Wednesday December the 12th


ON THIS DAY in 1893
actor Edward G. Robinson was born Emmanuel Goldenberg in Bucharest, Romania.  He starred as Steve Wilson for the first 5 years of the CBS radio series Big Town.  In TV towards the end of his movie career he accepted a number of guest spots on the likes of Bracken's World, Playhouse 90, GE Theatre, Lux Video Theatre, Night Gallery, etc.  He succumbed to cancer Jan. 26 1973 at age 79.

On this day in 1896, Guglielmo Marconi gave the first public demonstration of radio at Toynbee Hall, London.

Five years later, on this day in 1901, Marconi sent and received the first transatlantic radio message on Signal Hill, 2,000 miles away across Atlantic from Poldhu, Cornwall; from a box kite trailing a 121 metre long copper wire antenna. The first transatlantic wireless test signal was heard as the faint clicking of Morse code - of the letter 'S' repeated over and over.

On this day in 1913, longtime CBS correspondent Winston Burdett was born in Buffalo NY.  He was one of the original "Murrow's boys" who covered Eastern Europe, North Africa and Italy during WWII and afterwards, for 22 years based in Rome. He died May 19, 1993 at age 79.

On this day in 1913, singer Hal Dickinson was born in Buffalo NY. (upper left) He was the founder and leader of the jazz harmony group The Modernaires, who rose to prominence on records & radio, after being signed by Glenn Miller.  They appeared frequently on TV variety in the 50s with Bob Crosby, George Gobel and Perry Como, among many others.  Dickinson died Nov. 18 1970 at age 56.

On this day in 1915, perhaps the greatest pop vocalist of the 20th Century, Frank (Francis Albert) Sinatra was born in Hoboken, N.J.  As well as an illustrious record & broadcast career, he won an Oscar in 1953 for his supporting role in ``From Here to Eternity.'' He was awarded a Lifetime Achievement Grammy in 1965. Sinatra died May 14 1998 suffering from a combination of heart & kidney disease, and bladder cancer.  He was 82.

On this day in 1918, one of the great jazz & blues singers Joe Williams  was born Joseph Goreed in smalltown Georgia.  His greatest success was after joining Count Basie's Big Band in 1954.  On TV he was cast as the father-in-law on The Bill Cosby Show.  He died Mar 29, 1999 at age 80.  

On this day in 1937, the Federal Communications Commission was upset with NBC radio. The FCC scolded the radio network for a Sunday skit on the Charlie McCarthy Show that starred Mae West (below). The satirical routine was based on the biblical tale of Adam and Eve and, well, it got a bit out of hand. So, following its scolding by the FCC, NBC banned Miss West from its airwaves for 15 years. Even the mere mention of her name on NBC was a no-no.
            

Also this day in 1937, NBC & RCA sent the first 1st mobile-TV vans onto the streets of New York.

On this day in 1943, jazz sax man Grover Washington Jr. was born in Buffalo NY. He is considered by many to be one of the founding fathers of the smooth jazz genre. He died Dec 17, 1999 at age 56.

On this day in 1955, Bill Haley and the Comets recorded "See You Later Alligator."

On this day in 1957, KEX, Portland disc jockey Al Priddy was fired for playing Elvis Presley's rendition of "White Christmas."  He had violated the station's ban against the record.

                                                                          
On this day in 1961, former big band singer (with Kay Kyser) Mike Douglas began a variety TV show from Cleveland. The show became most successful when KYW-TV moved from Cleveland to Philadelphia.  By 1967 the show was available in 171 markets and seen by an audience of six million viewers a day. It moved to Los Angeles in 1978, and continued until 1982.  

On this day in 1963, John Fitzgerald Kennedy - A Memorial Album became the fastest-selling record of all time when 4 million copies of the disk, each selling for 99 cents, were sold in six days -- between December 7-12. The memorial tribute was recorded November 22, the day President Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas.

                                                                                                                
On this day in 1964, "You've Lost That Lovin' Feeling" by the Righteous Brothers was released.                                                                                                    
                    
Also this day in 1964, "Mr. Lonely" by Bobby Vinton topped the charts .. but only for a week.

On this day in 1965, actor Johnny Lee, who played the prominent supporting role of Calhoun the lawyer on Amos 'n' Andy, both radio & TV, died at age 67.

On this day in 1965, the Beatles gave their last Great Britain concert (Capitol Theatre in Cardiff Wales.)

On this day in 1967, Brian Jones of the Rolling Stones successfully appealed his nine-month jail sentence for a drug conviction. He was placed on probation instead.

On this day in 1968, flamboyant actress Tallulah Bankhead died of pneumonia at 65.  She was hostess of NBC Radio's 90-minute Big Show 1950-52, and the following year, was one of the rotating hosts on NBC-TV's All-Star Revue. Her last screen appearances were as the Black Widow on Batman in 1967.

Also this day in 1968, "The Rolling Stones Rock and Roll Circus" TV show was filmed in London, featuring the Stones, Eric Clapton, John Lennon and The Who. It remained unreleased for 28 years.

On this day in 1970, rocker Little Richard was charged with "larceny by trick" in Miami Beach, FL, by Blacks, Inc. The group claimed that Little Richard pocketed $250 he solicited for the group. The charges were later dropped.

Also this day in 1970, the song "The Tears of a Clown" by Smokey Robinson & the Miracles topped the charts and stayed there for 2 weeks.

On this day in 1971, the man who headed RCA and put NBC together, David Sarnoff, known as "the General," died at age 80.
    

On this day in 1974, guitarist Mick Taylor left the Rolling Stones. That same day, the band began work on the "Black and Blue" album.

On this day in 1976, actor & Broadway song-and-dance man Jack Cassidy died when his couch caught fire after falling asleep with a lit cigarette. He was 49. One of the most-Tony-nominated musical performers in history he turned down the TV role of Ted Baxter on Mary Tyler Moore, but guested as his brother.  He also was seen in one-time roles on That Girl, Mod Squad, Night Gallery, Mission Impossible, Barnaby Jones, Matt Helm, McCloud etc.

On this day in 1980, the first episode of "Magnum, P.I." aired.

Also this day in 1980, Marie Osmond's solo TV series debuted on NBC.

On this day in 1984, the group known as Band Aid -- 38 of Britain's top rock musicians -- recorded Do They Know It's Christmas? for Ethiopian famine victims. Despite the best of intentions, much of the food raised never got to the starving Ethiopians. In fact, much of it was found rotting on docks, not fit for human consumption.

On this day in 1985, actress Anne Baxter died of a stroke at age 62. Although her major success was on the big screen (All About Eve) she had recurring roles on TV's Batman (Olga, Queen of the Cossacks), Hotel, Love Boat & Name of the Game.

On this day in 1985, singer Dionne Warwick received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Also this day in 1985, session piano player Ian Stewart died of a heart attack at the age of 47.

On this day in 1987, the song "Faith" by George Michael topped the charts and stayed there for 4 weeks.

                          
On this day in 1990, comedian Robin Williams got a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

On this day in 1992, the soundtrack from the movie The Bodyguard was the #1 album in the U.S. A genuine smash, it remained number one for twenty weeks.

On this day in 1993, Canada's Genie awards, celebrating the best in the country's cinema, were held in Montreal for the first time.

On this day in 1995, the International Olympic Committee announced that NBC had successfully bid a record $2.3 billion for the exclusive U.S. TV (broadcast and cable) rights to the 2004 and 2008 Summer Games and the 2006 Winter Games. $894 million was for the 2008 games alone. The deal called for a 50-50 revenue sharing program with the IOC.

On this day in 1996, country star Clint Black got a star
on the famous Hollywood Walk of Fame. He joined Garth Brooks, Gene Autry and his pal and debut partner Roy Rogers as the only country artists ever to receive stars in the venerable Tinsel Town thoroughfare.

On this day in 1997, Autumn Jackson, who tried to blackmail Bill Cosby by claiming he was her father, was sentenced to two years in jail.

Also in 1997, actor Denver Pyle received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

On this day in 1999, the late Notorious B.I.G.'s legacy was alive & well as the rapper's second posthumous album, "Born Again," sold more than 485,000 copies in its first week in stores, bumping living superstar Celine Dion from the top spot at US retailers.

On this day in 2000, Tony Bennett was on hand at the Friar's Club in New York to commemorate the birthday of his late friend and fellow entertainer Frank Sinatra by announcing the September 2001 opening of the Frank Sinatra School Of The Arts. The New York public high school offers gifted artistic students an education in drama, instrument and vocal music, dance, fine arts, filmmaking, technical theater, and musical theater.

On this day in 2001, actress Winona Ryder was arrested for shoplifting more than $5,000 worth of merchandise from a department store in Beverly Hills, California.

On this day in 2003, Mick Jagger was knighted by Prince Charles.


Today's Birthdays:

Retired TV host Bob Barker (The Price is Right) is 84.

Former New York City Mayor Edward Koch (The People's Court) is 83.

Actor Brandon Maggart (Jennifer Slept Here, Sesame Street) is 74.

Singer Connie Francis is 69. Singer Dionne Warwick is 67.

Rock singer-musician Dickey Betts (Allman Brothers) is 64.

Actor Wings Hauser (Beverly Hills 90210, Roseanne, The Last Precinct) is 60.

Actor Bill Nighy (The Girl in the Cafe, State of Play) is 58.

Actress Honor Blackman (The Avengers) is 58.

Country singer LaCosta is 57.

Gymnast-turned-actress Cathy Rigby (Peter Pan 2000) is 55.

Actress Sarah Douglas (Falcon Crest, Thundercloud) is 55.

Actress Sheree J. Wilson (Walker Texas Ranger, Dallas) is 49.

Singer-musician Sheila E. is 48.

Actress Holly Gagnier (One Life to Live, Days of Our Lives) is 45.

Rock musician Eric Schenkman (Spin Doctors) is 44.

Rock musician Nicholas Dimichino (Nine Days) is 40.

Actress Jennifer Connelly (The Street) is 37.

Actress Madchen Amick (Freddie ER, Central Park West) is 37.

Country singer Hank Williams III is 35.

Actress Mayim Bialik (Blossom) is 32.


Chart Toppers

December 12

1949
Mule Train - Frankie Laine
I Can Dream, Can’t I? - The Tommy Dorsey Orchestra (vocal: Jack Leonard)
Don’t Cry, Joe - The Gordon Jenkins Orchestra (vocal: Betty Brewer)
Mule Train - Tennessee Ernie Ford

1957
Jailhouse Rock - Elvis Presley
Raunchy - Bill Justis
Peggy Sue - Buddy Holly
My Special Angel - Bobby Helms

1965
Turn! Turn! Turn! - The Byrds
Let’s Hang On! - The 4 Seasons
I Got You (I Feel Good) - James Brown
Make the World Go Away - Eddy Arnold

1973
Top of the World - Carpenters
Goodbye Yellow Brick Road - Elton John
The Love I Lost - Harol Melvin & The Bluenotes
The Most Beautiful Girl - Charlie Rich

1981
Physical - Olivia Newton-John
Waiting for a Girl like You - Foreigner
Every Little Thing She Does is Magic - The Police
Still Doin’ Time - George Jones

1989
We Didn’t Start the Fire - Billy Joel
Another Day in Paradise - Phil Collins
Don’t Know Much - Linda Ronstadt (featuring Aaron Neville)
If Tomorrow Never Comes - Garth Brooks