Wednesday April the 23rd

ON THIS DAY in 1904,
actor Duncan Renaldo was born in Spain.
          
He began to play The Cisco Kid on film in his 40's, and transferred the role to TV in the 1950's, playing the part more clean cut and do-gooder than the roguish bandit in the books. He succumbed to lung cancer Sept 3 1980 at age 76.  

In 1921, actress Janet Blair was born in Altoona Pennsylvania.  She came to TV after an extensive bigscreen career, playing opposite Sid Caesar in the sketch show Caesar's Hour, and opposite Henry Fonda in the sitcom The Smith family.  She also was a regular on the panel show Leave it to the Girls.   She died of pneumonia Feb 19 2007, at age 85.

In 1924, Canadians heard a radio broadcast of King George V opening the Empire Exhibition at Wembley.

          
In 1936, singer Roy Orbison was born in Vernon, Texas. His biggest hit was "Oh, Pretty Woman,'' which stayed at No. 1 for three weeks in 1964. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987 and died of a heart attack on Dec. 6, 1988, in Madison, Tenn., at age 52.

In 1939, singer Ray Peterson was born in Denton Texas.  After successfully surviving polio he had back-to-back mega hits in 1960 with Tell Laura I Love Her, and Corinna Corinna.  He died of cancer Jan 25 2005 at age 65.

In 1944, actress Sandra Dee was born Alexandra Zuck in Bayonne NJ.  Almost all her film work was on the big screen, but later in life she did appear in guest roles on TV's Night Gallery, Frasier, Police Woman, Fantasy Island & Love American Style. She died of kidney disease 20 February 2005, at age 60.

            
In 1954, Lucille Ball appeared solo on the cover of "TV Guide" for the first time. Ball eventually made appearances on 34 "TV Guide" covers.

In 1956, Elvis Presley made his Las Vegas debut, opening for comedian Shecky Greene. Presley's engagement was canceled after a week because of poor ticket sales, and he didn't return to Vegas for 13 years.

In 1958, the No. 1 Billboard Pop Hit was "Witch Doctor'' by David Seville. Seville later created the Chipmunks, which hit No. 1 before the year was out with "The Chipmunk Song.''

          
In 1963, Jan & Dean recorded "Surf City."

In 1965, the Rolling Stones began their third North American tour with a show at the Forum in Montreal.

In 1968, the first public hearings of the CRTC were held in the Chateau Laurier Hotel in Ottawa.

In 1970, humourist/show host Herb Shriner, who had his own national programs on network radio & TV, and hosted the TV quiz Two for the Money, died in an MVA at age 51.

In 1975, Badfinger's Pete Ham committed suicide by hanging himself in his London garage.

            
In 1978, Sid Vicious filmed his rendition of Paul Anka's "My Way" for the Sex Pistols' film "The Great Rock n' Roll Swindle."

In 1979, the No. 1 Billboard Pop Hit was "Heart of Glass'' by Blondie. When the song hit No. 1, Andy Warhol threw a party for the group at Studio 54 in New York.

In 1981, Jerry Lee Lewis, Johnny Cash and Carl Perkins gave a live performance in West Germany that was later released as the LP "The Survivors.''

          
In 1985, this was a big day for the flamboyant Liberace. Lee, as he was called by those close to him, first appeared on the TV soap opera, Another World. The sequined and well-furred pianist appeared as a fan of Felicia Gallant, a romance novelist. Later in the day, Liberace was a guest video jockey on MTV!

In 1987, Carole King sued record company owner Lou Adler for breach of contract. King asked $400,000 in royalties the rights to her old recordings.

In 1988, Prince released the song "Alphabet St."

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

          
Also in 1989, NBC aired the pilot episode of "Baywatch."

In 1991, punk rock forerunner Johnny Thunders died of a drug overdose in New Orleans at age 38.

In 1994, the US Libertarian party nominated Howard Stern for Governor of New York.

In 1995, iconic sportscaster Howard Cosell died of a heart embolism at age 77.

          
In 1996, Canadian-born actress Margot Kidder was found dazed and disheveled, hiding in bushes in a stranger's yard in Los Angeles after disappearing for three days.  Best known as the bigscreen's Lois Lane, she has since guested repeatedly on TV, notably in "Boston Common" and "Robson Arms."

In 1997, the Four Tops received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

In 1999, Garth Brooks, Billy Ray Cyrus, Rhett Akins, Lee Roy Parnell and blues artist Johnny Neel surprised an audience of 13,000 in Nashville when they joined Charlie Daniels for his Volunteer Jam '99 concert at the First American Music Center.

In 2002, Jerry Lee Lewis announced he and his sixth wife, Kerrie, were divorcing after 17 years of marriage.

          
In 2005, Toronto-born conductor/composer Robert Farnon, who got his start in the 1930's on CBC Radio's Happy Gang, died in England at age 87.


Today's Birthdays:

Actress-turned-diplomat Shirley Temple Black, whose films were a staple of early TV, is 80.

Actor Alan Oppenheimer (6 Million Dollar Man, Murphy Brown, St. Elsewhere) is 78.

Actor David Birney (St. Elsewhere, Serpico, Bridget Loves Bernie) is 69.

Actor Lee Majors (Six Million Dollar Man) is 69. Actress Blair Brown (Days & Nights of Molly Brown, Feds) is 60.

Actress Joyce DeWitt (Three's Company) is 59.  

Actress Judy Davis (Life w/Judy Garland: Me & My Shadows) is 53.

Actress Jan Hooks (Third Rock, Martin Short Show, Designing Women) is 51.

Actress Valerie Bertinelli (Touched By an Angel, One Day at a Time) is 48.

Actor Craig Sheffer (One Tree Hill, Into the West) is 48.

Comedian George Lopez (Geo. Lopez Show) is 47.

Drummer Gen (Jesus Jones) is 44.

Actress Melina Kanakaredes (Providence, CSI:NY) is 41.

Drummer Stan Frazier of Sugar Ray is 40.

Country guitarist Tim Womack of Sons of the Desert is 40.

Manitoba-born actor Scott Bairstow (Party of Five, Lonesome Dove) is 38.

Actor Barry Watson (Seventh Heaven, What About Brian) is 34.

Actor Kal Penn (House M.D.) is 31.

Actress Jaime King (The Class, Kitchen Confidential) is 29.

Actress Rachel Skarsten (Birds of Prey, Litgtle Men) is 23.

Actor Matthew Underwood (Zoey 101) is 18.

Actor Camryn Walling (The Amanda Show) is 18.


Chart Toppers

April 23

1945
Candy - Johnny Mercer & Jo Stafford
I’m Beginning to See the Light - The Harry James Orchestra (vocal: Kitty Kallen)
My Dreams are Getting Better All the Time - The Les Brown Orchestra (vocal: Doris Day)
Smoke on the Water - Bob Wills

1953
Doggie in the Window - Patti Page
Pretend - Nat King Cole
I Believe - Frankie Laine
Your Cheatin’ Heart - Hank Williams

1961
Blue Moon - The Marcels
Runaway - Del Shannon
Mother-In-Law - Ernie K-Doe
Don’t Worry - Marty Robbins

1969
Aquarius/Let the Sun Shine In - The 5th Dimension
You’ve Made Me So Very Happy - Blood, Sweat & Tears
It’s Your Thing - The Isley Brothers
Galveston - Glen Campbell

1977
Don’t Leave Me This Way - Thelma Houston
Southern Nights - Glen Campbell
Hotel California - Eagles
She’s Got You - Loretta Lynn

1985
We are the World - USA for Africa
Crazy for You - Madonna
Nightshift - Commodores
I Need More of You - Bellamy Brothers