Monday January the 7th


On This Day in 1903  
actor Alan Napier was born in Birmingham England.  His TV appearances account for just a fraction of his 50 year film career, but he will always be remembered as Alfred the butler (below) in the original Batman TV series.  He suffered a stroke and died Aug 8 1988 at age 85.
                

On this day in 1904, the Marconi Company made a proposal that there be an international Radio distress signal. "C.Q.D" meant "Stop Sending and Listen" although many eventually thought it to mean "Come, Quick, Danger". The code was replaced in 1908 by "S.O.S." because it was quicker to transmit by wireless radio and could not be misinterpreted.

On this day in 1922, Tony & Emmy award winning actor Vincent Gardenia was born in Naples Italy.  He had recurring roles in the TV series All in the Family & LA Law, and also made memorable appearances in Ben Casey, Naked City, Edge of Night, & the mini-series Kennedy, in which he played J. Edgar Hoover. He suffered a fatal heart attack Dec 9 1992, and died at age 70.

On this day in 1924, composer George Gershwin began work on the incomparable score of "Rhapsody in Blue" (he completed it some three weeks later). George was only 26 years old at the time.

On this day in 1926, a famous marriage that endured for many years occurred. George Burns and Gracie Allen were married by a Justice of the Peace in Cleveland, Ohio.  

On this day in 1930, NBC newsman Douglas Kiker was born.  Hewas in the motorcade when President Kennedy was shot, and won a Peabody in 1970 for his coverage of the war in Jordan.  Was a featured correspondent on the NBC Magazine with David Brinkley.  He died Aug 14, 1991 of a heart attack at age 61.

On this day in 1940, the gate to "Gene Autry's Melody Ranch" opened. The "singing cowboy" would entertain on CBS Radio for the next 16 years.

On this day in 1941, the NBC Blue radio network presented the first installment of "The Squeaky Door". You might not remember the show by its original title, but all fans of Old Time Radio certainly recall "Inner Sanctum."  Raymond Edward Johnson was 'Raymond your host' for the first 4 seasons.  Thereafter an even more malevolent (but nameless) host was portayed by Paul McGrath until the final show in 1952.  

Also this day in 1941, "Good-for-Nothin'-Joe" was recorded by the sultry Lena Horne. She sang the classic song with Charlie Barnet and his orchestra on Bluebird Records.

On this day in 1950, Nova Scotia-born Hank Snow and Ernest Tubb made their first appearances at "The Grand Ole Opry" in Nashville.  Ernest also did a 15-minute radio program each day that became very popular in West Texas. So popular, in fact, that he bought the radio station that had aired the program for years and years: KGKL in San Angelo, Texas.

On this day in 1954, the Duoscopic TV receiver was unveiled. The TV set allowed a person or group to watch two different shows at the same time. It was a primitive, picture-in-picture, split-screen that was tested in New York City and Chicago. The set was a product of DuMont Laboratories; which owned the DuMont Television Network.

On this day in 1955, TV cameras were first allowed to enter the Canadian Houses of Parliament in Ottawa.  The Speech from the Throne and the opening pomp & circumstance were broadcast live on television for the first time.

                                                    
On this day in 1956, the song "Memories Are Made of This" by Dean Martin topped the charts and stayed there for 6 weeks.

On this day in 1962, "The Twist" by Chubby Checker hit number one on the pop charts for a second time. It had previously hit number one in 1960 for seven weeks.

On this day in 1963, rocker Gary "U.S." Bonds filed a $100,000 suit against Chubby Checker. The charge was that Checker "stole" "Quarter to Three" and turned it into the song "Dancin' Party." The case was settled out of court.

                                                                                                        
On this day in 1967, the always-titillating "Newlywed Game" hosted by Bob Eubanks, premiered on ABC TV.

On this day in 1970, neighbors of New York land owner Max Yasgur sued him for 35-thousand dollars for property damage caused by people who attended the Woodstock festival. It's estimated more than 450-thousand people attended the three-day event.

On this day in 1982, the series "Fame" premiered on NBC TV.

On this day in 1983, the 100th episode of "The Dukes of Hazzard" was aired on CBS.

                                                                    
This day in 1985 was a big day for Dayton, Ohio's Phil Donahue, who broadcast the first of his long-running talkfests from New York City, his new home base. Phil started his MultiMedia Productions show in 1967.

Also this day in 1985, highly regarded jazz pianist Johnny Guarnieri died at age 67. He was on staff at NBC from the late 40's, and headed the orchestra on 1948 TV's Morey Amsterdam Show.

On this day in 1988, English actor Trevor Howard died of bronchitis at 71.  He had limited broadcast credits, mostly in the mini-series George Washington, Peter the Great, and Shaka Zulu, plus two episodes of Love Boat.

On this day in 1991,"Nia Peeples' Party Machine" premiered on TV. The 30 min. program for Arsenio Hall Productions didn't survive for long.

On this day in 1992, Capitol Records in the U-S decided not to renew Anne Murray's contract. She'd been with the label for 22 years, recording 30 albums, many of them bestsellers.

On this day in 1994, CHRX 600 (Vancouver) Classic Rock signed off at 6 pm with Led Zeppelin's "Stairway to Heaven."  Then the sound of ocean waves and Christian music medleys introduced us to a new radio format for Canada..CKBD The Bridge.

Also this day in 1994, Nirvana played the Seattle Arena. It was the band's last U.S. show.

On this day in 1997, Lionel Hampton's New York apartment caught fire and burned nearly everything he owned. Hampton escaped the fire unhurt.

On this day in 1998, legendary Nashville producer Owen Bradley died at Nashville's St. Thomas Hospital. He was 82. Among the artists Bradley had produced are Loretta Lynn, Patsy Cline, Ernest Tubb, Brenda Lee, Bill Anderson, Jack Greene, Kitty Wells, and Webb Pierce.

On this day in 2002, comedian Avery Schreiber died of a heart attack at age 66.
                                                                                              
He is fondly remembered for his Doritos TV ads, his guest appearances on Chico & the Man, and his comedy partnership with Jack Burns in the 60's.

Today's Birthdays:  

Actress Terry Moore (Batman, Burke's Law, Empire) is 79.

Country singer Jack Greene is 78.  

Keyboardist Paul Revere of Paul Revere and the Raiders is 70.

TV talk host Maury Povich is 69.  

Everett Wash.-born singer Kenny Loggins is 60.

Singer-songwriter Marshall Chapman is 59.

Actress Erin Gray (Baywatch, Silver Spoons, Buck Rogers in the 25th Century) is 58.

Actor Sammo Hung (Martial Law) is 56.

Actor David Caruso (CSI:Miami, NYPD Blue) is 52.

CBS news anchor Katie Couric is 51.

Country singer David Lee Murphy is 49.

Bassist Kathy Valentine of The Go-Go's is 49.

Actor David Marciano (The Shield, Due South) is 48.

Actress Hallie Todd (Lizzie McGuire, Murder She Wrote, Best of Times) is 46.

Actor Nicolas Cage (Inside Actors Studio, SNL) is 44.

Singer John Ondrasik of Five For Fighting is 43.

Actor-rapper Doug E. Doug (Where I Live, Cosby) is 38.

Actor Kevin Rahm (Judging Amy, Jesse) is 37.

Country singer John Rich of Big and Rich is 34.

Actor Dustin Diamond (Saved By The Bell) is 31.

Actor Liam Aiken (Late Night w/Letterman, Law & Order) is 18.  

Actress Camryn Grimes (Young & the Restless) is 18.

Toronto-born actor Max Morrow (Monk) is 17.


Chart Toppers

January 7

1951
Tennessee Waltz - Patti Page
The Thing - Phil Harris
Nevertheless - Jack Denny
I Love You a Thousand Ways - Lefty Frizzell

1959
The Chipmunk Song - The Chipmunks
Smoke Gets in Your Eyes - The Platters
Problems - The Everly Brothers
City Lights - Ray Price

1967
I�m a Believer - The Monkees
Snoopy Vs. the Red Baron - The Royal Guardsmen
Tell It Like It Is - Aaron Neville
There Goes My Everything - Jack Greene

1975
Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds - Elton John
You�re the First, the Last, My Everything - Barry White
Kung Fu Fighting - Carl Douglas
The Door - George Jones

1983
Maneater - Daryl Hall & John Oates
The Girl is Mine - Michael Jackson /Paul McCartney
Dirty Laundry - Don Henley
Wild and Blue - John Anderson

1991
Justify My Love - Madonna
High Enough - Damn Yankees
Love Will Never Do (Without You) - Janet Jackson
I�ve Come to Expect It From You - George Strait