Saturday December the 1st


On This Day in 1898
Australian actor Cyril Ritchard was born in Sydney.  He became a star on Broadway in the role of Capt Hook in 1954's Peter Pan, for which he receieved a Tony.   He recreated the role on TV in 1960, after recurring roles in TV's Producers Showcase, the Goodyear TV Playhouse, and Hallmark Hall of Fame. Ritchard died Dec 18 1977 after a heart attack a month earlier, while touring in a Broadway road company.

On this day in 1913, actress Mary Martin, best known today as Larry Hagman's mother, was born in  Weatherford Texas.  She had great success on the Broadway stage, less so in film or TV.  But she did star in three TV productions of Peter Pan (1955, 1956 & 1960)  She was also featured in Annie Get Your Gun & Skin of Our Teeth, and recreated her South Pacific role as Nellie Forbush on a General Foods 25th Anniversary special.  Martin died of cancer November 3 1990 at age 76.

On this day in 1914, singer/host Johnny Johnston was born in St Louis.  He appeared on the NBC Home show, Masquerade Party, and the Ken Murray Show.  He hosted Make that Spare and twice subbed for Ed Sullivan as MC on Toast of the Town.   He died Jan 6 1996 at age 81.

On this day in 1917, actor William Tracy was born in Pittsburgh.  The highlight of his film career was playing the lead in 1950's Terry & the Pirates.  Ironically his memorable TV assignment was the part of Hotshot Charlie in the Terry & the Pirates series.  He died June 18 1967 at age 49.

On this day in 1921, actor Ralph Manza was born in San Francisco. In more than 40 years of TV supporting parts, he had recurring roles in the TV series Banacek, Barney Miller, Get Smart & Perry Mason. He died Jan 31 2000 at age 79, after a heart attack.

                                                                                                                            
On this day in 1925, actor David Doyle was born in Omaha. With his distinctive raspy voice his most memorable TV part was as Bosley in Charlie's Angels.  He also had recurring roles in the series Bridget Loves Bernie, TaleSpin & General Hospital.  Doyle died Feb 26 1997 after a heart attack.  He was 81.

On this day in 1929, entertainer Dick Shawn was born in Buffalo. The one-of-a-kind talent was at his best in nightclubs, but won recurring parts in the unmemorable series Mary, Hail to the Chief, Mr. & Mrs. Dracula, and Slapstick Studios.  He died at 63, havinf suffered a fatal heart attack on a San Diego stage.

On this day in 1930, soap opera actress Emily McLaughlin was born in White Plains NY.  Beginning in 1963 she played nurse Jessie Brewer on ABC's General Hospital for more than 25 years. She succumbed to cancer at age 62 April 26 1991, and her passing was written into the show.

On this day in 1933, singer Lou Rawls was born in Chicago. He produced more than 70 albums, sold more than 40 million records, appeared as an actor in motion pictures and on television, and voiced-over many cartoons. His biggest singel: "Youll Never Find Another Love Like Mine."  Rawls had running parts in the series Hey Arnold & Baywatch Nights. He died from brain & lung cancer January 6, 2006 at age 72.

On this day in 1940, bandleader Glenn Miller got a call from ASCAP (American Society of Composers and Publishers). He was informed that he couldn't use his Moonlight Serenade as his band's theme song. He had to use "Slumber Song" instead for a period of time, because of an ASCAP ban.

Also this day in 1940, comedian Richard Pryor was born in Peoria Illinois.  He made a lot of movies, but also appeared frequently on TV on NBC's Tonight Show, The Flip Wilson Show, Sanford & Son, Pryor's Place & The Richard Pryer Show.  He died at 65 Dec. 10 2005 after a heart attack.

On this day in 1945, Burl Ives made his concert debut at New York's Town Hall. We lovingly listen every year for the voice of this old-time personality as the narrator and banjo-pickin' snowman in TV's Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.

On this day in 1956, CHEK TV Victoria signed on as B.C.'s first independently owned TV station.  It was Victoria's CBC TV affiliate until 1981. Channel 6 signed on at 5 pm and had a special opening night broadcast from 6:30-7 pm.  In Sept. 1963, it would start broadcasting a mix of CBC and CTV offerings, after Frank Griffiths purchased CHEK from founder Dave Armstrong.

On this day in 1957, Buddy Holly & the Crickets performed "That'll Be the Day'' on TV's "Ed Sullivan Show.'' On the same show, Sam Cooke performs "You Send Me,'' as both acts made their debut on Sullivan.

On this day in 1958, the song "To Know Him Is to Love Him" by Teddy Bears topped the charts and stayed there for 3 weeks.

On this day in 1960, Paul McCartney and Pete Best were deported from West Germany on suspicion of arson after their hotel room mysteriously caught fire.

Also this day in 1960, teen idol Bobby Darin married actress Sandra Dee.

On this day in 1962, a nightmare for CBC -TV Sports.  The Grey Cup game in Toronto was halted by fog, which made it impossible for TV viewers to follow the play. The game had to be completed the next day (Winnipeg 28, Hamilton 27.)

                                                                                                                                              
On this day in 1968, Janis Joplin made a final appearance with Big Brother & the Holding Company, in San Francisco.

On this day in 1967 at 5 pm, CBUF FM 97.7 signed on in Vancouver and became the first French-language station in B.C.

On this day in 1968, Pirate Radio Modern (259) out of England, began broadcasting.

On this day in 1971, John & Yoko released "Happy Xmas (War is Over)" in the US.

On this day in 1972, Martha & the Vandellas gave their farewell performance in Detroit.

On this day in 1973, the song "Top of the World" by the Carpenters topped the charts and stayed there for 2 weeks.

On this day in 1975, columnist/lyricist Nick Kenny died at 80.  He had an early radio talent show, and left us with a number of square pop songs, including Love Letters in the Sand, Gone Fishin', Goldmine in the Sky, and Make Believe Island.

                                                                                      
Also this day in 1975, "The Edge of Night" became the first serial in television history to switch networks, from CBS to ABC.

On this day in 1976, the Sex Pistols used the "F-word" on the British TV Today Show, which got them branded as "rotten punks" & banned in several British cities.

On this day in 1978, the 100th episode of "The Rockford Files" aired on NBC.

On this day in 1980, the Inuit Broadcasting Corp. opened its new northern Canada TV network, with five broadcast studios, telecasting in Inuktitut to the eastern Arctic.

On this day in 1982, Michael Jackson's "Thriller'' LP was released. It became the best-selling album of all time, with worldwide sales of more than 40 million copies.

On this day in 1985, the "American Bandstand 33-and-a-third Anniversary Special'' aired on A-B-C television in the U-S. "Bandstand'' began as a local show in Philadelphia in 1952. Dick Clark became the host in 1956, and the program began its network run on A-B-C the following year.

On this day in 1986, orchestra leader Horace Heidt ("and his Musical Knights") died at 85. Heidt used a variety of quiz and talent show formats to keep himself on network radio from 1932 to '53. Titles include Ship of Joy, Answers by the Dancers, Anniversary Night with Horace Heidt, Pot of Gold, Tums Treasure Chest, & Horace Heidt's Original Youth Opportunity Program.  The latter was also seen on TV as of 1950.  Later he had "The Swift Show Wagon with Horace Heidt and the American Way" on the tube in 1955.

Also this day in 1986, singer Lee Dorsey died of complications from emphysema. He's known for the hits "Ya-Ya" and "Working In The Coal Mine."

On this day in 1988, NBC bid a record $401 million to capture the US rights to the 1992 Barcelona Olympics.

On this day in 1989, Sly Stone was sentenced to 55 days in jail for driving under the influence of cocaine.

On this day in 1990, the song "I'm Your Baby Tonight" by Whitney Houston topped the pop charts.
                                                                          

On this day in 1991, British-born actor Byron Webster died of AIDS at 58.  He was seen in dozens of TV shows, including recurring roles in Soap and Captains & the Kings.

Also this day in 1991, a fight broke out between the road crews of several rap acts and as many as two dozen police at the Emerald City nightclub in East St. Louis, Ill. Newspapers report that the fight started when someone assaulted a roadie for the group Naughty by Nature with a beer bottle.

On this day in 1993, the famous Vancouver recording studio Little Mountain Sound closed, 20 years to the day after it opened. Top producers Bob Rock and Bruce Fairbairn worked out of Little Mountain, attracting bands like Aerosmith, Motley Crue, Bon Jovi and Metallica\.

On this day in 1885, Vancouver's CKBD AM600 played the longest Christmas music marathon in B.C. radio history until Dec. 26 8 pm.  This would continue in 1996 and in 1997.

Also this day in 1995, an auction of some of Frank Sinatra's possessions earned him $2,072,000.

On this day in 1997, jazz violinist Stephane Grappelli died in a Paris clinic. He was 89. Grappelli is often cited among the virtuosi on his instrument in his genre.

Also this day in 1997, Westinghouse Electric Corporation, founded in 1886, formally changed its name to CBS Corporation, until it was acquired by Viacom.

Still on this date in 1997, Celine Dion sang for the Queen and Prince Philip at the 69th annual Royal Variety Performance in London. Also on the bill for the fundraising concert -- the Spice Girls, Michael Bolton, Enya and the cast of the musical Chicago.

Again on this date in 1997, Kenny G held an E-flat note for 45 minutes and 47 seconds on his soprano saxophone. The feat was enshrined in the Guinness Book of Records.

On this day in 1999, Jay-Z stabbed Lance Rivera at a party at Manhattan's Kit Kat Klub.  21 months later Jay-Z pleaded guilty to misdemeanor assault and was sentenced to three years probation.

Also this day in 1999, an estimated crowd of over 250,000 people brave freezing temperatures to see the 67th annual Rockefeller Center Christmas tree-lighting ceremony, featuring performances by 'N Sync, Britney Spears, Enrique Iglesias, and Rosemary Clooney.

On this day in 2004, NBC newsman Tom Brokaw made his final appearance as anchor on "NBC Nightly News".  He began his run on the broadcast in April 1982.

Today's Birthdays:

Actor Paul Picerni (Untouchables, Gunsmoke, Mannix) is 85.

Actor Robert Symonds (Dynasty, Seventh Ave., Blue & Gray) is 81.

Quebec-born actress Allyn Ann McLerie (Tony Randall Show, Days & Nights of Molly Dodd, Thorn Birds) is 81.

Actor Keith Michell (Murder She Wrote, 6 Wives of Henry VIII) is 81.

Singer Billy Paul (Me & Mrs Jones) is 73.

Actor-director Woody Allen is 72.

Drummer Sandy Nelson is 69.

Singer Dianne Lennon (The Lennon Sisters) is 68.

Country musician Casey Van Beek (The Tractors) is 65.

Television producer David Salzman (The Jenny Jones Show, Vibe) is 64.

Rock singer-musician Eric Bloom (Blue Oyster Cult) is 63.

Rock musician John Densmore (The Doors) is 63.

Actress-singer Bette Midler is 62.

Singer Gilbert O'Sullivan is 61.

Actor Keith Thibodeaux, or Richard Keith (I Love Lucy, Andy Griffith Show) is 57.

Actor Treat Williams (Heartland, Brothers & Sisters, Everwood) is 56.

TV host Bob Goen (Entertainment Tonight, Daytime Wheel of Fortune) is 53.

Country singer Kim Richey is 51.

Actress Charlene Tilton (Dallas) is 49.

Actor Stan Albers (Loving, Another World, All My Children) is 45.

Keyboardist Sam Reid of Glass Tiger is 44.  

Actor Nestor Carbonell (Suddenly Susan, Kim Possible, Strong Medicine) is 40.

Actress Golden Brooks (Girlfriends, Linc's) is 37.

Actress-comedian Sarah Silverman (Mr. Show with Bob & David, Sat. Night Live) is 37.

Actor Ron Melendez (Legacy) is 35.

Contemporary Christian singer Bart Millard is 35.

Singer Sarah Masen is 32.

Rock musician Brad Delson (Linkin Park) is 30.

Actress Ashley Monique Clark (The Hughleys, Bernie Mac Show, Sunset Beach) is 19.


Chart Toppers

December 1

1946
Ole Buttermilk Sky - The Kay Kyser Orchestra (vocal: Mike Douglas & The Campus Kids)
The Whole World is Singing My Song - The Les Brown Orchestra (vocal: Doris Day)
Five Minutes More - Tex Beneke
Divorce Me C.O.D. - Merle Travis

1954
Mr. Sandman - The Chordettes
Teach Me Tonight - The De Castro Sisters
The Naughty Lady of Shady Lane - The Ames Brothers
More and More - Webb Pierce

1962
Big Girls Don’t Cry - The 4 Seasons
Return to Sender - Elvis Presley
Bobby’s Girl - Marcie Blane
Mama Sang a Song - Bill Anderson

1970
I Think I Love You - The Partridge Family
The Tears of a Clown - Smokey Robinson & The Miracles
Montego Bay - Bobby Bloom
Endlessly - Sonny James

1978
MacArthur Park - Donna Summer
How Much I Feel - Ambrosia
You Don’t Bring Me Flowers - Barbra Streisand & Neil Diamond
Sweet Desire - The Kendalls

1986
You Give Love a Bad Name - Bon Jovi
The Next Time I Fall - Peter Cetera with Amy Grant
Hip to Be Square - Huey Lewis & The News
Touch Me When We’re Dancing - Alabama