Thursday February the 28th

ON THIS DAY in 1909
actor Olan Soule was born in La Harpe Illinois.  For 11 years he starred on CBS Radio's daytime drama "Bachelor's Children" and for 9 years played the male lead characters in radio plays presented on "First Nighter."   Later he made upwards of 200 guest appearances in TV series such as Dragnet, Wanted: Dead or Alive, Alfred Hitchcock Presents, Have Gun Will Travel, Andy Griffith Show, Perry Mason, Petticoat Junction & Bonanza.  His career covered seven decades. He died of lung cancer Feb. 1 1994 at age 84.

                                                                                                            
In 1914, actor Jim Boles was born in Lubbock Texas.  He began in radio, playing a variety of roles, including Doc Long on the New York run of I Love a Mystery (alongside Tony Randall.)  On TV he was a regular on Capt. Video and His Video Rangers, played Joe on One Man's Family, and was repeatedly cast in Inner Sanctum, the Alfred Hitchcock Hour & Little House on the Prairie. He died May 26 1977 of cardiac arrest at age 63.

In 1915, Broadway giant Zero Mostel was born Samuel Joel Mostel in Brooklyn. Besides his memorable stage performances he found time for a handful of TV commitments, including 650 appearances on the PBS series for youth, The Electric Company. He died after a heart attack Sep 8, 1977 at age 62.

In 1922, KHQ Spokane, Washington, which for a lot of its life was heard at 590 khz,  began broadcasting.

                                                  
In 1928, actress Bettye Ackerman was born in Cottageville SC.  Best remembered as Dr. Maggie Graham on TV's Ben Casey MD (above), she died Nov. 1 2006 at age 78, suffering from Alzheimer's Disease & stroke complications.

In 1929, Montreal-born Wilfrid Pelletier became a regular conductor at the Metropolitan Opera in New York, a position he held until 1950.  While with the Met, Pelletier conceived the idea of a radio program called ''Metropolitan Opera Auditions of the Air,'' a talent contest for young singers.

In 1930, Ted Lewis and his orchestra recorded On the Sunny Side of the Street for Columbia Records. Mr. Lewis was heard as the featured vocalist as well, on the tune that has been recorded hundreds of times and is an American music standard.

in 1940, the first televised basketball game was shown -- over W2XBS in New York City -- from Madison Square Garden. The game featured Fordham University and the University of Pittsburgh. Pitt won, 50-37.
    
In 1942, Brian Jones, guitarist with the Rolling Stones, was born in Cheltenham, England. Jones began playing with Alexis Korner's Blues Incorporated in the early 1960's, and it was there that he met Mick Jagger and Keith Richards. The three began to play on their own and by 1962 were calling themselves the Rolling Stones, after a Muddy Waters song.  In June 1969, Brian Jones announced he was leaving the group because of musical differences.  He said he was going to form his own band, but less than a month later was found dead in the swimming pool at his home, at age 27.  The coroner's verdict -- death by misadventure.

Also in 1942, "Moonlight Cocktail" by Glenn Miller hit #1 for 10 weeks on Billboard's pop music chart.

In 1959, Cash Box magazine, a trade publication for the music/radio industry, began using a red "bullet" on its record charts to indicate those records that have the strongest upward movement each week. The phrase, "Number one with a bullet," designates those hits that have reached the pinnacle of statistical chartdom.

In 1960, Canadian-born actor Jonathan Hale, who played J. C Dithers in the Blondie movies, and almost 200 other film & TV roles, killed himself at 68, despondent over personal problems.  

                                                              
In 1966, the Cavern Club, the Liverpool nightspot where the Beatles began their climb to fame, was closed because of mounting debts. The next day, dozens of people protested at the club in hopes of keeping it open.

In 1967, the No. 1 Billboard Pop Hitwas "Ruby Tuesday'' by The Rolling Stones. The song is released as the B side to the single "Let's Spend the Night Together.'' Most American radio stations play "Ruby Tuesday'' because the other song is so blatantly sexual.
    
In 1968, Frankie Lymon, who fronted the 1950's group the Teenagers died of a heroin overdose in New York City.  He was 25.  Lymon was just 13 in 1955 when he and the Teenagers sold two-million copies of "Why Do Fools Fall in Love.'' But two years later the group had ceased to exist.

In 1968, actress/singer Juanita Hall died from diabetes complications at age 66.
Best remembered as Bloody Mary in the movie South Pacific, she was a regular in early TV's Captain Billy's Mississippi Music Hall, and guested on Ed Sullivan 5 times.

                                                                                                            
In 1970, "Bridge Over Troubled Water" by Simon & Garfunkel topped the charts and stayed there for 6 weeks.

In 1973, character actor Cecil Kellaway died of arteriosclerosis at age 78. For 45 years he was cast in film parts calling for a twinkling, silver-haired leprechaun, including guest roles on TV's Adventures in Paradise, Bewitched, Ben Casey MD, Twilight Zone, Studio One, Schlitz Playhouse, Disneyland, etc.
    
In 1974, singer-songwriter Bobby Bloom shot himself to death in West Hollywood, California. He was 28. Bloom's biggest hit was "Montego Bay.''

Also this day in 1974, the No. 1 Billboard Pop Hit was "Seasons in the Sun'' by Vancouver's Terry Jacks.

In 1976, "Theme From S.W.A.T." by the Rhythm Heritage topped the charts and stayed there just a week.

                                                                
In 1977,  comic actor Eddie Anderson, forever remembered as Jack Benny's butler Rochester on radio & TV, died at age 71.

In 1978, Korean-American actor Philip Ahn died following surgery at age 66. His film career playing largely Japanese & Chinese roles spanned 40 years, 25 of those in TV.   His last major role was playing Master Kan on the Kung Fu series.  

In 1979, the Allman Brothers Band released a reunion L-P called "Enlightened Rogues.'' The band hadn't played together in two years.

In 1981, "I Love a Rainy Night" by Eddie Rabbitt topped the charts and stayed there for 2 weeks.

In 1983, M*A*S*H became the most watched television program in history, as the final original episode of the fictitious, but uncommonly real, 4077th M*A*S*H (Mobile Army Surgical Hospital) unit of the Korean conflict aired for 2 1/2 hours on CBS.  An estimated 125-million people in the U.S. tuned in, producing a 60.3 rating and a 77 percent share.

In 1984, singer Michael Jackson won a record eight Grammy Awards at the presentation ceremony in Los Angeles, including Album of the Year for "Thriller.'' But he lost the best song award to "Every Breath You Take,'' written by Sting for the Police.  
    
Also this date in 1984, Joseph Canzano, lead singer of the 1960's pop group the Duprees, died at age 40.  He was billed as Joey Vann with the Duprees, best known for their 1962 hits "You Belong to Me'' and "My Own True Love.''
    
In 1985, David Byron, lead singer of the British hard rock band Uriah Heep, died at 38.

                                                                                                                      
In 1985, soap opera actress Charita Bauer, who for 34 years played the part of Bertha "Bert" Bauer on The Guiding Light on radio (1950-56) & TV (1952-84), died of complications from diabetes at age 62.

In 1986, the British pop duo Wham! announced they were breaking up.  George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley said they were going their separate ways after selling more than 30-million copies of such hits as "Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go,'' "Careless Whisper'' and "Edge of Heaven."  
    
Also on this date in 1986, Yoko Ono's disastrous "Starpeace'' tour opened in Brussels. Only 300 of the 12-hundred opening-night seats were filled. Most of the dates on the North American leg of the tour were cancelled.
    
Still on this date in 1986, Barbara Mandrell played the Universal Amphitheatre in Los Angeles, her first appearance since suffering serious injuries in a car crash in 1984.
    
                        
In 1987, Hank Snow, Wilf Carter and Tommy Hunter (pictured) were among the first seven people inducted into the Canadian country music hall of fame at a ceremony in Edmonton.  
    
In 1989, Sebastian Bach, the Toronto-born lead singer of the heavy metal band Skid Row, spent the night in jail in Hampton, Virginia for using abusive and violent language on stage. He was released after paying a 35-dollar fine.

Also this day in 1989, a memo by Bryant Gumbel criticizing fellow Today Show workers became public.

In 1990, Paul McCartney returned to Japan for the first time since he was expelled for marijuana possession 10 years earlier. He began his stay with an anti-drug news conference, then played six concerts.
    
In 1991, the Record Plant, one of the music industry's leading studios for more than two decades, closed in Los Angeles. The owners, the Chrysalis Group, said it was too expensive to maintain.  Among the rock standards recorded at the Record Plant were the Eagles' "Hotel California" and Fleetwood Mac's "Rumours."

In 1994, Canadian singer Celine Dion made her New York debut at Town Hall.  Reviews were mixed. New York Newsday reviewer Elisabeth Vincentelli described Dion as "a classy, upscale alternative for people who think of Mariah Carey as a shopping mall superstar." The New York Times' Stephen Holden was less kind, dismissing Dion's songs as "the kind of generic pop anthems that win international song competitions and that Olympic athletes use to accompany their routines."
    
In 1996, Canadian singer Alanis Morissette (below) won four major Grammy Awards, including album of the year and rock album of the year for "Jagged Little Pill."  Canadians picked up a total of 11 Grammys, including two by Joni Mitchell for her album "Turbulent Indigo."  Faith Hill won the best country album Grammy for "The Woman In Me."
                                                                                                                  

In 1997, Marion (Suge) Knight, the head of Death Row Records, was sentenced in Los Angeles to nine years in prison for violating his parole on a 1992 assault conviction.  Knight was involved in a fight at the M-G-M Grand Hotel in Las Vegas in September, 1996 in which a group of assailants, including rapper Tupac Shakur, pummelled a suspected gang member. Shakur was fatally wounded a few hours later as he sat in a car driven by Knight.  

In 1998, Celine Dion's My Heart Will Go On hit #1 in the U.S. It was the tippy-top chart-topper for two weeks.
    
In 2000, The Pretenders played a concert in their hometown of Akron, Ohio, for the first time.

Also this day in 2000, Celine Dion filed a suit in Los Angeles Superior Court against the "National Enquirer". The papers claimed an "intentional infliction of emotion distress, invasion of privacy, and unfair business practices." The headline that brought the suit was "Celine: I'm Pregnant With Twins".

In 2002, soap opera actress Mary Stuart, who had starred in "Search for Tomorrow" for some 35 years, died in New York at age 75.

Also in 2002, it was announced that John Madden would be replacing Dennis Miller on "Monday Night Football." Madden signed a four-year $20 million deal with ABC Sports.
    
In 2005, opening arguments began in Michael Jackson's child molestation trial. He was later acquitted.
    
Also in 2005, Chris Curtis (whose real name was Christopher Crummey), drummer with the Searchers at the height of the British band's fame in the 1960's, died after a long illness at his home in Liverpool. The Searchers scored international hits with "Needles and Pins,'' "Sugar and Spice,'' and "Don't Throw Your Love Away.''
    
Today's Birthdays:

Actor Charles Durning (Evening Shade, Rescue Me) is 85.  

Actor Tom Aldredge (The Sopranos, Ryan's Hope) is 80.

Actor Gavin MacLeod (The Love Boat, The Mary Tyler Moore Show) is 77.

Vancouver-born actor/broadcaster Don Francks (La Femme Nikita, Puppets who Kill, Inspector Gadget) is 76.

Singer Joe South is 68.

Actor Frank Bonner (WKRP in Cincinnati) is 66.

Actor Richard Romanus (The Sopranos, Strike Force) is 65.  

Actress Kelly Bishop (Gilmore Girls) is 64.

Actress Stephanie Beacham (Bad Girls, Beverly Hills 90210, The Colbys) is 61.

Singer-actress Bernadette Peters (Carol Burnett Show, Martian Chronicles) is 60.

Actress Mercedes Ruehl (Frasier, Widows) is 60.

Actor Rick Lohman (Search For Tomorrow, Generations) is 59.

Comedian Gilbert Gottfried is 53.

Actor John Turturro (The Bronx is Burning, Monk) is 51.

Singer Cindy Wilson of The B-52's is 51.  

Quebec pop singer Rene Simard is 47.

Edmonton-born actress Rae Dawn Chong (Mysterious Ways, Wild Card) is 46.

Actor Robert Sean Leonard (House MD) is 39. S

inger Pat Monahan of Train is 39.

Actress Maxine Bahns (Studio 60, CSI: NY) is 37  

Actor Bobb'e J. Thompson (That's So Raven, The Tracy Morgan Show) is 12.


Chart Toppers

February 28

1947
For Sentimental Reasons - Nat King Cole
The Anniversary Song - Dinah Shore
Oh, But I Do - Margaret Whiting
So Round, So Firm, So Fully Packed - Merle Travis

1955
Sincerely - McGuire Sisters
Melody of Love - Billy Vaughn
The Crazy Otto (Medley) - Johnny Maddox
In the Jailhouse Now - Webb Pierce

1963
Hey Paula - Paul & Paula
Ruby Baby - Dion
From a Jack to a King - Ned Miller
The Ballad of Jed Clampett - Flatt & Scruggs

1971
One Bad Apple - The Osmonds
Mama’s Pearl - The Jackson 5
Sweet Mary - Wadsworth Mansion
Help Me Make It Through the Night - Sammi Smith

1979
Da Ya Think I’m Sexy? - Rod Stewart
Fire - Pointer Sisters
I Will Survive - Gloria Gaynor
Every Which Way But Loose - Eddie Rabbitt

1987
Livin’ on a Prayer - Bon Jovi
Jacob’s Ladder - Huey Lewis & The News
You Got It All - The Jets
I Can’t Win for Losin’ You - Earl Thomas Conley