Tuesday April the 22nd

ON THIS DAY in 1908
actor Eddie Albert was born Edward Heimberger in Rock Island Illinois.
          
Best remembered as Oliver opposite Eva Gabor on TV's Green Acres & Petticoat Junction, he worked regularly in the medium for 50 years.  He had featured roles in the series Leave it to Larry, Nothing but the Best, Switch, War & Remembrance, General Hospital & Spider-Man. He died of pneumonia May 26 2005 at age 97.  

In 1909, actor Ralph Byrd was born in Dayton Ohio.  He starred in a series of Dick Tracy 'B' movies in the '40's, and in a Tracy TV series in 1950-51.  He suffered a fatal heart attack Aug 18 1952 at age 43.

In 1920, actor/quizmaster Hal March was born in San Francisco. He teamed for a time with actor Bob Sweeney & starred in the radio comedy show Sweeney & March.  Early in his television career he appeared on Burns and Allen, The Imogene Coca Show and I Love Lucy. However, he was best known as the host of CBS TV's $64,000 Question from 1955 to 1958. As a result of the quiz show scandals, the show was canceled and March was out of a job for nearly a decade. He started hosting another show, It's Your Bet, in 1969, but was diagnosed with lung cancer and died Jan 19 1970 at age 49.  

          
In 1923, producer Aaron Spelling was born in Dallas.  His list of successful TV series is immense, including Charlie's Angels, Melrose Place, Dynasty, The Colbys, Love Boat, Fantasy Island, Starsky and Hutch, Mod Squad, T J Hooker, Hotel, Models Inc., Burke's Law, Sunset Beach, Beverly Hills 90210, Summerland, 7th Heaven, Charmed, etc.   He died of complications following a stroke June 23 2006 at age 83.

In 1940, the first all-Chinese commercial radio program was broadcast over KSAN radio in San Francisco. Later, KSAN would become a pioneer in playing "underground rock" music which, to many, must have sounded like Chinese, too...

In 1946, Tex McCrary and Jinx Falkenburg arrived at WEAF radio in New York City with an entertaining morning show called, Hi, Jinx, which evolved into The Tex & Jinx Show. WEAF later became WNBC and finally WFAN SportsRadio 66.

In 1952, an atomic test conducted in Nevada was the first nuclear explosion shown on live network television.

          
In 1954, the Army-McCarthy televised hearings that eventually helped bring down the red-baiting Senator Joseph McCarthy (above, left), debuted in glorious black-and-white.  ABC TV, which didn't have much daytime programming anyway, became a ratings hit with its wall-to-wall coverage.

In 1956, Elvis Presley made his Las Vegas debut on this night at the Frontier Hotel. With Heartbreak Hotel at the top of the pop charts, one can imagine the excitement generated by the new "King of rock and roll". Even with a number one hit, Elvis was not yet well-received by the middle-aged audience. Management of the Frontier was so unimpressed, they gave Elvis his walking papers after one week of a two-week engagement.

In 1962, the three-year-old son of rocker Jerry Lee Lewis drowned in a swimming pool accident.

In 1966,  "Wild Thing" by the British band the Troggs was released in the U.S.

In 1967, actor Tom Conway died of cirrhosis of the liver at age 62. He took over the radio role of Sherlock Holmes from Basil Rathbone, and on TV had the title role on the Mark Saber TV series, plus was a regular on The Betty Hutton Show.

          
In 1968, Herb Alpert debuted the soon-to-be-smash hit "This Guy's in Love With You" on his CBS-TV special.

In 1969, The Who gave their first complete live performance of the rock opera "Tommy" at a show in Dolton, England.

Also in 1969, John Lennon and Paul McCartney recorded "The Ballad of John and Yoko.''  That same day John changed his middle name from Winston to Ono.

Still in 1969, the Carpenters signed with A&M Records, setting the stage for their string of hits.  

In 1974, Barbara Walters became co-host of the Today Show.

In 1974, Redbone won a gold record for the single, Come and Get Your Love. The group, playing American Indian "swamp rock", formed in Los Angeles in 1968. They had one other hit, The Witch Queen of New Orleans.  

In 1976, Johnnie Taylor's "Disco Lady" became the the first single certified double-platinum by the RIAA.

In 1978, Grampa Walton in the longrunning CBS TV family series, actor Will Geer died from a respiratory ailment at age 75.

            
Also in 1978, the final episode of "Maude" aired on CBS TV.

Still in 1978, John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd made their first appearance as The Blues Brothers on NBC's "Saturday Night Live."

In 1979, Mick Jaggar and Keith Richards of the Rolling Stones were in Toronto to give a benefit concert for the blind as part of Richard's release on drug charges.

In 1980, singer Jane Froman died from chronic heart & lung problems at age 72. She was an early member of the Bob Hope radio troupe, worked regularly on radio on various shows, and on TV had her own quarter hour show that alternated nightly with Perry Como.  Her "I Believe" became a Gold Record in 1953.

In 1981, Eric Clapton was hospitalized after he suffered bruised ribs and a lacerated chin in a car accident in Seattle.

          
In 1983, jazz pianist & bandleader Earl "Fatha" Hines, whose radio remotes from Chicago made him "the most broadcast band in America," died of a heart attack at age 77.

In 1985, the founder of Victoria's CKDA Radio, who also put put BC's first private TV station CHEK 6 on the air, Dave Armstrong died at age 65.  His wife Sheridan took over until she disposed of 'DA & sister station CFMS a decade later.

In 1985, Prince released the album "Around The World In a Day." It was his first release after "Purple Rain."

In 1986, NBC aired the final episode of "Riptide."

In 1988, actress Irene Rich, who starred in the radio soap Dear John for a decade beginning in 1933, died at age 96.

In 1989, "Like a Prayer" by Madonna topped the charts and stayed there for 3 weeks.

In 1991, Johnny Carson announced he would retire the following year from the Tonight Show.

          
In 1993, Candid Camera creator Allen Funt suffered a stroke at 78.  He would live another 6 years.

In 1996, humorist Erma Bombeck, who augmented her columns & books with a regular role on ABC's Good Morning America, died of kidney problems at age 69.

In 1998, husband and wife Tim McGraw and Faith Hill were the big winners at the 33rd annual Academy of Country Music Awards, nabbing four awards for their duet "It's Your Love," for single, song, video, and top vocal event.

In 1999, Steve Wariner performed "Holes in the Floor of Heaven" at a vigil in Nashville's Centennial Park in memory of the victims of the tragedy at Columbine High School in Littleton, Colo.

In 2003, Ontario-born actor Alan Thicke (Growing Pains) was hit by a puck while playing hockey. He lost five front teeth and had to have 30 stitches in his face.

Also in 2003, the Madonna album "American Life" was released.

        
In 2005, an anonymous bidder purchased the microphone that sat on Johnny Carson's desk. The final price was $50,787.


Today's Birthdays:

Actress Charlotte Rae (The Facts of Life) is 82.

Actress Estelle Harris (Seinfeld) is 76.

Singer Glen Campbell is 72.

Actor Jack Nicholson (Elephant's Child, Andy Griffith Show, Dr. Kildare) is 71.

Singer Mel Carter is 65.

Country singer Cleve Francis is 63.

Singer Peter Frampton is 58.

Singer Paul Carrack (Squeeze, Mike and the Mechanics) is 57.

Actor Joseph Bottoms (The Net, Street Legal, Santa Barbara) is 54.

Seattle-born actor Ryan Stiles (The Drew Carey Show, Whose Line Is It Anyway?) is 49.

Edmonton-born actress Catherine Mary Stewart (Days of Our Lives, Hearts Are Wild) is 49.

Comedian Byron Allen (Comics Unleashed, Jammin') is 47.

Montreal-born actor Chris Makepeace (Christmas in My Hometown,  The Undergrads) is 44.

Seattle-born actor Jeffrey Dean Morgan (Grey's Anatomy, Supernatural) is 42.

Actress Sheryl Lee (Twin Peaks, On Tree Hill, LA Doctors) is 41.

Country singer Heath Wright of Ricochet is 41.

Actress Sherri Shepherd (The View, Less Than Perfect, E'body Loves Raymond) is 41.

Country singer Kellie Coffey is 37.

Actor Eric Mabius (Ugly Betty) is 37.

Actor Ingo Rademacher (General Hospital, Titans) is 37.

Bassist Shavo Odadjian of System Of A Down is 34.

Singer-guitarist Daniel Johns of Silverchair is 29.

Actress Michelle Ryan (Bionic Woman, Eastenders) is 24.

Actress Amber Heard (Hidden Palms) is 22.



Chart Toppers

April 22

1944
It’s Love, Love, Love - The Guy Lombardo Orchestra (vocal: Skip Nelson)
I Love You - Bing Crosby
Poinciana - Bing Crosby
Too Late to Worry, Too Blue to Cry - Al Dexter

1952
Wheel of Fortune - Kay Starr
Anytime - Eddie Fisher
Be My Life’s Companion - The Mills Brothers
(When You Feel like You’re in Love) Don’t Just Stand There - Carl Smith

1960
The Theme from "A Summer Place" - Percy Faith
Greenfields - The Brothers Four
Sweet Nothin’s - Brenda Lee
He’ll Have to Go - Jim Reeves

1968
Honey - Bobby Goldsboro
Cry like a Baby - The Box Tops
Lady Madonna - The Beatles
Fist City - Loretta Lynn

1976
Disco Lady - Johnnie Taylor
Let Your Love Flow - Bellamy Brothers
Right Back Where We Started From - Maxine Nightingale
Drinkin’ My Baby (Off My Mind) - Eddie Rabbitt

1984
Against All Odds (Take a Look at Me Now) - Phil Collins
Hello - Lionel Richie
Hold Me Now - The Thompson Twins
The Yellow Rose - Johnny Lee with Lane Brody