On this day in 1944, the Captain America serial film was officially released for the big screen. It was the first appearance of a Marvel character apart from a printed comic.Dick Purcell played the first Captain America for black and white film, produced by Republic Pictures. There were 15 episodes between 15 minutes and 25 minutes in length. Republic was usually dedicated to low budget B movies, serials, and westerns—Captain America was the most expensive serial that Republic had made, coming in 20% over budget at $223,000 (equal to $3.5 million in today’s dollars).The series backstory varies significantly from the comic. Instead of the frail soldier, Steve Rogers, it’s District Attorney Grant Gardner as Captain America, who is after Scarab, a villain trying to develop the “Dynamic Vibrator,” a superweapon capable of unthinkable damage (stop trying to think about it—it is unthinkable).Film would not see another Marvel character for 30 years until 1974, when Spider Man was included in the kid’s show, The Electric Company.

Music Du Jour:
Captain America soundtracks playlist is a good background for mixing drinks

Films Du Jour:

• Captain America (1990)
• Captain America: The First Avenger (2011)
• Marvel’s The Avengers (2012)
• Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014)
• Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015)
• Captain America: Civil War (2016)
• Avengers: Infinity War (2018)
• Avengers: Endgame (2019)

Miscellaneous:

• Dick Purcell died just a few weeks after the 1944 series was completed, allegedly due to too much strain from the film.
• You can buy digital comics from Marvel now, even the classics, at a fraction of the collector’s print price
• The serum that turned Steve Rogers into a superhero also gave him a super metabolism; he can’t get drunk from alcohol
• “Skinny Steve’s” body was a special effect in the First Avenger film, made with a body double, British actor Leander Deeny, and cutting each scene four times, half of them in front of green screens, before they are CGI’d together for the final product.
• The Captain’s shield is made of vibranium, a metal mined in Wakanda, and the same material used to make the Black Panther’s suit
• Chris Evans turned down the role of Captain America twice before his mother convinced him to take it. He said he was afraid of losing all anonymity in his life.
• Here’s some motivational wine glasses

Snacks du Jour: Pigs in a blanket is said to be Captain America’s favorite snack; for Chris Evans, he has ranked his list of favorites.

Cocktail Du Jour – The Capsicle: A Captain America CocktailThis recipe is from reallyareyouserious.com:

• 1 oz citron vodka
• ¼ cup sweetened blue raspberry lemonade drink
• 1 oz coconut rum
• 1 oz coconut syrup
• whipped topping (either dairy or dairy-free)
• blue and red cake sprinkles

Rim a snifter using coconut syrup or simple syrup and the blue and red sprinkles. Combine the vodka, blue raspberry lemonade powder, ½ cup of water, and 2 cups of ice into a blender and blend for 45 seconds. Fill glass ½ full of the blue mixture. Rinse blender. Combine the rum, coconut syrup, ½ cup of water, and 2 cups of ice into the blender and blend for 45 seconds. Top glass with white mixture.

Mocktail Du Jour – The Capsicle: A Captain America Mocktail

• ¼ cup sweetened blue raspberry lemonade drink
• 1 oz coconut syrup
• whipped topping (either dairy or dairy-free)
• blue and red cake sprinkles

Rim a snifter using coconut syrup or simple syrup and the blue and red sprinkles. Combine the blue raspberry lemonade powder, ½ cup of water, and 2 cups of ice into a blender and blend for 45 seconds. Fill glass ½ full with the blue mixture. Rinse blender. Combine the coconut syrup, ½ cup of water, and 2 cups of ice into the blender and blend for 45 seconds. Top glass with white mixture.

 Beer Du Jour

Anchor Brewing’s Liberty Ale or any reputable beer brewed in the USA

Wine Du Jour

Any American wineUse freshly squeezed citrus in your cocktails and mocktails when called for – It makes such a difference! Here’s a reliable and inexpensive juicer. 

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Photo credit: “Captain America” by oegan72 is licensed under CC BY 2.0