Friday January the 25th

On This Day in 1915
Alexander Graham Bell in New York spoke to his assistant (Thomas Watson) in San Francisco, inaugurating America's first transcontinental telephone service.

On this day in 1927, Jack Benny married Sadye Marks of Vancouver BC. You thought he married Mary Livingstone, didn't you? You are right. Sadye changed her name after she married the timeless comedian.

On this day in 1934, actress Elizabeth Allen was born in Jersey City.  She had recurring roles on TV's Paul Lynde Show, C.P.O. Sharkey, Dr. Kildare & Texas.  She was also the announcer who spoke the line "And away we go!" weekly on the Jackie Gleason Show.  She died of kidney failure Sept. 19 2006 at age 72.

                                                                          
On this day in 1936, actress Diana Hyland was born in Cleveland Heights Ohio. She won an Emmy for the TV movie The Boy in the Plastic Bubble; she had a running role in Peyton Place, and played the mother for just four episodes of the long-running Eight is Enough before cancer claimed her Mar 27, 1977 at the age of 41.  

On this day in 1937, NBC radio presented the first broadcast of "The Guiding Light". The program became the longest-running story line in daytime drama. The show remained on radio until 1956. "The Guiding Light" began its long run on CBS-TV in 1952.

                                                                                                    
On this day in 1940, Mary Martin recorded "My Heart Belongs to Daddy" -- for Decca Records. The song was her signature song until she starred in "South Pacific" in 1949. Then, Larry Hagman's mother had a new trademark: "I'm gonna wash that man right out of my hair..."

On this day in 1944, a black maid named Beulah (played by a white man, Marlin Hunt) joined the "Fibber McGee and Molly" radio show for the first time. A spinoff show, "Beulah", became a radio series in 1945.  But it didn't last long .. Hurt died a year later.

On this day in 1946, the No. 1 Billboard Pop Hit was "Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!'' by Vaughn Monroe.

On this day in 1949, the first Emmys were presented at the Hollywood Athletic Club. The event was the 1st Annual Los Angeles Emmy Awards (for programming which appeared in 194 and was presented by the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. Mike Stokey's "Pantomime Quiz Time" was selected as the year's top television show. Shirley Dinsdale and her puppet, Judy Splinters took honors as Most Outstanding Television Personality.

                    
On this day in 1952, at 8.30 pm, Vancouver's CBR 1130 became CBU 690.   There was a 30-minute CBU Special at 8:30 followed by a Robbie Burns Special at 9:05 pm. The launch of CBU meant a power increase from 5000 watts to 10,000 watts. At this point CBC Radio had just 17 low-power relay transmitters throughout B.C.   (Photo courtesy Van. Radio Museum)

On this day in 1958, Elvis Presley's "Jailhouse Rock" became the first single to ever enter the U.K. pop chart at Number One.

On this day in 1962, Sam Cooke's "Twistin' the Night Away" was released.

On this day in 1964, the Beatles reached the #1 spot on North American music charts, as their hit single, "I Want to Hold Your Hand", grabbed the top position in "Cash Box" magazine.  

On this day in 1969, Creedence Clearwater Revival released the "Proud Mary" LP.

On this day in 1973, the No. 1 Billboard Pop Hit was "Superstition'' by Stevie Wonder. The song was the first #1 for Wonder in more than nine years.

On this day in 1975, the song "Please Mr. Postman" by the Carpenters topped the charts but only for a week.

On this day in 1980, Paul McCartney was released from a Tokyo jail where he had been imprisoned for nine days after trying to carry a half pound of marijuana through customs at the Tokyo airport.  

                                                                                                        
On this day in 1982, the No. 1 Billboard Pop Hit was "I Can't Go for That (No Can Do)'' by Daryl Hall & John Oates.

On this day in 1987, Super Bowl XXI (at Pasadena) saw the New York Giants beat  Denver Broncos 39 to 20. MVP: Giants' QB Phil Simms.(now the #1 CBS analyst.) Neil Diamond sang the US national anthem. The game featured TV commercials that cost $550,000 for 30 seconds of NBC's most prime time.  

On this day in 1990, movie star Ava Gardner died of pneumonia at 67.  She had no broadcast credits until the last 5 years of her life, when she appeared in two TV movies, two episodes of Falcon Crest, and the mini-series A.D.

Also this day in 1990, ex-Beatle Paul McCartney was profiled on CBS-TV's "48 Hours".

Still this day in 1990, Bill Medley of the Righteous Brothers appeared on the NBC-TV sitcom "Cheers."

On this day in 1991, after a 2-and-a-half-year run, the soap opera "Generation'" aired its final episode.  

On this day in 1992, singer Emmylou Harris joined the Grand Ole Opry.

Also today in 1992, "Don't Let the Sun Go Down" by George Michael & Elton John topped the charts but stayed there for just a week.

On this day in 1994, Michael Jackson settled a civil lawsuit out of court. He'd been accused of molesting a 13-year-old boy.    

                                                                              
On this day in 1995, the 100th episode of "L.A. Law" aired on NBC.  

On this day in 1999, Paul McCartney launched a crusade against British radio and TV stations over the banning of "The Light Comes From Within," the final song by his late wife Linda, because it contained language deemed offensive.

Also this day in 1999, esteemed choral conductor and educator Robert Shaw died of a stroke at age 82. A winner of 14 Grammy Awards, Shaw received his latest nomination for a 1999 Telarc disc of Barber, Bartok, and Vaughan Williams with his longtime associates, the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra & Chorus.

On this day in 2006, "Survivor" Richard Hatch was convicted of failing to pay taxes on his $1 million winnings (he was later sentenced to more than four years in prison.)
                                                                                                                    

Today's Birthdays:

Former NBC newsman Edwin Newman is 89.

Jazz pianist/arranger Barbara Carroll is 83.

Actor Gregg Palmer (Gunsmoke, Death Vallry Days, Disneyland) is 81.

Actor Dean Jones (Jonny Quest: New Adv., Disneyland, Beethoven) is 77.

Country singer Claude Gray is 76.

Blues singer Etta James is 70.

Actress Leigh Taylor-Young (Dallas, Peyton Place, The Sentinel) is 64.

Actress Jenifer Lewis (Strong Medicine, The PJ's, Fresh Prince of Bel Air) is 51.

Actress Dinah Manoff (Empty Nest, Soap) is 50.

Country drummer Mike Burch of River Road is 42.

Singer Kina (Brownstone) is 39.

Actress Ana Ortiz (Ugly Betty) is 37.

Actress China Kantner (Home Improvement) is 37.

Guitarist Matt Odmark of Jars of Clay is 34.

Toronto-born actress Mia Kirshner (The L Word) is 33.

Singer Alicia Keys is 27.

And a HAPPY 56th BIRTHDAY TO CBU RADIO!!


Chart Toppers

January 25

1945

Don’t Fence Me In - Bing Crosby & The Andrews Sisters
There Goes that Song Again - Russ Morgan
I’m Making Believe - Ella Fitzgerald & The Ink Spots
I’m Wastin’ My Tears on You - Tex Ritter

1953
Why Don’t You Believe Me - Joni James
Don’t Let the Stars Get in Your Eyes - Perry Como
Keep It a Secret - Jo Stafford
I’ll Go On Alone - Marty Robbins

1961
Wonderland by Night - Bert Kaempfert
Exodus - Ferrante & Teicher
Calcutta - Lawrence Welk
North to Alaska - Johnny Horton

1969
I Heard It Through the Grapevine - Marvin Gaye
Crimson and Clover - Tommy James & The Shondells
Everyday People - Sly & The Family Stone
Daddy Sang Bass - Johnny Cash

1977
I Wish - Stevie Wonder
Car Wash - Rose Royce
Dazz - Brick
I Can’t Believe She Give It All to Me - Conway Twitty

1985
Like a Virgin - Madonna
All I Need - Jack Wagner
You’re the Inspiration - Chicago
How Blue - Reba McEntire