Tuesday January the 8th


ON THIS DAY in 1856
borax (hydrated sodium borate) was discovered by Dr. John Veatch near Red Bluff, California. It became a multiuse product that was popularized during the era of "Death Valley Days" on radio & TV.  Remember 20 Mule Team Borax?  

                                                                                                  
On this day in 1912, a future winner of three Tony awards Jose Ferrer was born in Puerto Rico.  His broadcast credits were largely confined to mini-series & TV movies, including George Washington, The Rhinemann Exchange, The French Atlantic Affair, Young Harry Houdini & Blood Feud.  He also was a recurring guest on the TV series Newhart & Your Show of Shows. He succumbed to colon cancer Jan. 26 1992 at age 80.  

On this day in 1929, the CBS Radio Network purchased WABC in New York City.

On this day in 1935, Elvis Presley was born in Tupelo, Miss., one of a pair of twins.
                                                    
His brother Jessie was stillborn. Billboard ranks him as the top pop recording artist of all time with 17 No. 1 songs. The 1956 two-sided hit ``Don't Be Cruel/Hound Dog'' stayed at No. 1 for 11 weeks, a record for the rock era that stood until 1992.
Elvis died under infamous circumstances Aug 16 1977 at age 42.

On this day in 1940, society bandleader Vincent Lopez and his orchestra recorded the third version of Lopez' theme song "Nola". This version, recorded in Hollywood on Bluebird Records, was recognized as his best rendition of the classic song.

On this day in 1941, comedian/writer Graham Chapman was born in England.  Not only was he seen in all the Monty Python movies & TV shows, he was also seen in the TV series Doctor at Large, and was a writer for The Two Ronnies, The Frost Report, and That Was The Week That Was. He died of spinal and throat cancer Oct 4 1989 at age 48.  

On this day in 1944, Billboard magazine published its first "Most Played Juke Box Folk Records" chart, which became the chart which measured the nationwide success of current country music songs.  The first #1 song was "Pistol Packin' Mama" by Bing Crosby & the Andrews Sisters.

On this day in 1952, actress Marie Wilson (pictured right) came to TV as "My Friend Irma". The show, popular for years on radio, lasted two seasons on television.

On this day in 1956, Elvis Presley's "Don't Be Cruel/Hound Dog" single shot to #1 & stays #1 for a record 11 weeks (for a single).

On this day in 1957, Elvis took the U.S. Army pre-induction exam on his 22nd birthday.

On this day in 1960, Eddie Cochran's last recording session was held in Hollywood.
He died in an MVA in Britian 3 months later.

On this day in 1961, Edmonton's adopted son Robert Goulet made his US TV debut  on "The Ed Sullivan Show" on CBS.
                                                                                                                

On this day in 1965, the TV dance show "Hullabaloo" debuted on NBC.

On this day in 1966, the final episode of "Shindig!" was broadcast on ABC-TV. The show featured the Kinks and the Who.

Also this day in 1966, "We Can Work It Out" by the Beatles topped the charts and stayed there for 3 weeks.

Again in 1966, the Beatles LP, "Rubber Soul", began a 6-week reign at the top of the album chart. This was the seventh Beatles LP to reach the #1 position since February 1964. "Rubber Soul" stayed on the charts for 56 weeks.

On this day in 1973, Elvis Presley sued Priscilla Presley for divorce.

                                                              
Also this day in 1973, Carly Simon received a gold record for the single, "You're So Vain".

On this day in 1974, Kiss was signed to its first recording contract with Neil Bogart's Casablanca Records, then gave a special dress rehearsal performance.  

On this day in 1975, British actor John Gregson, who played the title role in the TV series "Gideon's Way", died after a heart attack at age 55.  

On this day in 1977, "You Don't Have to Be a Star (To Be in My Show)" by Marylin McCoo & Billy Davis, Jr. topped the charts  but just for a week.

On this day in 1978, TV host & panelist Walter Keirnan died at 75.  He was emcee of the TV shows "Who's the Boss?", "What's the Story?", "Who Said That?" & "Kiernan's Corner."  He was also a panelist on "I've Got a Secret."

On this day in 1979, the Canadian government named Rush ([b]below)Canada's "Official Ambassadors of Music.''
    

Also this day in 1979, the Today Show got a new theme song.

On this day in 1981, actor Woody Chamblis, who played Woody Lathrop in 34 episodes of Gunsmoke, died of cancer at age 66.

On this day in 1982, actress Reta Shaw, best known as the housekeeper in TV's The Ghost & Mrs Muir, died of emphysema at age 69.

On this day in 1983, Spokane-born actress Gale Page died of cancer at age 72. She was a radio actress and singer with Ted Weems Orch. before being signed to a Warner Bros. film contract in 1938.  She later was a semi-regular on the 1950's TV anthology Robert Montgomery Presents.  

On this day in 1988, singer Frank Sinatra was paid one-million dollars for a single performance to help launch a resort on Australia's Gold Coast.
                                                      
It was Sinatra's first performance in the country in 14 years. He had been banned by Australian unions in 1974 after calling female reporters "hookers'' and male reporters "drunks.''

On this day in 1989, actor Kenneth McMillan died of liver failure at age 66.  He had recurring roles in the TV series Our Family Honor, Suzanne Pleshette is Maggie Briggs, Rhoda & Ryan's Hope, and the mini-series King & Favorite Son.
                                                                                                    
On this day in 1991, Steve Clark of Def Leppard was found dead in the living room of his London home by his girlfriend.
                                                                                                                    
The coroner ruled that the 30-year-old died of a lethal combination of alcohol and drugs after a night of heavy drinking.

On this day in 1994, actor Pat Buttram died of kidney failure at 78. He was Gene Autry's sidekick on radio in the 40's & on TV in the 50's, and played Eustace Haney on both Green Acres & Petticoat Junction in the 1960's. He also was seen in scores of guest roles to within 3 years of his death.

On this day in 1995, Pearl Jam's Eddie Vedder hosted a national late-night radio show broadcast titled "Self Pollution Radio'' from the band's hometown of Seattle.

On this day in 1997, Mister Rogers received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

On this day in 2002, the Black Crowes released a statement that said "For the time being, Chris Robinson is pursuing a solo career. Steve Gorman has left the band for personal reasons."

On this day in 2004, John A. Gambling died at age 73. Gambling worked at WOR radio in New York from 1959 until 1991 when he retired. He succeeded his father, John B. Gambling, who began the show in 1925.

On this day in 2007, actress Yvonne de Carlo who was born in Vancouver, became a 1940's screen beauty & later played TV's Lily Munster ("The Munsters"), passed away in Woodland Hills, California at the age of 84.


Today's Birthdays:  

Actor-comedian Larry Storch (F Troop, Sabrina the Teenaged Witch) is 85.

Comedian Soupy Sales (Soupy Sales Show, What's My Line?) is 82.

Former NBC newsman Sander Vanocur is 80.

"CBS Sunday Morning" TV host Charles Osgood is 75.

Singer Shirley Bassey is 71.

Game show host Bob Eubanks (The Newlywed Game) is 70.

Country-gospel singer Cristy Lane is 68.

Singer Anthony Gourdine of Little Anthony and the Imperials is 67.

Guitarist Robby Krieger of The Dooors is 62.  

Actress Kathleen Noone (According to Jim, Passions, Party of 5, Knots Landing) is 62.

Singer David Bowie is 61.

Portland-born actress Anne Schedeen (Alf, Paper Dolls, Marcus Welby) is 59.

New Westminster-born rocker Mike Reno (Loverboy) is 53.  

Actress Harriet Sansom Harris (Desperate Housewives, Frasier, It's All Relatve) is 53.

Actress Maria Pitillo (Providence, House Rules, Partners) is 43.

Actress Michelle Forbes (Prison Break, 24, Homicide) is 41.

Singer R. Kelly is 41. Bassist Jeff Abercrombie of Fuel is 39.

Actress Ami Dolenz (Secret Files of the Spy Dogs, Saved by The Bell:College Years) is 39.

Reggae singer Sean Paul is 35.

Country singer Tift Merritt is 33.

Actress Jenny Lewis (Brooklyn Bridge, Shannon's Deal) is 32.

Actor Scott Whyte (City Guys) is 30.

Toronto-born actress Sarah Polley (Slings & Arrows, Road to Avonlea) is 29.

Actress Gaby Hoffman (Someone Like Me) is 26.


Chart Toppers

January 8

1944
My Heart Tells Me - The Glen Gray Orchestra (vocal: Eugenie Baird)
Paper Doll - The Mills Brothers
People Will Say We’re in Love - Bing Crosby
Pistol Packin’ Mama - Bing Crosby & The Andrews Sisters

1952
Slowpoke - Pee Wee King
Sin (It’s No) - Eddy Howard
Undecided - The Ames Brothers
Let Old Mother Nature Have Her Way - Carl Smith

1960
Why - Frankie Avalon
Running Bear - Johnny Preston
Way Down Yonder in New Orleans - Freddie Cannon
El Paso - Marty Robbins

1968
Hello Goodbye - The Beatles
Daydream Believer - The Monkees
Judy in Disguise (With Glasses) - John Fred & His Playboy Band
For Loving You - Bill Anderson & Jan Howard

1976
Saturday Night - Bay City Rollers
I Write the Songs - Barry Manilow
Theme from Mahogany (Do You Know Where You’re Going To) - Diana Ross
Convoy - C.W. McCall

1984
Say Say Say - Paul McCartney & Michael Jackson
Owner of a Lonely Heart - Yes
Twist of Fate - Olivia Newton-John
You Look So Good in Love - George Strait