevin Jonas (singer)
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