Saturday April the 5th

ON THIS DAY in 1901                                                        
actor Melvyn Douglas was born Melvyn Edouard Hesselberg in Macon Georgia. One of the finest American actors, he starred in the early TV detective series Steve Randall, hosted Frontier Justice, and guested on Playhouse 90, Philco TV Playhouse, General Electric Theatre, and CBS Playhouse, for which he won an Emmy. He also was awarded a Tony & two Oscars.  He died of pneumonia complicated by cardiac problems Aug. 4 1981 at age 80.

              
In 1908, actress Bette Davis was born in Lowell Massachusetts.  Besides her many star turns on the big screen, she began guest starring on TV in the late 50's, as her movie offers were drying up.  She made a total of 15 features for televison, including 1979's Strangers: The Story of a Mother & Daughter, for which she won an Emmy.  She died of metastasized breast cancer Oct. 6 1989 at the age of 81.

Also in 1908, the first dial telephones in Canada for general use were put into service in Edmonton.

In 1916, actor Gregory Peck was born in La Jolla Calif.  After an impressive & rewarding bigscreen career he began accepting a few TV roles in his late 60's, including the mini-series The Blue & the Gray, and the TV movie Moby Dick.  He died of cardiorespiratory arrest and bronchial pneumonia June 12, 2003 at age 87.

In 1921, broadcaster Robert Q. Lewis was born Robert Goldberg in New York City.
                                                                    
He was best known for his involvement with a series of TV game shows in the 1950s, serving as host, guest host, panelist, guest panelist, and even as a mystery guest on What's My Line? He also hosted a series of daytime Robert Q. 'variety' shows on radio, where he spent 12 years, and on TV, where he did occasional guest acting.   He occasionally substituted as daytime host for Arthur Godfrey. He died of emphysema Dec 11, 1991 at age 70.

In 1928, Tony Williams, the original lead singer of The Platters, was born. The Platters' string of hits from 1955 to '64 included "The Great Pretender,'' "Only You'' and "Smoke Gets in Your Eyes.'' Williams quit the Platters in 1961, and died Aug. 14 1992 at age 64.

                                                                                                                
In 1933, actor/impressionist Frank Gorshin was born in Pittsburgh.  He appeared a dozen times on TV's Ed Sullivan Show, and also did impressions on almost every other variety show of the era.  But most of us will best remember him as The Riddler on the 60's TV series Batman.  He died of emphysema, lung cancer & pneumonia May 17, 2005 at age 72.

In 1948, independent Chicago station WGN TV channel 9 began broadcasting. Three decades later it would become a US Superstation, distrbuted by cable companies on both sides of the border.  

In 1958, the Johnny Mathis' album, Johnny's Greatest Hits, on Columbia Records, made it to the pop music charts for the first time. The LP remained on the charts for a record 490 weeks (nearly 9-1/2 years!) Mathis was originally a jazz-style singer when Mitch Miller of Columbia switched Mathis to singing pop ballads. Johnny would chart over 60 albums in 30 years.

In 1961, Bob Dylan played his first paid gig in New York, at the Loeb Music Center.

Also in 1961, NBC TV scored a "great get" when Barbra Streisand appeared on "The Jack Paar Show."

            
In 1964, The Searchers appeared on "The Ed Sullivan Show." They were the first 'British Invasion' group to appear on the show after the Beatles. It was the Searchers' U.S. debut.

In 1965, two very British but very different women were the cause of much celebration at the 37th Annual Academy Awards, with Bob Hope hosting. And My Fair Lady bested Mary Poppins 8 Oscars to 6.

In 1968, one day after Martin Luther King's assassination, Boston officials urged James Brown to allow his concert to be televised. Civic leaders hoped teens would stay home instead of venting their anger in the streets. Brown was paid 60-thousand dollars' compensation for the ticket-buyers being urged to stay home. Only about two-thousand people showed up at the Boston Garden -- and the city's streets were quiet.

                                                            
In 1972, actor Brian Donlevy, who capped a bigscreen career with the lead in TV's Dangerous Assignment, died at 71.

In 1976, reclusive billionaire Howard Hughes, who had spent a number of years staying out of the public eye in a Vancouver hotel, died of liver failure at age 72.

In 1977, David Bowie appeared on Dinah Shore's TV special.

In 1980, the final episode of "Hawaii Five-O" aired on CBS TV.

In 1981, Bob (Bear) Hite, lead vocalist of Canned Heat, died of a heart attack in Venice, California. He was 36. Canned Heat's mixture of blues and progressive rock placed them at the top in the late '60s.

In 1982, after years of publication to the radio and recording industry, Record World magazine ceased publication and filed for bankruptcy protection.

                                                                                                                
In 1984, Cyndi Lauper's "Girls Just Want to Have Fun'' won Best Female Video at the second annual American Video Awards.

on this date in 1985, the Bryan Adams' song, "Heaven," was released as a single. That was a year after its inclusion in the soundtrack of "A Night in Heaven," a film about male strippers.

In 1987, the FOX Broadcasting Company, under the direction of media and publishing baron, Rupert Murdoch, started up with two Sunday night offerings... Married..With Children and The Tracey Ullman Show.

        
In 1987, rock guitarist Carlos Santana and his band played before a packed house of 25-hundred in East Berlin. After the non-stop three-hour show, Santana said the fans' enthusiasm ''brought tears of joy and gratitude'' to his eyes.

In 1988, soul singer James Brown turned himself in to police in Aiken, South Carolina. He was accused of beating his third wife with a pipe and firing a gun into a car while she was inside.

In 1989, David Letterman became the 1st network TV series to use a dolby stereo sound system.

In 1991, Katie Couric started her first day on the job as co-host on N-B-C's "Today" show. (see 2006 below.)

In 1993, criminal charges were dropped in Boston against rapper Marky Mark. He had settled a lawsuit accusing him of repeatedly kicking a man in the face and breaking his jaw.

Also in 1993, construction began on the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland.

                                                                                                      
In 1994, Nirvana singer-guitarist Kurt Cobain fatally shot himself above his garage in Seattle. His body was not found for three days.

In 1996, Marlon Brando made anti-semitic remarks about Hollywood when Larry King aired his TV show from Brando's home.

In 1997, Notorious B-I-G's album "Life After Death" debuted at number-one on the Billboard chart a month after the rapper was gunned down in Los Angeles. "Life After Death" sold nearly 700-thousand copies in its first week of release.

Also on this date in 1997, country singer Stoney Edwards died of cancer at age 67. He was one of the few successful black performers in country music. He had 15 singles on the charts in the '70s, including "She's My Rock" and "Mississippi You're On My Mind."

                                                  
Still in 1997, the 100th episode of "Walker, Texas Ranger" starring Chuck Norris, aired on CBS.

In 1999, three of Tammy Wynette's daughters filed a $50 million lawsuit blaming the country star's death on negligence by her husband and her doctor.

In 2000, country singer Trace Adkins seriously injured two fingers on his left hand while working on his property in Middle Tennessee. Moving some rocks to correct an erosion problem, Adkins dislodged a 400-pound boulder. The stone ran over his hand, crushing his middle and index fingers. Adkins drove himself to the emergency room.

In 2005, ABC News anchor Peter Jennings announced he had lung cancer. He died four months later.

            
In 2006, Katie Couric announced she was leaving NBC's "Today" show to become anchor of "The CBS Evening News."

Still in 2006, singer Gene Pitney was found dead in his hotel room in Cardiff, Wales; he was 66.

In the year 2063, Earth is to have its first contact with extra-terrestrials (Vulcan); according to Star Trek.


Today's Birthdays:

Actress Gail Storm (My Little Margie, Gale Storm Show) is 86.

60's r & b singer Billy Bland is 76.

Country singer Tommy Cash is 68.

Actor Michael Moriarty (Law and Order) is 67.

Singer Allan Clarke, lead singer of The Hollies, is 66.

Actor Max Gail (Sons and Daughters, Barney Miller) is 65.

Singer Agnetha Faltskog of Abba is 58.

Actor Mitch Pileggi (DayBreak, Stargate: Atlantis, The X Files) is 56.

Actor Shawn Stevens (Days of Our Lives, MacKenzies of Paradise Cove) is 50.

Guitarist Mike McCready of Pearl Jam is 42.

Country singer Troy Gentry of Montgomery Gentry is 41.

Singer Paula Cole is 40.

Country singer Pat Green is 36.

Rapper-producer Pharrell Williams is 35.


Chart Toppers

April 5

1951
If - Perry Como
Mockingbird Hill -Patti Page
Aba Daba Honeymoon - Debbie Reynolds and Carleton Carpenter
The Rhumba Boogie - Hank Snow

1959
Venus - Frankie Avalon
Come Softly to Me - The Fleetwoods
It’s Just a Matter of Time - Brook Benton
When It’s Springtime in Alaska (It’s Forty Below) - Johnny Horton

1967
Happy Together - The Turtles
Dedicated to the One I Love - The Mamas & The Papas
Somethin’ Stupid - Nancy Sinatra & Frank Sinatra
Walk Through This World with Me - George Jones

1975
Lovin’ You - Minnie Riperton
Philadelphia Freedom - The Elton John Band
No No Song/Snookeroo - Ringo Starr
I Just Can’t Get Her Out of My Mind - Johnny Rodriguez

1983
Billy Jean - Michael Jackson
Do You Really Want to Hurt Me - Culture Club
Hungry like the Wolf - Duran Duran
When I’m Away from You - The Bellamy Brothers

1991
Coming Out of the Dark - Gloria Estafan
This House - Tracie Spencer
Hold You Tight - Tara Kemp
Two of a Kind, Workin’ on a Full House - Garth Brooks