April 5, 2021 – National Deep Dish Pizza Day | First Contact Day

You Gotta Love The Red Head Who Boldly Went Where No TV Executive Did Before!

Welcome to April 5, 2021 on the National Day Calendar. Today we celebrate deep dish heaven and a red headed hero. 

Pizza was traditionally thin and crispy until someone in Chicago decided, “This is good, but it needs more cheese!” Yeah, that’s the ticket. Today, two Chicago based restaurants claim to have created this regional favorite.  Pizzeria Uno says their chef developed the recipe in 1943, while Rosati’s Authentic Chicago Pizza has had deep dish on the menu since 1926. Add to that, the dismissive attitude of any New Yorker and deep dish pizza is steeped in controversy.  But you don’t need to take sides to enjoy this gooey slice of heaven. In fact, some Chicago eateries will ship a frozen pie right to your door.  Baking one up is gonna take more time, but on National Deep Dish Pizza Day, we know it’s worth the wait.  

Since its debut in 1964, Star Trek has had more than its fair share of heroes. Kirk, Spock, Picard…and Lucille Ball. This funny redhead is best known for her iconic sitcom I Love Lucy, but she was also the head of Desilu Studios. In 1964, Gene Roddenberry sold Star Trek to Ball, who became the show’s biggest champion. After the initial pilot for the show bombed, Lucille Ball put up the money for reshoots, something that was unheard of for a TV show. The new version introduced us to the original crew that the world has grown to love. Today is First Contact Day, a celebration of the moment (in 2063) when humans first come into contact with aliens. Vulcans, to be more specific. But none of these exciting stories would’ve been told if it weren’t for a real-life Hollywood hero: Lucille Ball.

I’m Anna Devere and I’m Marlo Anderson.  Thanks for joining us as we Celebrate Every Day.


Leave a Reply

LISTEN to the National Day Calendar Radio Short.