Monday February the 4th


ON THIS DAY in 1909
English actor Robert Coote was born in London. Besides a number of TV guest roles on this side of the Atlantic he was cast as a regular in the series The Rogues & Nero Wolfe.  He died Nov 26 1982 at age 73.

On this day in 1917, actor William Talman was born in Detroit.  He is best remembered as the DA Perry Mason beat every week in the TV courtroom, Hamilton Berger.  He died from lung cancer Aug 30, 1968 at age 51.

On this day in 1918, actress/director Ida Lupino was born in London.  She guest starred on US radio & early TV, and then developed quite a reputation as director on such TV shows as Alfred Hitchcock Presents, The Twilight Zone, The Donna Reed Show, Gilligan's Island, 77 Sunset Strip, The Ghost and Mrs. Muir, The Rifleman, Bonanza, The Untouchables, The Fugitive, and Bewitched.  
                                                                      
She died Aug 3, 1995 at age 77, from a stroke while undergoing treatment for colon cancer

On this day in 1927, radio station KGA Spokane began broadcasting.  

On this day in 1935, the CBS Radio Network first aired "Mrs. Wiggs of the Cabbage Patch".

On this day in 1937, Glen Gray and his Casa Loma Orchestra recorded A Study in Brown, on Decca Records.

                                                                                                              
On this day in 1952, baseball great Jackie Robinson signed a contract with New York's WNBC and WNBT (TV) to serve as Director of Community Activities, thus becoming the first black broadcast executive.

On this day in 1954, the Drifters recorded their version of "White Christmas."

On this day in 1955, James Brown recorded "Please Please Please'' for radio station WIBB in Macon, Ga.

On this day in 1961, singer Johnny Burnette underwent an emergency appendectomy in Los Angeles and was forced to cancel a British tour. He's known for the hit "You're Sixteen," which was on the Top 40 charts at the time.

On this day in 1969, one of filmdom's favorite character actresses Thelma Ritter suffered a fatal heart attack & died at age 63.  She accepted a handful of guest roles on TV, in Philco Television Playhouse, US Steel Hour, Alfred Hitchcock Presents, Studio One, Frontier Circus, Wagon Train & GE Theatre.  

On this day in 1971, The Osmonds received their first gold record, for "One Bad Apple."

Also this day in 1971, Diana Ross guest starred on Danny Thomas' "Make Room For Granddaddy" TV show.

On this day in 1974, John Lennon and Yoko Ono temporarily separated.

                                                                  
On this day in 1975, vocalist/saxophonist Louis Jordan died of a heart attack. He was the record holder of most weeks at No. 1 on Billboard's R&B charts with 113. Of those 18 chart-topping hits, four stayed at No. 1 for more than 10 weeks. His biggest pop hit was the 1944 No. 1 song "G.I. Jive."

This day in 1977 marked the 25th anniversary show of ABC TV's "American Bandstand'' starring Dick Clark.

Also this day in 1977, Fleetwood Mac's album "Rumours" was released. The album shot to the top of Billboard's chart staying there for 31 weeks. More than 17 million copies have been sold in the U.S.
                                                                                                              
On this day in 1978, the song "Stayin' Alive" by the Bee Gees (below)topped the charts and remained there for 4 weeks.
                                                                                                    

On this day in 1978, Dr Bergen Evans, the English professor who served as the ultimate authority on the quiz show $64,000 Question, died at age 73.

On this day in 1979, the TV comedy "Co-Ed Fever" debuted on CBS TV ..and was cancelled after the one outing.  

On this day in 1983, radio announcer & actor Jim Ameche died of cancer at age 68.
He was the first "Jack Armstrong, the All-American Boy" on radio, and announcer for many network programs out of Chicago. The younger brother of Don Ameche later was director for the filmed TV series Julia.

                                                              
Also this day in 1983, singer Karen Carpenter died at her parent's home in Los Angeles of heart failure caused by chronic anorexia nervosa. Her death, at the age of 32, brought about more public awareness of the disease, characterized by a loss of appetite brought on by mental illness.

On this day in 1987, the show-biz world was saddened when Liberace died of AIDS at his Palm Springs estate. He was 67 and had been gravely ill for weeks. Lee, as he was known, was the master of Las Vegas. Hundreds of thousands flock to his museum there (operated by his brother, George) to see Liberace's garish suits, trademark candelabra, and learn of the myths behind this hugely successful star of television, stage and concerts the world over.

On this day in 1989, "When I'm with You" by Sheriff topped the charts.. but only for a week.

On ths day 1989, Kenneth "Jethro" Burns, half of the satirical country music duo Homer & Jethro, died at age 69.

On this day in 1991, the music/variety special "Cher at the Mirage" aired on CBS-TV.

On this day in 1992, actor John Dehner died from emphysema & diabetes at age 76.  On radio he played a succession of heavies on Gunsmoke, and was Paladin in Have Gun Will Travel.  In television he had recurring roles on Gunsmoke, The Don Knotts Show, The Virginian, The Colbys, Baileys of Balboa, Rawhide, Tales of Wells Fargo, The Winds of War &c.  

On this day in 1994, the 10th Soap Opera Digest Awards gave top honors to Days of Our Lives.

On this day in 1999, in what was considered a daring move, Rykodisc became the first music label to give its stamp of approval to MP3, the controversial Internet-based music distribution format that struck fear into the hearts of many music industry executives.

Also this day in 1999, Freddy Fender received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. It was the 2,129th star to be dedicated.

On this day in 2000, singer Doris Kenner-Jackson, an original member of The Shirelles, died from cancer at age 58.  

                                                                                                
On this day in 2005, actor Ossie Davis died at age 87.  He is probably best remembered from the Burt Reynolds sitcom Evening Shade, but since then had been effective in recurring TV roles on The L Word, Promised Land, The Client, Touched by an Angel and Third Watch.      
                
                                                                                          
Today's Birthdays:

English actor/singer/comic Norman Wisdom is 93.

Actor William Phipps (Dune, Boone, Sara) is 86.

Lethbridge-born actor Conrad Bain (Diff'rent Strokes, Maude, Love of Life) is 85.

Actor Dave Ketchum (Get Smart, Roger Ramjet, Union 76 spots) is 80.

Actor Gary Conway (Burke's Law, Land of the Giants) is 72.

Actor John Schuck (McMillan & Wife) is 68.

Drummer John Steel of The Animals is 67.  

Actress Marie Masters (As the World Turns, One Life to Live, Another World) is 67.

Actress Cheryl Miller (Daktari, Bright Promise) is 65.

Singer Florence LaRue of the Fifth Dimension is 64.

Comedian David Brenner is 63. Singer Alice Cooper is 60.

Actor Michael Beck (Houston Knights, Celebrity) is 59.

Actress Lisa Eichhorn (All My Children, Feel the Heat) is 56.

Actress Stephanie Williams (Young & Restless, One Life to Live, General Hospital) is 51.

Country singer Clint Black is 46.

Country bassist Dave Buchanan of Yankee Grey is 42.

Singer David Garza is 37.

Actor Michael Goorjian (Party of Five, Life Goes On) is 37.

Basist Rick Burch of Jimmy Eat World is 33.

Singer Natalie Imbruglia is 33.

Bassist Cam'ron is 32.

Singer Gavin DeGraw is 31.

Olympic gold medal gymnast-turned-singer Carly Patterson is 20.


Chart Toppers

February 4
1947
For Sentimental Reasons - Nat King Cole
A Gal in Calico - Johnny Mercer
Oh, But I Do - Margaret Whiting
Rainbow at Midnight - Ernest Tubb

1955
Sincerely - McGuire Sisters
Hearts of Stone - Fontane Sisters
Melody of Love - Billy Vaughn
Let Me Go, Lover! - Hank Snow

1963
Walk Right In - The Rooftop Singers
Hey Paula - Paul & Paula
The Night Has a Thousand Eyes - Bobby Vee
The Ballad of Jed Clampett - Flatt & Scruggs

1971
Knock Three Times - Dawn
Lonely Days - Bee Gees
Rose Garden - Lynn Anderson
Flesh and Blood - Johnny Cash

1979
Le Freak - Chic
Y.M.C.A. - Village People
Da Ya Think I’m Sexy? - Rod Stewart
Why Have You Left the One You Left Me For - Crystal Gayle

1987
At This Moment - Billy Vera & The Beaters
Open Your Heart - Madonna
Land of Confusion - Genesis
You Still Move Me - Dan Seals