Sunday January the 13th

On This Day in 1905
"Scientific America" published an advertisement for the "Telimco", a radio device guaranteed to receive signals "for as far as one mile." It cost $7.50.

On this day in 1910, Enrico Caruso and Emmy Destinn were heard via a telephone transmitter, rigged by DeForest Radio-Telephone Company to broadcast from the Metropolitan Opera House in New York City.

On this day in 1913, producer/host Ralph Edwards was born near Merino Colorado.  Best known as producer/host of TV's This is Your Life, he came to prominence as the host of radio's zany Truth or Consequences, a game show which ran for 38 years on radio & TV.  As producer he brought to the airwaves TV's The People's Court, still on the air 25 years later.  He died of congestive heart failure Nov. 25 1997 at age 84.

On this day in 1918, actor Steve Dunne was born in Northampton Mass. He succeeded Howard Duff on radio as the star of The Adventures of Sam Spade.  On TV he starred in the series Professional Father & The Brothers Brannigan, and appeared repeatedly on Alfred Hitchcock Presents, The Brady Bunch, The Millionaire & Lux Video Theatre.  He died Sept. 2 1977 at age 59.

On this day in 1919, future movie & TV star Robert Stack was born in Los Angeles.  
He starred as Elliott Ness in The Untouchables, and accepted many guest roles, including recurring appearances in The Name of the Game & Falcon Crest.  His career blossomed again as host of NBC's Unsolved Mysteries. Stack died at age 84 May 14 2003 after a heart attack.

                                                                                                                
On this day in 1925, actress/dancer Gwen Verdon was born in Culver City, Los Angeles. Best known for her stage work & the movie Damn Yankees, Verdon did not have a breakthrough broadcast credit, despite repeated appearances on All My Children, Magnum PI, The Cosby Mysteries & Walker Texas Ranger. She died Oct 18 2000 at age 75, after a heart attack.

On this day in 1928, Ernst F. W. Alexanderson gave the first public demonstration of television at Schenectady New York, using a perforated scanning disk and high-frequency neon lamps.  

On this day in 1934, a comedy-variety hit of early radio The Al Pearce Show debuted on NBC Blue, after 5 successful years on KFRC San Francisco.

On this day in 1938, singer Allan Jones recorded "The Donkey Serenade" for Victor Records. The song became the one most often associated with the singer. Allan sang and acted in several Marx Brothers films: "A Night at the Opera", "A Day at the Races"; but the film that catapulted him to stardom was the operetta, "Firefly", with Jeanette MacDonald. Singer Jack Jones is his son.

                                                                            
On this day in 1941, the four Modernaires joined to sing with the Glenn Miller Band on a permanent basis.  They had a 'solo' hit in 1946 with "To Each His Own".

On this day in 1947, the No. 1 Billboard Pop Hit was "The Old Lamp-Lighter'' by Sammy Kaye & his Orchestra. "Swing & Sway with Sammy Kaye."

On this day in 1948, the first country music TV show, "Midwestern Hayride", debuted on WLW-TV Cincinnati.

On this day in 1949, NBC TV executive Brandon Tartikoff was born in Freeport New York. In the 1980's he turned around the network's fortunes with hit shows Hill Street Blues, L.A. Law, Family Ties, The Cosby Show, Cheers, Miami Vice, The Golden Girls, St. Elsewhere, Night Court, Highway to Heaven, Matlock, and Empty Nest. He succumbed to Hodgkin's Disease Aug. 27 1997 at age 48.

On this daybin 1957, Elvis Presley recorded "All Shook Up" and "That's When Your Heartaches Begin" for Victor Records in Hollywood. The former tune became Elvis' ninth consecutive gold record.

On this day in 1959, the No. 1 Billboard Pop Hit was "Smoke Gets in Your Eyes'' by The Platters.

On this day in 1962, singer Chubby Checker set a record, literally, with the hit, "The Twist". The song reached the #1 position for an unprecedented second time -- within two years. "The Twist" was also number one on September 26, 1960. The Philadelphia boy made good twice!

                                                                                                              
On this day in 1962, TV comedian Ernie Kovacs died in a car crash in West Los Angeles, at age 42.

On this day in 1964, the Beatles released "I Want To Hold Your Hand" in the U.S.

On this day in 1966, Elizabeth Montgomery's character, Samantha, on "Bewitched", had a baby.
                                                              
Tabitha was the name given to the witch's daughter. She could wriggle her nose and cause all kinds of problems for daddy, just like her mom.

On this day in 1968, Dr. K.C. Pollack of the University of Florida audio lab reported that tests found that the noise levels at rock & roll concerts was harmful to teenage ears.

On this day in 1969, the Beatles' "Yellow Submarine" album was released.

On this day in 1973, ABC aired the final episode of "Alias Smith and Jones."

Also this day in 1973, Carly Simon's "No Secrets" was the #1 album in the U.S. for the first of five weeks.

Again in 1973, Eric Clapton's comeback concert (after drug rehab) was held at the Rainbow Theatre, London.

On this day in 1976, the trial of seven Brunswick Records and Dakar Records employees began. The charges were bilking artists out of more than $184,000 in royalties.

On this day in 1978, the Police began recording their debut album.

On this day in 1979, soul pop singer Danny Hathaway died after jumping, (or falling) from a 15th floor hotel room in New York City at the age of 34.

On this day in 1979, the Y.M.C.A. filed a lawsuit against the Village People over their smash hit, "Y.M.C.A." The suit was later dropped.

                                                                                                            
On this day in 1983, comedian Doodles Weaver, best known for his appearances & recordings with Spike Jones & His City Slickers, died by his own hand at age 71, after years of alcoholism & failing health.  

On this day in 1984, TV anchor Christine Craft won a $325,000 judgement after sueing a Kansas City station for terminating her, apparently because she was "too old."

                                                            
On this day in 1985, Carol Wayne, Johnny Carson's teatime movie hostess, died at 42 in an apparent swimming accident in Mexico.

On this day in 1989, the soap opera "Ryan's Hope" aired its final episode on ABC TV, after a 13½ year run.  

On this day in 1991, the 12th ACE Cable Awards resulted in 25 wins for HBO.

On this day in 1993, rocker Bobby Brown was arrested in Augusta, GA, for simulating a sex act onstage. It was the second time that he had been arrested by the Augusta police department for the same offense.

On this day in 1995, singer Ruby Starr, who toured & recorded with "Black Oak Arkansas," and later "Grey Ghost," died of a brain tumor at age 44.

On this day in 1997, the first episode of the made-in-Canada series "La Femme Nikita" aired on the USA cable channel.
                                                                

On this day in 1998, CBS agreed to pay $4 billion to televise AFC games for the next 8-years.

Also this day in 1998, NBC agreed to pay almost $13 million for each episode of the TV show E.R. It was the highest amount ever paid for a TV show

Again in 1998, the 100th episode of "NYPD Blue" aired on ABC.

On this day in 2000, a Manhattan grand jury indicted Sean "Puffy'' Combs on charges of criminal possession of a weapon in the second and third degree, for having two loaded 9-millimeter handguns in his possession. The charges stem from a Dec. 27, 1999, incident in which weapons were found in the rap mogul's vehicle, following a shooting at a New York nightclub in which three were injured

                                                                                                          
On this day in 2003, The Who's Pete Townshend was arrested on suspicion of possessing indecent images of children. Townshend said that his use of an Internet Web site advertising child pornography was for research for an autobiography.  He was subsequently cleared of the possession charge.


Today's Birthdays:

Actress Rosemary Murphy (All My Children, Another World, EZ Streets) is 81.

Actor David Sheiner (Mr. Novak, Mission Impossible, Blind Ambition) is 80.

Actor Gregory Walcott (Bonanza, Laramie, Rawhide) is 80.

Country singer Liz Anderson is 78.

Actress Frances Sternhagen (ER, Sex & The City, Cheers) is 78.

Comedian Rip Taylor (Life With Bonnie, Santa Barbara) is 74.

Actor Billy Gray (Father Knows Best) is 70.

Actor Richard Moll (Night Court) is 65.

Guitarist Trevor Rabin of Yes is 54.

Drummer Fred White of Earth, Wind and Fire is 53.

Actor Kevin Anderson (Nothing Sacred, Skin) is 48.

Actress Julia Louis-Dreyfuss (Seinfeld, New Adv. of Old Christine) is 47.

Edmonton-born goalie/colour man Kelly Hrudey (Hockey Night in Canada) is 47.

Singer Graham "Suggs" McPherson of Madness is 47.

Country singer Trace Adkins is 46.

Actress Penelope Ann Miller (Vanished, A Minute w/Stan Hooper) is 44.

Actor Patrick Dempsey (Grey's Anatomy) is 42.

Actress Traci Bingham (The Dream Team, BattleBots, Baywatch) is 40.

Actor Keith Coogan (The Waltons, The MacKenzies of Paradise Cove) is 38.

Actress Nicole Eggert (Baywatch, Home Fires) is 36.


Chart Toppers

January 13

1949
Buttons and Bows - Dinah Shore
On a Slow Boat to China - The Kay Kyser Orchestra (vocal: Harry Babbitt & Gloria Wood)
A Little Bird Told Me - Evelyn Knight
I Love You So Much It Hurts - Jimmy Wakely

1957
Singing the Blues - Guy Mitchell
The Banana Boat Song - The Tarriers
Moonlight Gambler - Frankie Laine
Singing the Blues - Marty Robbins

1965
I Feel Fine - The Beatles
She�s a Woman - The Beatles
Love Potion Number Nine - The Searchers
Once a Day - Connie Smith

1973
Me and Mrs. Jones - Billy Paul
Clair - Gilbert O�Sullivan
You�re So Vain - Carly Simon
She�s Got to Be a Saint - Ray Price

1981
(Just Like) Starting Over - John Lennon
Love on the Rocks - Neil Diamond
Hungry Heart - Bruce Springsteen
I Think I�ll Just Stay Here and Drink - Merle Haggard

1989
Every Rose Has Its Thorn - Poison
My Prerogative - Bobby Brown
Two Hearts - Phil Collins
Hold Me - K.T. Oslin