Make the most of this one - any History that happens today won't happen again for another four years (except the repeats on the Discovery and History channels). As Disraeli once described the 1867 Reform Act, it was 'a leap year in the dark' (don't worry - nobody knew what he was talking about at the time, either).
So, on this day in 1960, Hugh Hefner opened the Playboy Club in Chicago and introduced the w0rld to gorgeous, scantily clad waitresses posing as rabbits. Strictly no hanky-panky however - you can look, but you can't touch. Hefner was brought up a strict Methodist and started his career on a shoestring with Playboy magazine (about as racy as Hello is today, but mind-bogglingly naughty in its day). So could we say that Hughie is a porn-again Christian?
No.
In other news ...
A birthday back in 1792 on this day has prompted an idea for a brilliant TV show. Gioacchino Rossini, composer and chef, was born on 29 February (so, of course, he was four on his first birthday - see Gilbert and Sullivan's Pirates of Penzance for a mathematical explanation). One of the excellent pieces Rossini composed was the William Tell Overture, you know, the one the Lone Ranger used to gallop to on Saturday evening tv back in the '50s - duddle dum, duddle dum, duddle dum dum dum - you know the one. For my younger follower, it is the Dove for Men advert.
Well, combining Rossini's talents, how about a cookery programme (now, there's a novelty) in which a series of terrified, gormless hopefuls have to rustle up, say, Tournedos Rossini at the speed of the Overture? That way, all cookery programmes would last only a few minutes and we can watch something worthwhile.
