What's this? What's this? It's a “Nightmare Before Christmas” anniversary. 22 years ago today, the Tim Burton-produced film opened in theaters.
The stop motion musical has become a lucrative property for Disney, but upon its 1993 release, the House of Mouse put “Nightmare” under its Touchstone Pictures banner because the studio worried it was “too dark, too scary” for kids, director Henry Selick recalled. “Their biggest fear, and why it was kind of a stepchild project, was they were afraid of their core audience hating the film and not coming, when in fact once kids found out about it, it connected with them as well as Tim's regular fan base.”
“Nightmare” fans looking for new ways to show their love of the film can check out Hot Topic's new “Nightmare” items, unveiled today.
Other notable October 13 happenings in pop culture history:
1950: “All About Eve” premiered in New York. It went on to win Best Picture at the Oscars and remains the only film to receive four female acting nominations.
1965: The Who recorded their song “My Generation.”
1971: Roman Polanski's “Macbeth” opened in U.S. theaters.
1979: Michael Jackson's “Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough” hit No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100.
1984: U2 scored their second No. 1 U.K. album with “The Unforgettable Fire.”
1989: “Look Who's Talking” opened in theaters.
2002: British band Muse took legal action against Celine Dion for naming her Las Vegas show “Muse.” Matthew Bellamy said he didn't want “people thinking we're Celine Dion's backing band.”
2006: “A Series of Unfortunate Events” concluded with the release of the 13th and final book.
2009: Katy Perry began recording “Teenage Dream.”
Birthdays: musician Paul Simon (turns 74 today), singer Ashanti (35), country music singer Rhett Atkins (46), “Borat” actor Sacha Baron Cohen (44), “Little Shop of Horrors” actress Tisha Campbell-Martin (47), “The X-Files” creator Chris Carter (58), rocker Sammy Hagar (68), “Private Practice” actress Kate Walsh (48), “Veep” actor Matt Walsh (51)