Five random things that happened on this day (October 26th) in history...
1881 The Gunfight at the OK Corral lasted just 30 seconds on this day but it's been immortal since via the movies and television where it's been depicted dozens of times, most famously in Gunfight at the OK Corral (1957) and Tombstone (1993).
1931 Eugene O'Neill's Mourning Becomes Electra opens on Broadway starring Alice Brady (who will win an Oscar later that decade for In Old Chicago). But it takes 16 years for a film version to premiere which disappoints but nabs an Oscar nomination and a Golden Globe Drama win for Rosalind Russell...
1984 The Terminator hit theaters starring not-yet superstar Arnold Schwarzenegger, Linda Hamilton, and Michael Biehn. James Cameron's classic was a sleeper hit in '84 earning $78 million globally on its $6 million budget but it became so popular on cable and VHS that when the sequel was released 7 years later it was an instant blockbuster earning 1/2 a billion globally. Wrote a piece we're proud of on the original picture here. People keep trying to reboot this series but the first two films were perfect so just leave it as is please. Thank you for listening.
2012 James Bond's 50th anniversary outing Skyfall opens in movie theaters all over Europe (we had to wait another two weeks for it in the States). It becomes the highest-grossing Bond film ever (if you dont adjust for inflation) and wins Best Original Song (a first for the Bond series).
2015 Three years later on the same exact day, Spectre gets its London premiere and once again Bond wins the Oscar for Best Original Song.
2018 New in movie theaters two years ago today: Yen Tan's 1985 (reviewed), Sweden's bizarre but very memorable Oscar submission Border (reviewed), and Luca Guadagnino's Suspiria remake (which we just discussed again for Horror Costuming reasons).
Today's Birthday Suit
Happy 48th to Mr Audra McDonald and Tony nominee Will Swenson who is a fellow BYU alum (yes we were there at the same time. No I did not know him). Sigh. Had to include the 2009 Hair promotional shoot (image source) because it's still one of the best productions I ever saw on Broadway. Remember Broadway? Remember bars? [Commence weeping for the before times]
Other actors celebrating birthdays today: Tom Brittney (30), Jon Heder (43), Florence Kasumba (44), Rosemarie de Witt (49), Anthony Rapp (49), Aaron Kwok (55), Cary Elwes (58), Dylan McDermott (59), François Chau (61), Rita Wilson (64), Lauren Tewes (67), and Jaclyn Smith (75)
Other showbiz peeps born today: Olympian Sasha Cohen, Director Rupert Wyatt (48), Mr Nicole Kidman singer Keith Urban (53), Director Julian Schnabel (69), and shoulda been President Hillary Clinton (73)
Gone but not forgotten: Actress Margaret Wycherly (Sergeant York, White Heat) born on this day in 1881, Singer Mahalia Jackson born on this day in 1911, Director Don Siegel (Invasion of the Body Snatchers, Dirty Harry) born on this day in 1912, Silent film child star Jackie Coogan (The Kid, Tom Sawyer) born on this day in 1914, Actor Bob Hoskins (Mona Lisa, Who Framed Roger Rabbit) born this day in 1942, Screenwriter Pat Conroy (The Prince of Tides) born on this day in 1945, Celebutante Holly Woodlawn (Trash) born on this day in 1946, and director Ted Demme (Blow, Beautiful Girls) born on this day in 1963