Friday January the 11th


On This Day in 1899  
actress Eva LeGallienne was born in England.   After an illustrious stage career she appeared in a handful of prestigious TV productions such as the Dupont Show of the Month, Hallmark Hall of Fame, Ford Theatre Hour, Playhouse 90 & Studio One.  Her last professional appearance was on St. Elsewhere in 1984.  She suffered a fatal heart attack June 3 1991 at age 92.  

On this day in 1908, actor Lionel Stander was born in The Bronx. He is best remembered for his role as Max on the TV series Hart to Hart.  Earlier he was in demand on radio on the Eddie Cantor Show, Bing Crosby's Kraft Music Hall, The Fred Allen Show, the Mayor of the Town series with Lionel Barrymore and Agnes Moorehead, Stage Door Canteen, and The Jack Paar Show, among others. In 1941 he originated the title role of The Life of Riley on CBS Radio. He succumbed to lung cancer Nov. 30 1994 at age 86.

On this day in 1925, Emmy-winning producer & network executive Grant Tinker was born in Stamford Conn.  As Mary Tyler Moore's husband he co-created MTM Enterprises, producers of The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Rhoda, The Bob Newhart Show, WKRP in Cincinnati & Hill St. Blues. He later became president & CEO of NBC, and made it the #1 network with shows like The Cosby Show, Family Ties, Cheers, & Night Court.  He is still with us today on his 83rd birthday.

On this day in 1928, "Ol' Man River" was recorded on Victor Records by Paul Whiteman and his orchestra.
    
Bing Crosby crooned as the song's featured vocalist. The tune came from the Broadway musical, "Showboat".

On this day in 1939, CFCT 1450 Victoria expanded its power to 500 watts in official ceremonies performed at 7 p.m. by Nellie McClung and Mayor Andrew McGavin.  CFCT was known as "The Voice of the Island."  Within two years the calls were changed to CJVI.

On this day in 1947, "The Amazing Mr. Malone" (aka "Murder and Mr. Malone") debuted on ABC radio. The program starred Frank Lovejoy.

On this day in 1956, the No. 1 Billboard Pop Hit was "Memories Are Made of This'' by Dean Martin.

                                                                                                              
On this day in 1958, Lloyd Bridges starred for the first time as Mike Nelson, an ex-Navy frogman who became an underwater trouble shooter, in "Sea Hunt" on CBS-TV. The show remained on the network for four years.

On this day in 1963, the Whisky A-Go-Go, the Hollywood club devoted to the cutting edge of rock, opened & would later be identified as America's first discotheque. At the time, John Travolta was all of five years old and Barry White sang three octaves higher.

Also this day in 1963, the Beatles made their first national TV appearance in the U.K. They performed the song "Please Please Me" on the show "Thank Your Lucky Stars."

On this day in 1964, "Ring of Fire'' by Johnny Cash became the first country album to top the U.S. pop album chart.

On this day in 1965, the Beach Boys recorded "Do You Wanna Dance."

On this day in 1966, the African adventure series "Daktari" starring Marshall Thompson premiered on CBS TV.

On this day in 1967, Jimi Hendrix recorded the future smash "Purple Haze."

On this day in 1969, the song "Hooked on a Feeling" by BJ Thomas peaked at #5 on the pop charts.  

Also this day in 1969, Jethro Tull's debut album, "This Was,'' was released.

On this day in 1973, actress Isabel Randolph died at 83.  She was best known as the prickly Mrs. Abigail Uppington on NBC Radio's "Fibber McGee & Molly" in the 30's & 40's.  She played similar characters in the TV sitcoms Meet Millie, December Bride & the Dick Van Dyke Show, plus dozens of guest spots.

                                                                        
On this day in 1974, ABC aired the final episode of "Love, American Style."

On this day in 1977, the No. 1 Billboard Pop Hit was "You Make Me Feel Like Dancing'' by Leo Sayer.

Also this day in 1977, Rolling Stone Keith Richards was tried in London for possession of cocaine, found in his car after an accident, and fined £750.

                                                                                                                  
On this day in 1979, actor Jack Soo, best known as Det. Sgt. Nick Yemana on TV's Barney Miller, died from throat cancer at 63.

On this day in 1981, actress Beulah Bondi, who played mother figures over a 45 year film career, and was Aunt Martha on TV's The Waltons, died at age 91.

On this day in 1980, Rupert Holmes was at the top of the pop music charts, with "Escape (The Pina Colada Song)".

On this day in 1982, CBC Television moved the national news to 10 pm and introduced a new public affairs program The Journal, hosted by Barbara Frum, which would last for a decade. The time change experiment would end much sooner.

On this day in 1984, Michael Jackson's "Thriller" became the all-time best- selling LP.  With ten-million copies sold, it surpassed the previous bestseller, the soundtrack from "Saturday Night Fever".  And "Thriller" produced seven top-10 singles, ahead of Fleetwood Mac, Cyndi Lauper and Bruce Springsteen, who have each taken four top-10 singles off one LP.  

On this day in 1988, "So Emotional'' became the sixth consecutive No. 1 hit for Whitney Houston, following "Saving All My Love For You,'' "How Will I Know,'' "The Greatest Love of All,'' "I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)'' and "Didn't We Almost Have It All.''

On this day in 1991, Nirvana's album, "Nevermind" rose to No. 1 on the Billboard Album chart. The same day Nirvana played "Saturday Night Live."

                                                                                          
On this day in 1992, Paul Simon began a concert tour in South Africa. He was the first international star to perform in South Africa following the end of the UN cultural boycott.

On this day in 1995, Michael Jackson released a statement saying, "I will no longer stand by and watch reckless members of the media try to destroy my reputation." The statement was prompted by unsubstantiated rumors of a video depicting Jackson fooling around with a young boy.

Also this day in 1995, the 5th US television network "The WB" by Warner Brothers began operations .. with flagships WPIX in New York City and KTLA In Los Angeles.

On this day in 1997, actor/producer/director Sheldon Leonard died at 89. Best known as an actor on the Jack Benny radio & TV shows, his impressive production resume includes Make Room for Daddy, I Spy, the Andy Griffith Show, Gomer Pyle, My World & Welcome to It, and The Dick Van Dyke Show.  

On this day in 1998, the 24th Annual People's Choice Awards gave top honors to the TV comedy Seinfeld, and lead comedy actor Tim Allen for Home Improvement.

On this day in 1999, Sean "Puffy" Combs and Dwight "Heavy D" Myers, along with the City University of New York (CUNY), were found negligent in a 1991 celebrity basketball game that killed nine people and injured dozens.

Also this day in 1999, U.K. pop star Robbie Williams scooped a record six nominations for the Brit Awards, the United Kingdom's equivalent of the Grammys. Williams dominated the shortlist with nominations for best single, best British video and best British album.

On this day in 2000, chart-topping R&B vocalist Whitney Houston was caught with more than a half-ounce of marijuana at Keahole-Kona International Airport in Hawaii. The drugs were discovered in Houston's handbag during a search at the airport's security checkpoint. Although the bag was taken and security personnel attempted to detain her, Houston simply walked off and boarded a United Airlines flight to San Francisco.

Today's Birthdays:

Singer Don Cherry (Band of Gold) is 84.  

Former NBC president & producer Grant Tinker (see 1924 above) is 83.

Actor Rod Taylor (Falcon Crest, Outlaws, The Oregon Trail) is 78.

Actor Mitchell Ryan (Dharma and Greg, Santa Barbara, The Chisholms) is 74.  

Actress Linda Lawson (Don't Call Me Charlie, Ben Casey, Adv. in Paradise) is 72.

Actor Felix Silla (The Addams Family, Buck Rogers in the 25th Century) is 71.

Saxophonist Clarence Clemons of Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band is 66.

Radio talk host & author Jim Hightower is 65.

Country singer Naomi Judd is 62.

Guitarist Vicki Peterson of The Bangles is 50.

Actress Kim Coles (Living Single, Geena Davis Show) is 46.

Keyboardist Jim Bryson of MercyMe is 40.

Guitarist Tom Dumont of No Doubt is 40.

Singer Maxee Maxwell of Brownstone is 39.

Singer Mary J. Blige is 37.

Musician Tom Rowlands of The Chemical Brothers is 37.

Actress Amanda Peet (Studio 60, Jack & Jill) is 36.

Actor Christian Jacobs (Gloria, Maggie, Yo Gabba Gabba) is 36.

Actor Marc Blucas (Buffy the Vampies Slayer, Clueless) is 36.

Actor Rockmond Dunbar (Prison Break, Soul Food) is 34.

Actor Stan Ivar (Days of Our Lives, Little House on the Prairie) is ??


Chart Toppers  

January 11

1947
For Sentimental Reasons - Nat King Cole
Ole Buttermilk Sky - The Kay Kyser Orchestra (vocal: Mike Douglas & The Campus Kids)
The Old Lamplighter - The Sammy Kaye Orchestra (vocal: Billy Williams)
Divorce Me C.O.D. - Merle Travis

1955
Mr. Sandman - The Chordettes
The Naughty Lady of Shady Lane - The Ames Brothers
Hearts of Stone - The Fontane Sisters
Loose Talk - Carl Smith

1963
Telstar - The Tornadoes
Go Away Little Girl - Steve Lawrence
Hotel Happiness - Brook Benton
Ruby Ann - Marty Robbins

1971
My Sweet Lord/Isn’t It a Pity - George Harrison
Knock Three Times - Dawn
Black Magic Woman - Santana
Rose Garden - Lynn Anderson

1979
Too Much Heaven - Bee Gees
My Life - Billy Joel
Sharing the Night Together - Dr. Hook
Tulsa Time - Don Williams

1987
Walk Like an Egyptian - Bangles
Notorious - Duran Duran
Shake You Down - Gregory Abbott
Give Me Wings - Michael Johnson