Wednesday January the 16th


ON THIS DAY in 1907
actor Alexander Knox was born in suburban London Ontario.  The zenith of his career was the 1944 movie docudrama Wilson in which he played US President Woodrow Wilson. Blacklisted during the McCarthy era he spent most of the rest of his life in Britain, where he was featured in TV mini-series Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy, Oppenheimer, Churchill & the Generals, and several episodes of Lovejoy.  He died of bone cancer April 25 1995 at age 88.

On this day in 1909, Tony-winning singer/actress Ethel Merman was born Ethel Zimmerman in Astoria New York.  Her broadcast credits include repeated appearances on TV's Hollywood Palace, Toast of the Town (Ed Sullivan), Shower of Stars, Batman, Tarzan, and The Love Boat. She died following surgery for brain cancer Feb 15, 1984 at age 75.

On this day in 1910, baseball Hall of Fame pitcher Dizzy Dean was born Jay Hanna Dean in Lucas Arkansas.  After a foreshortened playing career he became a popular grammatically-challenged sportscaster, first in St. Louis and then nationally on CBS TV's Game of the Week.  His spoonerisms became legendary. He died July 17, 1974 at age 64.  

Also this day in 1910, one of the great announcers of bigtime radio Dwight Weist was born in Palo Alto Calif.  As well as being the commercial announcer on Inner Sanctum Mysteries & host of We the People, among many announcing assignments, he also had acting roles as the very first Mr. District Attorney, one of several Commissioner Westons on The Shadow, and one of the male actors to play Burton on the soap The Second Mrs. Burton. He suffered a fatal heart attack July 16 1991 at age 81.

On this day in 1917, comedian Buddy Lester was born in Chicago.
                                                    
He was a fixture on nightclub circuits for seven decades, and was a regular cast member in TV's "New Phil Silvers Show" in 1963-64. Lester also acted in several episodes of such police series as "Adam-12" and "Barney Miller," and became a familiar face through his work in shows such as "Love, American Style," "The New Dick Van Dyke Show," "The Odd Couple" and "Starsky and Hutch."  He succumbed to cancer Oct. 4 2002 at age 85.

On this day in 1918, prolific screenwriter Stirling Silliphant was born in Detroit. He had over 700 hours of prime-time television drama to his credit, many of which earned Emmys for their producers, directors, and cast members, but not for him. His credits include the live Playhouse 90, plus film series, Perry Mason. Alfred Hitchcock Presents, Route 66 & Naked City.  He wrote three mini-series, Pearl, Space & Mussolini: The Untold Story.  He died from prostate cancer April 26 1996 at age 78.

On this day in 1932, Duke Ellington and his Orchestra recorded "It Don't Mean a Thing."

On this day in 1938, Benny Goodman and his band, plus a quartet, brought the sound of jazz to Carnegie Hall in New York City. When asked how long an intermission he wanted, he quipped, "I don't know. How much does Toscanini get?"

                                                                                                              
On this day in 1939, the shrill siren call of radio's "I Love a Mystery" was heard for the first time as the show debuted on NBC's West-Coast outlets.

On this day in 1942, Kay Kyser and the band recorded "A Zoot Suit (For My Sunday Gal)" for Columbia Records. The tune was about the problems associated with wearing the garish, exaggerated "hep" fashion.

On this day in 1957, classical conductor Arturo Toscanini died of natural causes at age 89.  rguably the greatest conductor of his era, he led the NBC Symphony Orchestra on radio & TV from 1937 to 1954.

Also this day in 1957, Little Richard recorded one of big hits, "Lucille."

Also this day in 1957, the Cavern Club opened for business in Liverpool, England. The rock club was just a hangout for commoners. Then, things changed -- big time. It all started in the early 1960s when four kids from the neighborhood popped in to jam. They, of course, turned out to be The Beatles.

On this day in 1965, Chad Allen and the Expressions re-released their hit single Shakin' All Over under their new name - The Guess Who.  It was the band's first record under that banner.

On this day in 1965, the sci-fi series "Outer Limits" aired for the last time on ABC-TV.

Also this day in 1965, the Searchers' "Love Potion #9" peaked at #3 on the pop charts.

On thisday in 1970, The Who began a tour of European opera houses, performing excerpts from the rock opera "Tommy."

On this day in 1972, David Seville died of a heart attack in Beverly Hills, just days short of his 53rd birthday.  Born Ross Bagdasarian, the musician was the force, and artist, behind the Alvin and the Chipmunks novelty songs of the 1950s, '60s and '70s.  Seville first claimed fame, not through the novelty impact of the hit, "The Chipmunk Song" (it sold 3.5 million copies in five weeks); but by writing Rosemary Clooney's biggest hit, "Come on-a My House", in the early 1950s and the number one hit, "Witch Doctor", in 1958.

On this day in 1973, NBC presented the 440th & final showing of "Bonanza."

                                                                                                              
On this day in 1976, a one-hour music variety show, Donny & Marie, premiered on ABC-TV.

On this day in 1976, the album, "Frampton Comes Alive", was released by Herb Alpert's A&M Records. The double LP soon reached the top spot of the album charts and stayed perched there for 17 weeks. It sold 19 million copies in its first year in the record racks.

On this day in 1979, actor Ted Cassidy, who played Lurch on TV's Addams Family, died following heart surgery at age 46.

On this day in 1980, Paul McCartney was jailed in Tokyo for possession of a half pound of marijuana. He spent ten days behind bars before being kicked-out of the country by Japanese authorities. The remainder of his tour was canceled.

                                                            
On this day in 1981, John Lennon's future smash "Woman" was released in UK.

On this day in 1983, the No. 1 Billboard Pop Hit was "Down Under'' by Men at Work. The song held at No. 1 for three weeks, dropped behind Toto's 'Africa,'' then reclaimed the top spot for one week.

On this day in 1984, Michael Jackson didn't get to sit down much at the 11th annual American Music Awards. The "Gloved One" received eight awards, including favorite pop and soul male vocalist, pop and soul album winner for "Thriller", pop and soul video winner for "Beat It" and best pop song for "Billie Jean".

On this day in 1985, Leonard Nimoy, who roamed among the stars in the "Star Trek" TV series and movies, got his own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Live long and prosper, Mr. Spock.

On this day in 1986, Uncle Walter remained #1 with the public. Five years after his retirement from the "CBS Evening News," Walter Cronkite, according to the polls, was still the most trusted man in America. "And that's the way it is."

On this day in 1987, comedienne Joyce Jameson died by her own hand at age 54. The well-endowed platinum blonde played dumb, sexy foils for top comedians (Steve Allen, Danny Kaye, Red Skelton) in TV skits during the 50s and 60s.  She also had a running role on General Hospital in 1979.

Also this day in 1987, the Beastie Boys became the first act censored on "American Bandstand."

On this day in 1988, Jimmy "The Greek" Snyder was fired as a CBS sports commentator one day after telling a TV station in Washington DC that, during the era of slavery, blacks had been bred to produce stronger offspring.

Also this day in 1988, the song "Got My Mind Set On You" by George Harrison topped the charts and stayed there for just a week.

Again in 1988, George Michael's "Faith" started a sixteen-week run as the number-one album in the U.S.

On this day in 1991, The Byrds and Wilson Pickett were among those inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
                                                                                                                          
On this day in 1994, Canadian rocker Bryan Adams played before 2,500 people in Ho Chi Minh City. He was the first Western entertainer to perform in Vietnam since the end of the Vietnam War in 1975.

Also this day in 1994, the Diana Ross TV movie "Out of Darkness" aired on CBS-TV.

On this day in 1995, America's 6th network UPN (Universal-Paramount Network) began telecasting. WWOR was the New York flagship, KSTW (UPN 11) was the Seattle affiliate.  

Also this day in 1995, the No. 1 Billboard Pop Hit was "On Bended Knee" by Boyz II Men.

On this day in 1996, Jimmy Buffett's sea plane "Hemisphere Dancer" was shot at by Jamaican police who mistook him for a drug smuggler. U2's Bono was in the plane with Buffett at the time. Jimmy wrote a song about the incident, "Jamaica Mistaica", that appears on the album "Banana Wind".

Also this day in 1996, Wayne Newton performed his 25,000th Vegas show. Newton had already performed more shows as a headliner on Las Vegas' famed Strip than any other entertainer in the city's history. He first headlined on the Strip at the Fremont Hotel in 1959.

On this day in 1999, Brandy's single, "Have You Ever", was #1 (for the first of two weeks) on the "Billboard" "Hot 100".


Today's Birthdays:

Actor Elliott Reid (New Dick Van Dyke Show, Disneyland + radio's Suspense) is 88.

Guitarist Bob Bogle (The Ventures) is 74.

Singer Barbara Lynn is 66.

Country singer Ronnie Milsap is 65.

Country singer Jim Stafford is 64.

Radio talk show host Dr. Laura Schlessinger is 61.

Actress-dancer Debbie Allen (Different World, All of Us, Fame) is 58.

Singer Sade is 49.

Bassist Paul Webb of Talk Talk is 46.

Singer Maxine Jones of En Vogue is 42.

Actor David Chokachi (Beyond the Break, Baywatch) is 40.

Actor Richard T. Jones (Judging Amy) is 36.

Actress Josie Davis (Titans, Beverly Hills 90210) is 35.

Guitarist Nick Valensi of The Strokes is 27.

Actress Yvonne Zima (ER) is 19.


Chart Toppers

January 16

1944
My Heart Tells Me - The Glen Gray Orchestra (vocal: Eugenie Baird)
Shoo, Shoo, Baby - The Andrews Sisters
Paper Doll - The Mills Brothers
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
Judy in Disguise (With Glasses) - John Fred & His Playboy Band
Woman, Woman - The Union Gap
For Loving You - Bill Anderson & Jan Howard

1976
I Write the Songs - Barry Manilow
Theme from Mahogany (Do You Know Where You’re Going To) - Diana Ross
Fox on the Run - Sweet
Convoy - C.W. McCall

1984
Say Say Say - Paul McCartney & Michael Jackson
Owner of a Lonely Heart - Yes
Karma Chameleon - Culture Club
Slow Burn - T.G. Sheppard