A 25-year old 'Dream' comes true...
If you were at the Imperial Theater on Broadway on this date in 1981 you witnessed a musical that's about to hit the big screen on Christmas Day 25 years later. The first incarnation of "Dreamgirls" would run on the 'great white way' for almost 4 years, ending on a steamy August night in 1985 for a total of 1,521 performances...
The opening night cast consisted of Sheryl Lee Ralph, Jennifer Holiday, Loretta Devine, Ben Harney, Cleavant Derricks and Obba Babatunde. "Dreamgirls", the movie will feature the actors that replaced the original cast members mentioned and in the same order: Beyonce Knowles, Jennifer Hudson, Anika Noni Rose, Jamie Foxx, Eddie Murphy and Keith Robinson. Early critic reviews have hyped the performances of ex-American Idol contender Jennifer Hudson (who might be up for an Oscar for her role) and Eddie Murphy (ditto). And how can Beyonce be bad??? We'll soon find out...
Paramount has spent a fortune advertising this movie and why should we deny them? Our video link of the day is a "Dreamgirls" trailer which you can see by clicking on: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=roL-nWN7o20 ...
Sometimes I wanna pinch myself when things work out this way...in addition to the "Dreamgirls" musical debuting on this date in 1981, if you go back 101 years earlier, on December 20th, 1880, Broadway officially became "The Great White Way" when the lights went on for the first time. It just doesn't get any better than that...
More Timeline Memories...
- [1879] Thomas A. Edison privately demonstrates his incandescent light at Menlo Park (NJ). December 20th...DAY OF LIGHTS!!!
- [1957] Elvis Presley's Christmas present is a draft notice from the U.S. Army. The King marches down to the Memphis draft board for a physical...
- [1963] The Berlin Wall opens for the 1st time to allow West Berliners to visit relatives on the east side for the holidays (it re-closes on January 6th)...
- [1973] Bobby Darin passes away following surgery to repair a faulty heart valve. One of show businesses great talents is gone at 37...
- [1980] No announcers allowed in a Don Ohlmeyer experiment during the Jets-Dolphins game on NBC-TV (won by the Jets 24-17). I remember how great this was. It was like being at the game because they kept the crowd mics open (give us more games without announcers, please)...
"Happy Trails": 1968] Author John Steinbeck dies of a heart attack at 66...1976] Chicago mayor Richard J. Daley is the victim of a heart attack at 74...1996] Astronomer Carl Sagan takes a one-way trip to the galaxy at 62 from a rare bone marrow disease...1999] Legendary Country star Hank Snow dies of natural causes at 85...
The Final Curtain: 2002] Trent Lott resigns as Senate Republican leader two weeks after making racially charged remarks (HE'S BAAAACK)...
Premiered on this date: 1946] The Frank Capra movie, "It's A Wonderful Life" starring Jimmy Stewart and Donna Reed has a preview for charity at the Globe Theatre in Times Square, one day before it's official world premiere (the movie doesn't become a hit until it reaches TV)...1950] Jimmy Stewart stars in another big movie, "Harvey" which opens in Times Square...1967] "The Graduate" starring Dustin Hoffman and Anne Bancroft premieres...
#1 on this date: 1969] "Leaving on a Jet Plane" - Peter, Paul & Mary (the song was written by John Denver)...
Musical Chairs: 1975] Joe Walsh replaces Bernie Leadon in the Eagles...
Record Breaking: 1985] Islander Denis Potvin (better known to Ranger fans as "Potvin s--ks" breaks the NHL record for a defenseman with his 916th point (the previous record was held by the greatest defenseman who ever laced up a pair of skates, the immortal #4 Bobby Orr)...
Wedding Bells: 1993] Donald Trump says "you're hired" to his new bride, Marla Maples (this marriage will last until June '99). Trump who turned gray overnight just gave Tara Conner a second chance to hold her Miss U.S.A. crown for her (ahem) Britney Spearscapade of recent days. The Donald also got face time prior to another "Apprentice" starting in January. We will give Donald Trump one more chance to prove that we care about his series any more...
[To ensure accuracy of dates and content, multiple reference sources are used in each timeline]...
Commentary...
Harvey Mednick offers his 1st record played in radio as "Que Sera, Sera" by Doris Day. If you share your 1st record with us, we will run it as a mini-feature. Feel free to e-mail me with your 1st record played in radio. If there is interest it's my idea but if it fails it's Harvey's idea..
"Happy Birthday...happy birthday":
Uri Geller (no wonder my blog is starting to curl up) (60), Peter Criss of Kiss (or is it Peter Kriss of Ciss???)(61), BST's Bobby Colomby (62), John ("Magnum P.I.") Hillerman (who wants everyone to know that that was a different John Hillerman who died a while back)(74) and wacky comedian Charlie Callas (79)...
Timeline Countdown: Happy Chanukah (night 6), 5 days until Christmas, 11 days until 2007, 17 days until the NFL playoffs, 19 days until the BCS championship game, 46 days until Super Bowl XLI and 57 days until pitchers and catchers...
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