Today in Madonna History: July 9, 1987

wtg_tour_passes

On July 9 1987, Madonna performed her Who’s That Girl World Tour to a sold out crowd of approximately 60,000 fans at the Sullivan Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts.

Today in Madonna History: July 8, 1991

a league of their own movie promo still 1a league of their own movie promo still 3a league of their own movie promo still 2

On July 8, 1991, Madonna began filming A League Of Their Own, starring Tom Hanks and Geena Davis, directed by Penny Marshall.

Today in Madonna History: July 5, 1987

janepauley_madonna1 janepauley_madonna2

On July 5 1987,  Madonna was interviewed by Jane Pauley on NBC-TV’s Today and caused a controversy when she referred to her hometown of Bay City, Michigan as “a smelly little town” – a comment that enraged the citizens of Bay City.

Today in Madonna History: July 4, 2001

madonna_drowned_world_tour_earls-1 Madonna Drowned World Tour Madonna Drowned World Tour madonna_drowned_world_tour_earls-4 madonna_drowned_world_tour_earls-5 madonna_drowned_world_tour_earls-6 madonna_drowned_world_tour_earls-8 madonna_drowned_world_tour_earls-6a madonna_drowned_world_tour_earls-7

On July 4 2001, Madonna performed the first of 6 sold-out concerts at Earl’s Court in London, England.

Today in Madonna History: July 3, 1987

Canadian Diamond Award True Blue 1987 (2)Canadian Diamond Award True Blue 1987 (1)

On July 3, 1987, Madonna accepted a rare Canadian Diamond Award at a press conference in Toronto on the eve of her sold-out concert at CNE Stadium. The certification award was presented by WEA Music Canada president Stan Kulin to mark over one million units sold of the True Blue album in Canada.

Today in Madonna History: July 2, 1990

madonna_vatican-1 madonna_vatican-2 madonna_vatican-3 madonna_vatican-4

On July 2 1990, Roman Catholic groups condemned Madonna’s Blond Ambition concert as blasphemous due to her controversial show’s sex and religious themes and planned to cancel her concerts in Rome and Turin.

Madonna made this speech in response to the threats:

I am an ltalian-American, and I am proud of it.
Proud of being an American because it is the country I grew up in, the country that gave me the opportunities to be who I am today and a country that believes in freedom of speech and artistic expression.
 
My show is not a conventional rock show but a theatrical presentation of my music.
And, like theatre it asks questions, provokes thought and takes you on an emotional journey.
Portraying good and bad, light and dark, joy and sorrow, redemption and salvation.
I do not endorse a way of life but describe one, and the audience is left to make its own decisions and judgments.
This is what I consider freedom of speech, freedom of expression and freedom of thought.
 
Every night, before I go onstage, I say a prayer not only that my show will go well but that the audience will watch with an open heart and an open mind and see it as a celebration of love, life and humanity.

*This is an edited transcript of the speech.  The full speech is included in the video posted above.

Today in Madonna History: July 1, 1988

letterman_88_madonna

On July 1 1988,  Madonna made a surprise unscheduled appearance on NBC-TV’s Late Night With David Letterman. Sandra Bernhard was David’s scheduled guest.