Thursday January the 24th


ON THIS DAY in 1885
the CPR telegraph reached Vancouver from the east, was now operating from coast to coast.

On this day in 1913, future game show tycoon Mark Goodson was born in Sacramento. The long list of Goodson-Todman productions includes Beat the Clock, Family Feud, Match Game, Password, The Price is Right, To Tell the Truth, I've Got A Secret and What's My Line?. The shows endured through the decades, many over multiple runs, because of Goodson's sharp eye for production and presentation. He died Dec. 18 1992 from pancreatic cancer at age 77.

On this day in 1916, longtime Chicago baseball announcer Jack Brickhouse was born in Peoria Illinois.  He was the TV voice of the Cubs from the 1940's into the '80's.  Early on he did TV play by play for the White Sox as well, and did radio for the NFL's Chicago Bears.  He died Aug 6, 1998 after suffering a heart attack while undergoing surgery.  Brickhouse was 82.

On this day in 1930, Ben Bernie & his Orchestra began a weekly remote broadcast from the lovely Roosevelt Hotel in New York City.

On this day in 1936, Benny Goodman and his Orchestra recorded one of the all-time big band greats, "Stompin' at the Savoy", on Victor Records. The song became such a standard, that, literally, hundreds of artists have recorded it, including a vocal version by Barry Manilow.

On this day in 1942, "Abie's Irish Rose" was first heard on NBC radio, replacing "Knickerbocker Playhouse". The program was a takeoff on the smash play from Broadway that ran for nearly 2,000 performances. Sydney Smith played the part of Abie. Rosemary Murphy was played by Betty Winkler.

On this day in 1947, Vancouver's CKWX radio opened its new 5,000 watt transmitter on Lulu Island.(now Richmond.)
                                                                                                              
Also this day in 1947, rocker & acclaimed songwriter Warren Zevon was born in Chicago.  His breakthrough album (Excitable Boy) had a title track about a high school psychopath's murderous prom night.  Has the distinction of being David Letterman's only guest for the full hour Oct. 30, 2002; he'd occasionally filled in for bandleader Paul Schaeffer.  He died from a form of lung cancer Sept. 7 2003 at age 56.

On this day in 1949, the No. 1 Billboard Pop Hitm was "A Little Bird Told Me'' by Evelyn Knight & the Stardusters.

On this day in 1957, Elvis Presley recorded one of smash hits "Teddy Bear."

                                                                  
On this day in 1962, Brian Epstein signed with the Beatles as their manager and began to direct their image away from leather jackets. He led them toward a smarter stage presentation, with matching suits and bows to the audience.

On this day in 1964, CBS-TV acquired the rights to televise the National Football League's 1964-1965 regular season. The move cost CBS $14.1 million a year. The NFL stayed on CBS for 30 years.

On this day in 1969, Jethro Tull opened its first U.S. tour in New York City. They were the opening act for Led Zeppelin.

On this day in 1970, James "Shep" Sheppard, the lead singer for The Heartbeats and Shep and the Limelites, was found murdered in his car on the Long Island Expressway in New York.

On this day in 1972, character actor Jerome Cowan died at age 74. In addition to an extensive Broadway & film resume (Dagwood's boss in Blondie movies) he spent 26 years guesting on TV, and starring in 3 short-lived series.

On this day in 1973, actor J. Carrol Naish, who starred in radio & TV's Life with Luigi, and TV's New Adventures of Charlie Chan, died of emphysema at age 72.

Also this day in 1973, "Little" Donny Osmond, of the famed Osmond Brothers/Family, received a gold record for his album, "Too Young".

On this day in 1974, the No. 1 Billboard Pop Hit was "You're Sixteen'' by Ringo Starr. Former Beatles bandmate Paul McCartney sang a brief solo on the song.
                                                            
On this day in 1982, the final score was San Francisco 26, Cincinnati 21. The first cold-weather Super Bowl, number XVI was played in the Pontiac, Michigan Silverdome. The CBS telecast was viewed by 110.2 million fans and CBS radio counted 14 million listeners.

On this day in 1984, the ABC network agreed to pay $386 million for US TV rights to the 1988 Calgary Winter Olympics; a record sum to that date.

On this day in 1986, singer and actor Gordon MacRae died of cancer in Lincoln, Nebraska at the age of 64. MacRae starred in many memorable movies, was host & star of the weekly "Railroad Hour" for 17 years on NBC radio, and starred on television as host of the "Colgate Comedy Hour" and "Lux Television Theatre". And he recorded many show tunes, primarily for Capitol Records.

On this day in 1987, the song "At This Moment" by Billy Vera & the Beaters topped the charts and stayed there for 2 weeks.

                                                                      
On this day in 1989, James Brown was sentenced to 6 years in jail for drug and and assault charges.

On this day in 1992, Greg McPherson, a music professor at the University of Massachusetts, filed a $21 million lawsuit against the New Kids on the Block manager Maurice Starr saying he wasn't paid for his work on the group's "Hangin' Tough Live'' album. McPherson also charged that the New Kids only sang 20 percent of their own vocals and lip-synched in concert.

Also this day in 1992, choral director & composer Ken Darby died of heart problems in Sherman Oaks, Calif., at age 82. In 1929 he formed the King's Men vocal quartet featured for years on the Fibber McGee & Molly radio show.  He also won three Oscars & wrote the Elvis Presley hit "Love Me Tender.''

On this day in 1994, David Cole, who went from being a New York club DJ to superstar producer, died of complications from spinal meningitis at age 32. Along with Robert Clivilles, Cole produced hits by Mariah Carey, Whitney Houston and Aretha Franklin before bursting onto the pop music scene as the duo C+C Music Factory with the 1991 smash "Gonna Make You Sweat.''

On this day in 1995, Van Halen released their "Balance" LP. It was the last album recorded with lead singer Sammy Hagar.

On this day in 2001, bandleader Les Brown died at age 88.  His "Band of Renown" introduced Doris Day to North American audiences, and played radio, TV & live events for Bob Hope including 18 USO tours, for almost 50 years.

On this day in 2002, legendary Canadian broadcaster and author Peter Gzowski passed away in Toronto from emphysema at the age of 67.

Also this day in 2002, singer Freddy Fender underwent a kidney transplant. He was released six days later, and would live another 4 years plus.


Today's Birthdays:

Actor Ernest Borgnine (McHale's Navy, Airwolf, All Dogs Go to Heaven) is 91.

Actor Marvin Kaplan (Becker, Alice, Top Cat) is 84.

Windsor-born singer Jack Scott (What in the World's Come Over You, Burning Bridges) is 72.

Cajun fiddler Doug Kershaw is 72.

Singer/pianist/composer Bobby Scott is 71.

Singer/songwriter Ray Stevens is 69.

Singer Aaron Neville is 67.

Singer Neil Diamond is 67.

Vancouver-born actor Michael Ontkean (Twin Peaks, North Shore, The Rookies) is 62.

Country singer-songwriter Becky Hobbs is 58.

Comedian Yakov Smirnoff is 57.

Keyboardist Jools Holland (Squeeze) is 50.

Country drummer Keech Rainwater of Lonestar is 45.

Comedian Phil LaMarr is 41.

Singer Pat "Sleepy Brown" of Society of Soul is 38.

Actress Merrilee McCommas (Friday Night Lights, Family Law) is 37.

Actress Tatyana Ali (The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air) is 29.

Actress Mischa Barton (The O.C.) is 22.[/b]


Chart Toppers

January 24
1944 - My Heart Tells Me - The Glen Gray Orchestra (vocal: Eugenie Baird)
Shoo, Shoo, Baby - The Andrews Sisters
My Ideal - The Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra (vocal: Bob Eberly)
Pistol Packin’ Mama - Bing Crosby & The Andrews Sisters

1952 - Slowpoke - Pee Wee King
Sin (It’s No) - Eddy Howard
Shrimp Boats - Jo Stafford
Let Old Mother Nature Have Her Way - Carl Smith

1960 - Running Bear - Johnny Preston
The Big Hurt - Miss Toni Fisher
Go, Jimmy, Go - Jimmy Clanton
El Paso - Marty Robbins

1968 - Judy in Disguise (With Glasses) - John Fred & His Playboy Band
Chain of Fools - Aretha Franklin
Green Tambourine - The Lemon Pipers
Sing Me Back Home - Merle Haggard

1976 - Theme from Mahogany (Do You Know Where You’re Going To) - Diana Ross
Love Rollercoaster - Ohio Players
Love to Love You Baby - Donna Dummer
Convoy - C.W. McCall

1984 - Owner of a Lonely Heart - Yes
Karma Chameleon - Culture Club
Talking in Your Sleep - The Romantics
In My Eyes - John Conlee