Three years before America’s bicentennial: A look back at 1973

In 1973, Richard Nixon was sworn in for a second term as President of the United States; George Foreman defeated Joe Frazier to become world heavyweight champion; The Vietnam War ended; Major League Baseball debuted the designated hitter; The Sears Tower became the world’s tallest building; Skylab launched; The Bahamas, Guinea-Bissau, and Papua New-Guinea became… Continue reading Three years before America’s bicentennial: A look back at 1973

Camelot was just beginning: A look back at 1961

In 1961, The United States severed diplomatic relations with Cuba; John F Kennedy became the 35th President of the United States of America; Barbie’s boyfriend, Ken, debuted; Adolf Eichmann’s trial took place in Jerusalem; Sierra Leone, South Africa, and Kuwait declared independence from the UK; Alan Shephard became the first American in space; Newton Minnow… Continue reading Camelot was just beginning: A look back at 1961

The year Trump entered the world: A look back at 1946

In 1946, The United Nations held its first meeting; Juan Perón was elected president of Argentina; Trygve Lie became the first Secretary-General of the United Nations; Syria and the Philippines became independent nations; Sony was founded (as Tokyo Telecommunications Engineering); The first bikini was modeled in Paris; Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis debuted their comedy partnership; Mensa was founded;… Continue reading The year Trump entered the world: A look back at 1946

That marriage is a lemon!

  Lemon (1969) This avant-garde film by Hollis Frampton is an elaborate, eight minute practical joke, yet somehow this was released by the Criterion Collection.     Marriage Italian Style (1964) Prostitute Filomena (Sophia Loren) fakes an illness and convinces her long time paramour Domenico (Marcello Mastroianni) to marry her on her “deathbed.” After her recovery, she convinces… Continue reading That marriage is a lemon!

The pelican briefly held great beauty

  The Pelican Brief (1993) Two pro-choice Supreme Court justices are assassinated by an evil corporation in order to sabotage a pending environmental lawsuit.  The masterminds of this conspiracy outsmarted every law enforcement agency and reporter in the country, but Tulane law student Darby Shaw (Julia Roberts) uncovers the connection via a magical concoction of statistical analysis and intuition. Julia… Continue reading The pelican briefly held great beauty