Thursday April the 24th

ON THIS DAY in 1866
Victoria was first connected to mainland British Columbia via cable and telegraph.

          
In 1911, comedian Jack E. Leonard was born Leonard Lebitsky in Chicago.  He was an early insult comedian predating Don Rickles, and made many appearances on TV variety & game shows. (13 times on Ed Sullivan, 6 times on Hollywood Palace.)  He died of complications from diabetes, following recent heart surgery, May 9, 1973 at age 62.

In 1922, actor J D Cannon was born in Salmon Idaho. He is best remembered as Chief Clifford in the TV series McCloud, and had a regular role on Alias Smith & Jones. The last of his long list of guest roles was on a 1990 episode of Law & Order. He died May 20 2005 at age 83.

In 1922, jazz bassist (Samuel) Aaron Bell was born in Muskogee Oklahoma. He played with the giants of his time: Duke Ellington, Stan Kenton, Andy Kirk, Lucky Millinder, Teddy Wilson, & Lester Young. He died died July 28, 2003 at age 81.

In 1936, Benny Goodman and his trio recorded China Boy for Victor Records. Gene Krupa, Teddy Wilson and Goodman played for the session in Chicago.

              
In 1942, Canadian author Lucy Maud Montgomery died in Toronto at age 68.  She published 22 works of fiction, 450 poems and 500 short stories, including those favorites of Canadian TV, Anne of Green Gables and Emily of New Moon.

In 1947, Jack Webb introduced his short-lived pre-Dragnet detective-adventure show Johnny Maderoier 23on Mutual. His first post-San Francisco series (from Hollywood) featured Gale Gordon & William Conrad in the supporting cast.

In 1949, Dick Powell starred in Richard Diamond, Private Detective on NBC radio. The show stayed on the air for four years. Later, it would have a three-year run on TV starring David Janssen in the title role.

In 1952, New Westminster's Raymond Burr made his TV acting debut on the Gruen Guild Playhouse in an episode titled, The Tiger. Not long after this start, Burr would be seen in the hugely popular Perry Mason and much later in Ironside.  Earlier, he'd starred in a quality CBS radio western, Fort Laramie.  

In 1954, Billboard magazine, the music industry trade publication, headlined a tsunami to come in the music biz. The headline read, "Teenagers Demand Music with a Beat -- Spur Rhythm and Blues" ... a sign of times to come. Within a year, R&B music by both black and white artists caught the public's fancy.

          
In 1955, X-Minus One, a quality show for science fiction fans, was first heard on NBC radio, offering some of the best drama of the era.  Despite TV's onslaught the series lasted three years.

In 1957, Rick Nelson released his first record, "Teenager's Romance," backed with a cover of Fats Domino's "I'm Walkin'."

In 1958, Dion and the Belmonts' first single, "I Wonder Why" backed with "Teen Angel," was released.

In 1959, Your Hit Parade ended after a nine-year run on TV and many more years on radio. The show debuted in 1935. On the final show, these were the top five songs on Your Hit Parade:
1 - Come Softly to Me
2 - Pink Shoelaces
3 - Never Be Anyone Else but You
4 - It's Just a Matter of Time
5 - I Need Your Love Tonight

In 1961, Bob Dylan earns a $50 session fee playing harmonica on Harry Belafonte's "Midnight Special.'' It was Dylan's first recording.

            
Also in 1961, "Runaway" by Del Shannon topped the charts and stayed there for 4 weeks.

In 1963, the No. 1 Billboard Pop Hit was "I Will Follow Him'' by Little Peggy March. Peggy was 15 years old when the song hit the top, making her the youngest female singer ever to have a No. 1 single.

In 1965, Game of Love, by Wayne Fontana and The Mindbenders, made it to the top spot on the Billboard music chart. Game of Love stayed #1 for just one week, before Peter Noone and Herman's Hermits took over the top spot with Mrs. Brown You've Got a Lovely Daughter.

In 1967, actor Frank Overton, who played Major Stovall on TV's 12 O'Clock High, and Elias Sandoval on the original Star Trek, suffered a heart attack & died at age 48.

In 1968, Apple Records refused to sign David Bowie.  Oops!

In 1969, the singing family, The Cowsills, received a gold record for their hit single, Hair, from the Broadway show of the same name.

In 1972, several people were injured and at least six teenage girls fainted in a stampede prior to a Jethro Tull concert in New York. About 25-hundred people rushed the lobby of the concert hall trying to get tickets.

              
In 1974, comedian Bud Abbott, the straight man in the movie/radio/TV team of Abbott & Costello, died of cancer at age 78.

In 1975, English actor William Hartnell, the first to play TV's Dr. Who in the long-running series, died in his sleep of heart failure at age 67.

In 1987, shock jock Howard Stern held a free speech rally on Dag Hammarskjold Plaza at the UN in New York City.

In 1989, the State of Massachusetts declared today "New Kids on the Block Day"

In 1990, actor Tom Rolfing, who played Cliff on TV's Another World, died of AIDS at age 40.  

          
In 1992, a special, "Elvis -- The Great Performances" aired on CBS-TV.

In 1993, at Ames Iowa, Toronto rocker Neil Young joined Willie Nelson, John Mellencamp, Travis Tritt, Lyle Lovett, Dwight Yoakam, Bruce Hornsby and Ringo Starr at the Farm Aid Six concert. About 40-thousand people turned out.

In 1996, Stone Temple Pilots bassist Robert DeLeo made the national announcement on the Westwood Radio One Network that Stone Temple Pilots' lead singer Scott Weiland was in drug rehab and unable to perform. The band had scheduled several free performances, which were cancelled due to Weiland's unplanned absence.

Also in 1996, Shania Twain was the big winner at the 31st Academy of Country Music Awards.

          
In 1997, comedian Pat Paulsen, who came to prominence on the Smothers Brothers Show, and who staged an elaborate campaign for president of the USA, died from cancer at age 69.

In 1998, the reunion movie "Dallas: War of the Ewings" aired on CBS.

Also in 1998, ABC confirmed that it was cancelling the TV series "Ellen." The show was the first series to feature an openly gay lead character.

In 2000, Limp Bizkit announced details of its planned 24-date "Back To Basics" tour. Kicking off July 4 and ending Aug. 6, the tour, with rappers Cypress Hill in tow was to play multiple night stands in 3-5,000-capacity venues in Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Detroit, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, New York, San Francisco, and Seattle.

In 2001, the blind balladeer Al Hibbler, who hit the bigtime with his smash hit Unchained Melody in 1955, died at age 85.

          
In 2002, singer Jewel was thrown from a horse at her boyfriend's ranch and suffered a broken collarbone and rib.


Today's Birthdays:

Actress Marilyn Erskine (Tom Ewell Show. Climax, Lux Video Theatre) is 82.

Be-bop jazz saxophonist Johnny Griffin is 80
.  
Actress Shirley MacLaine (Shirley's World, Salem Witch Trials) is 75.

Toronto-born TV host/producer/comedian John Barbour (Real People, On Stage America) is 74.

Actor-singer Michael Parks  (Twin Peaks, Then Came Bronson) is 68.

Actress-singer-director Barbra Streisand (Ed Sullivan Show, TV Specials, Grammy/Academy Awards) is 66.

Country singer Richard Sterban of the Oak Ridge Boys is 65.

Drummer Doug Clifford (Creedence Clearwater Revival) is 63.

Actor Eric Bogosian (Law & Order:CI, Love Monkey) is 55.

Actor Michael O'Keefe (Roseanne) is 53.

Bassist David J (Love and Rockets, Bauhaus) is 51.

Bassist Billy Gould (Faith No More) is 45.

Actor-comedian Cedric the Entertainer (Steve Harvey Show, The Proud Family) is 44.

Actor Djimon Hounsou (ER, Alias) is 44.

Drummer Patty Schemel (Hole) is 41.

Drummer Aaron Comess of the Spin Doctors is 40.

Actress Melinda Clarke (The O.C., Days of Our Lives) is 39.

Actor Eric Balfour (24, Conviction, Six Feet Under) is 31.

Country singer Rebecca Lynn Howard is 29.

Actress Rebecca Mader (Lost) is 29.

Singer Kelly Clarkson (American Idol) is 26.


Chart Toppers

April 24

1946
Oh, What It Seemed to Be - The Frankie Carle Orchestra (vocal: Marjorie Hughes)
You Won�t Be Satisfied - The Les Brown Orchestra (vocal: Doris Day)
Day by Day - Frank Sinatra
Guitar Polka - Al Dexter

1954
Wanted - Perry Como
Here - Tony Martin
The Man with the Banjo - The Ames Brothers
Slowly - Webb Pierce

1962
Good Luck Charm - Elvis Presley
Mashed Potato Time - Dee Dee Sharp
Young World - Rick Nelson
Charlie�s Shoes - Billy Walker

1970
Let It Be - The Beatles
ABC - The Jackson 5
Spirit in the Sky - Norman Greenbaum
Is Anybody Goin� to San Antone - Charley Pride

1978
Night Fever - Bee Gees
If I Can�t Have You - Yvonne Elliman
Can�t Smile Without You - Barry Manilow
Every Time Two Fools Collide - Kenny Rogers & Dottie West

1986
Kiss - Prince & The Revolution
Manic Monday - Bangles
Addicted to Love - Robert Palmer
Cajun Moon - Ricky Skaggs