On May 5th 2002, the eagerly awaited comic book adaptation Spider-Man, released on Friday May 3rd, directed by Sam Raimi and starring Tobey Maguire in the title role, quickly became the fastest movie ever to earn more than $100 million at the box office, raking in a staggering $114.8 million. After a genetically altered spider bites … Continue reading May 5 2002 Spider-Man tops $100 million in opening weekend
Tag: Entertainment
May 1 1941 Citizen Kane released
On May 1st 1941, Orson Welles’ landmark film Citizen Kane, which had generated such controversy that Radio City Music Hall refused to show it, finally debuted at at the smaller RKO Palace Theater. Citizen Kane is now revered as one of the greatest movies in history. George Orson Welles, an American actor, director, writer and … Continue reading May 1 1941 Citizen Kane released
April 30 1933 Willie Nelson born
On April 30th 1933, Willie Nelson, who would revolutionise country music, was born in Abbott, Texas. Willie Nelson's sound and his look made him one of that genre's most recognisable faces, and if his winning personality weren't enough reason to like him, then his good-natured struggles with the IRS would be. But before Willie Nelson … Continue reading April 30 1933 Willie Nelson born
April 22 1937 Jack Nicholson born
On April 22nd 1937, John Joseph "Jack" Nicholson, famous for his roles in such movies as Easy Rider, One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest and As Good As it Gets, was born in Neptune, New Jersey. He would become known as one of the greatest actors of his generation. Nicholson’s father left his mother before … Continue reading April 22 1937 Jack Nicholson born
April 13 1964 Sidney Poitier Wins Oscar For Lilies Of The Field
On April 13th 1964, Sydney Poitier became the first African American to win the Academy Award for Best Actor, for his role as a construction worker who helps build a chapel in Lilies of the Field. Poitier was born on February 20th 1927, in Coconut Grove, Miami, Florida, while his parents were visiting the United … Continue reading April 13 1964 Sidney Poitier Wins Oscar For Lilies Of The Field
April 10 1970 The Beatles Breakup Announced
On April 10th 1970, in an ambiguous self-interview by Paul McCartney, the international media correctly interpreted that the Beatles had broken up. During the "interview, in which McCartney was both questioner and interviewee, he asked himself the question "Do you foresee a time when Lennon-McCartney becomes an active songwriting partnership again?" His response to his … Continue reading April 10 1970 The Beatles Breakup Announced
April 8 1990 Twin Peaks Premieres
On April 8th 1990, David Lynch’s surreal television drama Twin Peaks premiered on ABC. Immediately, the question on everyone's mind was “Who killed Laura Palmer?” In the opening episode, the naked body of the beautiful blonde homecoming queen was found washed up on a riverbank wrapped in plastic. This had the effect of throwing the … Continue reading April 8 1990 Twin Peaks Premieres
April 7 1970 John Wayne Wins Academy Award For True Grit
On April 7th 1970, the legendary actor John Wayne won his first and only acting Academy Award, for his role in director Henry Hathaway’s Western True Grit. John Wayne was born Marion Robert Morrison on May 26th 1907 in Winterset, Iowa. His parents changed his name to Marion Mitchell Morrison later, when they decided to … Continue reading April 7 1970 John Wayne Wins Academy Award For True Grit
April 6 1974 ABBA Wins Eurovision Contest
On April 6th 1974, in Brighton, England, at the 19th Eurovision Song Contest, the tiny nation of Luxembourg was devastated when it failed to secure a third consecutive win at the pan-European musical event. The judges did the rest of the world a favour, however, by selecting the Swedish entry as the winner instead. The … Continue reading April 6 1974 ABBA Wins Eurovision Contest
April 1 1984 Marvin Gaye Killed By Father
On April 1st 1984, the day before his 45th birthday, soul singer Marvin Gaye's life came to a tragic end, when he was shot and killed by his own father after a violent physical fight. At the peak of his career, Marvin Gaye was the Prince of Motown; the soulful voice behind hits as wide-ranging … Continue reading April 1 1984 Marvin Gaye Killed By Father
March 24 1958 Elvis Presley Inducted Into Army
On March 24th 1958, after several deferments, Elvis Aaron Presley, the King of Rock and Roll, was finally inducted into the United States Army. In effect, he started the day as the King, but ended it as a lowly army private. After turning 18 on January 8, 1953, he fulfilled his patriotic duty and legal … Continue reading March 24 1958 Elvis Presley Inducted Into Army
March 23 1998 Titanic Wins 11 Oscars
On March 23rd 1998, as James Cameron took the stage to accept his Academy Award for Best Director, it was clear that the blockbuster film Titanic was dominating the Oscars. Titanic had already tied with 1950's All About Eve for the record of most Oscar nominations, at 14. By the end of the night, it … Continue reading March 23 1998 Titanic Wins 11 Oscars
Hong Kong Avenue Of Stars
January 31st 2011: The Avenue of Stars is a salute to eminent Hong Kong film workers for their devoted contribution to local and world theatres. With many visitors to Hong Kong being fans of Hong Kong's movies, the Avenue of Stars also serves as a tourist attraction. It was opened to the public and visitors from … Continue reading Hong Kong Avenue Of Stars
March 21 1963 Alcatraz Closes
On March 21st 1963, Alcatraz Prison in San Francisco Bay closed down and transferred all it's prisoners to other institutions, according to official government sources. At it's peak period of use in the 1950s, "The Rock," or "America's Devil Island" housed over 200 inmates at the maximum-security facility. Alcatraz remains an icon of American prisons … Continue reading March 21 1963 Alcatraz Closes
March 19 1953 Cecil B DeMille Wins His First And Only Oscar
On March 19th 1953, Cecil B. DeMille won the only Academy Award of his career. The legendary film maker won with The Greatest Show on Earth, taking home the Oscar for Best Picture. The big-budget film extravaganza about circus life starred Charlton Heston, Betty Hutton, and Cornel Wilde. Born in Ashfield, Massachusetts, in 1881, DeMille … Continue reading March 19 1953 Cecil B DeMille Wins His First And Only Oscar
March 16 2005 Robert Blake Acquitted of Murdering Wife
On March 16th 2005, a Los Angeles Superior Court acquitted Robert Blake of the murder of his younger wife, Bonny Lee Bakley, after a three month trial. Blake had previously won fame for his performance as a cop in the 70s TV series Baretta, but his performance as a murderer in the real life court … Continue reading March 16 2005 Robert Blake Acquitted of Murdering Wife
March 12 1969 London Police Drug Raid On George Harrison
On March 12th 1969, the London drug squad appeared at house of George Harrison and Pattie Boyd with a warrant and drug-sniffing canines. Boyd immediately used the direct hotline to Beatles headquarters, and George returned to find his home turned upside down. He is reported to have told the officers "You needn't have turned the … Continue reading March 12 1969 London Police Drug Raid On George Harrison
Superheroes and Super Tyrants
It is always nice to receive an accolade from a fellow writer, and I thank Chan Kai Yee for his gracious words in his post today.
New Format For Facebook
A big change is coming to Facebook. Facebook users have been beta testing a new feature called "timeline." It changes the format of your personal account page from a news feed list to a timeline based on photos and other posts. It allows you to peruse your Facebook activity in chronological order. Whether you love … Continue reading New Format For Facebook
The Apartment
The Apartment is the bittersweet, darkly comic tale of a mild-mannered office nebbish who sells little bits of his body and soul to climb the corporate ladder, falls in love on the way up and finds his way back down to redemption. Jack Lemmon will quite simply break your heart in this wry, cynical indictment … Continue reading The Apartment
Some Like it Hot
One of the great screwball comedies, Some Like It Hot answers the burning question: will Jack Lemmon’s romantic life actually improve if he puts on a dress? You bet. In fact, just about everybody has a good time in this fun, silly movie, with Lemmon and Tony Curtis in drag, hiding out from the mob … Continue reading Some Like it Hot
Fiction Family by Fiction Family (2009)
Switchfoot frontman Jon Foreman and Nickel Creek guitarist Sean Watkins have set out to restore dude love’s lost notoriety with Fiction Family. The resultant self-titled record has plenty of charm despite lacking any “super band” qualities. Those who became enamored with Foreman’s folky acoustic solo project will eat Fiction Family right up. The record isn’t … Continue reading Fiction Family by Fiction Family (2009)
X-Men Origins: Wolverine (2009)
In the crowded pantheon of comic-book-derived movie-franchise superheroes, Wolverine, as embodied by the muscular Australian song-and-dance man Hugh Jackman, always seemed kind of special. A grouchy, sensitive loner with retractable metal claws and apparently unretractable facial hair, Wolverine brooded and growled through the first three “X-Men” pictures, helping to supply them (or at least the … Continue reading X-Men Origins: Wolverine (2009)
Ben-Hur
Ben-Hur was made back when going to an epic movie was an international event. Great spectaculars were made with real people, mind-boggling sets and casts of thousands, long before digital special effects made them all obsolete. Epics were shown on gigantic screens in palatial movie houses, often with overtures and intermissions, and a really big … Continue reading Ben-Hur
Susan Boyle Has A Makeover
It looks like the Susan Boyle makeover has begun. In one recent report about the YouTube sensation from Scotland, Boyle is said to have visited with a hairdresser to help tame her curly flyaway locks. Earlier today, she was photographed at her home in Blackburn wearing a lightweight leather jacket and a purple printed frock … Continue reading Susan Boyle Has A Makeover
Craig Hill 