Monday January the 28th


ON THIS DAY in 1918
character actor Vito Scotti was born in San Francisco (but grew up in Naples Italy.)  He played italian waiters , maitre d's etc, in scores of TV guest appearances over 45 years.  He had recurring roles on Life With Luigi, The Flying Nun, Barefoot in the Park & Disneyland, among others. He succumbed to lung cancer June 5 1996 at age 78.  

On this day in 1927, Jean Goldkette and his dancing orchestra recorded "I'm Looking Over a Four-Leaf Clover."

On this day in 1934, Walter Winchell, in his newspaper column, paid  compliments to a local local disc jockey in Washington DC.  As a result, Arthur Godfrey
                                                                
began receiving offers from talent scouts and producers, and eventually was adored by millions across the country on CBS radio and TV. His trademark (strumming a ukulele and delivering down-home patter) endeared him to fans for the next 30 years.

On this day in 1940, "Beat the Band" made its debut on NBC radio. The band was that of Ted Weems and his 14-piece orchestra, who were joined by Elmo "The Whistling Troubadour" Tanner, and Country Washington. One other star of the show was a barber from the Pittsburgh area,  who would record many hits for RCA Victor from 1943 right into the 1970s. His name was Perry Como.
                                                                                                                      

On this day in 1948, the first Emmy Awards were given for excellence in television. The first Emmy winner was Shirley Dinsdale and her puppet, Judy Splinters, for Most Outstanding Personality.

On this day in 1956, Elvis Presley made his first appearance on national television on "The Dorsey Brothers Stage Show" on CBS. He sang "Blue Suede Shoes" and "Heartbreak Hotel".  After the appearance, sales of "Heartbreak Hotel" skyrocketed.

On this day in 1957, panelist Fred Stein, who was delightful on both radio & TV versions of Life Begins at 80, died at age 88.

Also this day in 1957, the ill-fated "Tonight! America After Dark" premiered, with Jack Lescoulie & Al (Jazzbo) Collins on NBC (between Steve Allen & Jack Paar.)

On this day in 1960, the zany Goon Show (Peter Sellers, Spike Millington, et al) aired its final episode on BBC Radio.

On this day in 1965, The Who made their first appearance on the British TV rock show "Ready Steady Go!"

On this day in 1967, the Rolling Stones released "Let's Spend the Night Together."

On this day in 1973, CBS-TV presented the first program of "Barnaby Jones" (a Quinn Martin Production). Lee Meriwether (Miss America 1955) played the detective's lovely daughter-in-law assistant. Buddy Ebsen played the detective, Jones. Ebsen, who started in show biz back in the 1920s, is best known for playing Jed Clampett on another CBS-TV series, "The Beverly Hillbillies".

On this day in 1973, actor John Banner, indelibly etched in our collective memory as Sgt. Schultz on Hogan's Heroes, died of an abdominal hemorrhage on his 62nd birthday.
                                                                                                      

On this day in 1975, the No. 1 Billboard Pop Hit was "Laughter in the Rain'' by Neil Sedaka.

On this day in 1977, character actor Burt Mustin, who played Justin Quigley on All in the Family, and Grampa Jensen on Petticoat Junction, died at age 92.

On this day in 1978, "Fantasy Island" starring Ricardo Montalban aired for the first time on ABC TV.

On this day in 1979, the 200th episode of "All In The Family" aired on CBS TV.
                                                                

On this day in 1980, one of the truly memorable characters of vaudeville, radio & TV, comedian Jimmy Durante died of pneumonia at age 86.

On this day in 1985, 45 of the world's top recording artists were invited to an all-night recording session at the A&M studios in Los Angeles. As each of the artists walked through the studio door, they were greeted by a hand-lettered sign -- put there by Lionel Richie. It simply said, "Check your ego at the door." The session started at 10 p.m. with producer Quincy Jones conducting. At 8 the following morning, the project, "USA for Africa", spearheaded by promoter, Ken Kragen, was recorded and mixed. The resulting song, "We Are the World", featuring Michael Jackson, Cyndi Lauper, Kenny Rogers, Dolly Parton, Sting, Harry Belafonte, Diana Ross, Paul Simon and many others became the top song in the U.S. on April 13, 1985.

On this day in 1987, ABC-TV moved reporter, Charles Gibson, into the coanchor chair next to Joan Lunden for the start of another era of "Good Morning America". Eleven-year host, David Hartman, retired as original host of the popular show, known also as "GMA".

Also this day in 1987, Roger Mudd departed NBC news after seven stormy years. Previously, Mudd had been an icon at CBS news. When it was announced that Dan Rather would replace Walter Cronkite as anchor, Mudd felt that he had been passed over. He went on to find yet another network home at PBS, where he contributed to "The MacNeil Lehrer News Hour".

On this day in 1990, Aaron Neville sang the U.S. national anthem at Super Bowl XXIV.
                                            

On this day in 1991, at The American Music Awards in Los Angeles, Gloria Estefan made her first live performance since injuring her back in a bus accident while on tour. She got a standing ovation.

On this day in 1991, the news-in-depth show "A Closer Look" with Faith Daniels debuted on NBC-TV.

In 1992, first lady Hillary Clinton apologized to country singer Tammy Wynette, who was angry over comments Mrs. Clinton made on "60 Minutes." Mrs. Clinton had said "I'm not sitting here like some little woman standing by her man like Tammy Wynette."

                                                                                                                      
On this day in 1994, actor Hal Smith, who played the notorious drunkard Otis on the Andy Griffith Show, and did voices on numerous cartoon shows, died after a heart attack at age 77.

On this day in 1995, TLC's "Creep" hit number one on the "Billboard" "Hot 100". The smash held down the top spot for four weeks.

On this day in 1996, Diana Ross performed as the featured halftime performer at Super Bowl XX in Tempe, Ariz.

Also this day in 1996, Chris Isaak made a guest appearance on the NBC TV show "Friends."

Again on this day in 1996, the original Bert and Ernie Muppets were stolen from an exhibit in Germany. They were later returned.
          

On this day in 1999, All American crooner Pat Boone formed the Gold Records label, which would only sign artists 45 years old and up. One of the first performers to be signed was two-time Grammy Award winner Jack Jones.

On this day in 2003, Stan Martin, a New York City radio personality, died at age 64. He worked at WQEW-FM and WNEW-AM, among others, and hosted the nationally syndicated "Solid Gold Country".

Today's Birthdays:

Clarinetist=composer Acker Bilk (Stranger on the Shore) is 79.

Actor Nicholas Pryor (Beverly Hills 90210, Port Charles) is 73.

Actor Alan Alda (West Wing, MASH) is 72.

Actress Susan Howard (Dallas, Petrocelli) is 66.

Actress Barbi Benton (HeeHaw, Sugar Time) is 58.

Actress Harley Jane Kozak (Harts of the West, Dream On, Santa Barbara) is 51.

Guitarist Dave Sharp of The Alarm is 49.

Singer Sam Phillips is 46.

Guitarist Dan Spitz of Anthrax is 45.

Country bassist Greg Cook of Ricochet is 43.

Halifax-born singer-songwriter Sarah McLachlan is 40.

Rap artist DJ Muggs with Cypress Hill is 40.

Rapper Rakim is 40.

Actress Kathryn Morris (Cold Case) is 39.

Singer Anthony Hamilton is 37.

Keyboardist Brandon Bush of Train is 35.

Singer Joey Fatone of 'N Sync is 31.

Singer Nick Carter of Backstreet Boys is 28.

Actor Elijah Wood (Robot Chicken, American Dad, King of the Hill) is 27.

Chart Toppers

January 28

1948
Golden Earrings - Peggy Lee
How Soon - Jack Owens
Ballerina - Vaughn Monroe
I’ll Hold You in My Heart (Till I Can Hold You in My Arms) - Eddy Arnold

1956
Memories are Made of This - Dean Martin
The Great Pretender - The Platters
Moritat (A Theme from ’The Three Penny Opera’) - Dick Hyman
Sixteen Tons - Tennessee Ernie Ford

1964
There! I’ve Said It Again - Bobby Vinton
I Want to Hold Your Hand - The Beatles
Surfin’ Bird - The Trashmen
Love’s Gonna Live Here - Buck Owens

1972
American Pie - Don McLean
Let’s Stay Together - Al Green
Day After Day - Badfinger
Carolyn - Merle Haggard

1980
Rock with You - Michael Jackson
Do that to Me One More Time - The Captain & Tennille
Coward of the County - Kenny Rogers
I’ll Be Coming Back for More - T.G. Sheppard

1988
The Way You Make Me Feel - Michael Jackson
Need You Tonight - INXS
Could’ve Been - Tiffany
Where Do the Nights Go - Ronnie Milsap