Thursday June the 26th

ON THIS DAY in 1904
actor Peter Lorre was born in Hungary.  
              
Besides his many memorable bigscreen roles he was very active in bigtime radio, with guest roles on Suspense & Inner Sanctum Mysteries, plus starring weekly in NBC's Mystery in the Air. On TV he had a recurring role on 77 Sunset Strip. and repeated appearances on Playhouse 90. He died at age 59 after a stroke on March 23 1964.

In 1909, Elvis Presleys' manager, the late Colonel Tom Parker was born in the Netherlands. Before managing Elvis Parker handled the careers of Minnie Pear5l, Eddy Arnold, Hank Snow and Tom Mix. Presley was convinced he wouldn't have hit it as big without Parker's guidance, and in the latter years was splitting the take with Parker 50/50.  He died Jan 21 1997 after a stroke at age 87.

                
In 1916, news commentator & anchor Alex Dreier was born in Honolulu Hawaii.  He did radio commentaries for NBC from 1942-45 and 1951-56.  As Chicago's 'man on the go' he anchored first at WNBQ and then WBKB-TV's top rated news in the late 50's and 60.  He later moved to California where he pursued a TV acting career and was a newscaster for KTTV.  He died March 11 2000 at age 83.  

In 1925, in Toronto, Ted Rogers Sr. invented the alternating-current tube which facilitated plug-in batteryless radios. Until then, all radios had been battery operated. The RB call sign of his radio station CFRB stood for 'Rogers Batteryless.'

In 1933, the Kraft Music Hall debuted. It turned out to be one of radio�s longest-running hits. The first program, created to introduce Mircle Whip salad dressing, presented Paul Whiteman and his orchestra. Singer Al Jolson became the host of the show shortly thereafter.
                
Several years later, crooner Bing Crosby was named the host. The Kraft Music Hall continued on NBC radio until 1949 and then on TV for many more years ; the first year as Milton Berle Starring in the Kraft Music Hall, later it was Perry Como�s Kraft Music Hall for four seasons. From 1967 on, The Kraft Music Hall featured a different host. Bring on the Velveeta and the Philadelphia brand cream cheese!

Also in 1933, actor/comic Pat Morita was born in California.  Although a highly regarded stand-up comic he is best remembered for his TV role as Arnold the diner owner on Happy Days, and his key role as the mentor in The Karate Kid movies.  He died Nov. 25 2005 at age 72.

In 1947, the No. 1 Billboard Pop Hit was "Chi-Baba, Chi-Baba'' by Perry Como.

                
In 1949, entertainer Fred Allen closed out his amazing radio career. Allen was attempting a transition to TV. His final radio guest was his old pal, Jack Benny. Allen�s caustic wit didn�t play well on TV and he quickly found himself out of the medium, except for his many panel appearances on the original What's My Line.  

In 1959, CBS journalist Edward R. Murrow interviewed his 500th -- and final -- guest on Person to Person, actress Lee Remick. Just hours before this final broadcast, Murrow had presented his last news broadcast on the CBS radio network. CBS-TV had reportedly made $20 million from Murrow�s Person to Person series.

In 1961, "Quarter to Three" by U. S. Bonds topped the charts and stayed there for 2 weeks.

In 1964, the album A Hard Day�s Night was released by United Artists Records. The album featured all original material by The Beatles and became the top album in the country by July 25, 1964.

Also in 1964, "It's All Over Now" by the Rolling Stones was released. It was the first Stones song to reach number one in Britain.

                
In 1965, Mr. Tambourine Man, by The Byrds, reached the number one spot on the pop music charts. The song was considered by many to be the first folk-rock hit. The tune was written by Bob Dylan, as were two other hits for the group: All I Really Want to Do and My Back Pages. The group composed of Roger McGinn, David Crosby, Gene Clark, Chris Hillman and Mike Clarke charted seven hits. The Byrds were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1991.

In 1976, the tallest free standing structure in the world to that time, the CN Tower (Canadian National) opened in Toronto. It's 1,815 feet, 5 inches (553.33 meters) in height includes a 335 foot (102 meters) steel broadcasting antenna, used by 16 Toronto TV & FM stations.

In 1977,  Elvis Presley gave what turned out to be the last performance of his career, a concert in Indianapolis.

In 1983, the songwriting TV & radio host Walter O'Keefe, also known as The Mayor of Hollywood, died at age 82.  He is best remembered today as the longrunning emcee of radio's daily Double or Nothing, which was syndicated in Canada into the 1950's.

In 1983, the daytime drama "Loving" premiered on ABC TV. It ran for 3,169 episodes through late 1995.  

                
In 1984, CKNW 's Bill Hughes qualified for the Guiness Book of World Records as he broadcast the 12,000th edition of "Roving Mike." The 'man-on-the-street' quarter-hour was initially hosted in the 1940's by the first station owner Bill Rea.  Hughes took over the 'Mike' in 1950.

In 1984, Tiny Tim got married to Miss Vicky in what was a heavily watched 'Tonight Show starring Johnny Carson,'

In 1988, the No. 1 Billboard Pop Hit was "Dirty Diana,'' with Michael Jackson.

In 1990, eight radio stations in Kansas and Oklahoma declared a boycott of songs by k d lang, due to her anti-meat TV ad.  

In 1993, Catherine Leno, the mother of the current Tonight Show host Jay, died of cancer at age 82.

In 1996, Van Halen announced original singer David Lee Roth would rejoin the band for a greatest hits album. Singer Sammy Hagar left because of "creative differences."

Also in 1996, an arrest warrant was issued for Stone Temple Pilots singer Scott Weiland after he left a drug rehabilitation center in Los Angeles without permission. He turned up a few days later at another treatment center.

In 1998, Italian director Stefano Salvati sued Madonna, claiming that her "Ray of Light" video was stolen from a clip he shot in 1994 for local pop star Biagio Antonacci.

                
In 2002,  David Hasselhoff of Baywatch fame checked into The Betty Ford Center for treatment of alcoholism.


Today's Birthdays:

Singer Billy Davis Jr. of the Fifth Dimension is 68.

Singer Georgie Fame is 65.

Singer Brenda Holloway is 62.

Actor Robert Davi (Profiler) is 55.

Musician Mick Jones of The Clash is 53.

Actor Gedde Watanabe (ER, Sixteen Candles) is 53.

Singer Chris Isaak is 52.

Singer Patty Smyth is 51.

Singer Terri Nunn of Berlin is 47.

Singer Harriet Wheeler of The Sundays is 45.

Bassist Colin Greenwood of Radiohead is 39.

Actor Matt Letscher (The New Adventures of Old Christine, Good Morning, Miami) is 38.

Actor Chris O'Donnell (Grey's Anatomy, The Practice) is 38.

Actor Sean Hayes (Will & Grace) is 38.

Country singer Gretchen Wilson is 34.

Actor Jason Schwartzman (Cracking Up) is 28.

Actress Kaitlin Cullum (Grace Under Fire) is 20.


Chart Toppers

June 26

1949
Again - Gordon Jenkins
Some Enchanted Evening - Perry Como
Bali Ha�i - Perry Como
One Kiss Too Many - Eddy Arnold

1958
All I Have to Do is Dream - The Everly Brothers
The Purple People Eater - Sheb Wooley
Hard Headed Woman - Elvis Presley
Guess Things Happen that Way - Johnny Cash

1967
Groovin� - The Young Rascals
Windy - The Association
San Francisco (Be Sure to Wear Flowers in Your Hair) - Scott McKenzie
All the Time - Jack Greene

1976
Silly Love Songs - Wings
Get Up and Boogie (That�s Right) - Silver Convention
Misty Blue - Dorthy Moore
El Paso City - Marty Robbins

1985
Heaven - Bryan Adams
Sussudio - Phil Collins
Raspberry Beret - Prince & The Revolution
Little Things - The Oak Ridge Boys

1994
I Swear - All-4-One
Any Time, Any Place/And On and On - Janet Jackson
Regulate - Warren G. & Nate Dogg
Wink - Neal McCoy

2003
Miss Independent - Kelly Clarkson
Bring Me to Life - Evanescence
Get Busy - Sean Paul
Beer for My Horses - Toby Keith (with Willie Nelson)