Wednesday April the 30th

ON THIS DAY in 1908
actress Eve Arden was born Eunice Quedens in Mill Valley Calif.  
                  
She won an Emmy for her star-making turn as "Our Miss Brooks", which she introduced on radio in 1948 and on TV in 1952.  For several years it ran weekly on both media.  She died from arteriosclerotic heart disease Nov 12, 1990 at age 82.

In 1910, actor Al Lewis was born in New York City.  He will be best remembered as Grampa on TV's The Munsters, & as officer Leo Schnauser in "Car 54 Where are You?" He died of natural causes Feb 3, 2006 at age 95.

In 1927, rockabilly singer Johnny Horton was born in Los Angeles. He had great success with three so-called saga songs on Columbia records, The Battle of New Orleans, North to Alaska, & Sink the Bismark. He was returning home from a performance in Austin Texas Nov. 5 1960 when his car was hit head-on by a drunk driver.  He died instantly at age 35.

                  
In 1939, television was publicly demonstrated for the first time, as President Franklin D. Roosevelt spoke at the opening ceremonies of the New York World's Fair in Flushing, NY on WNBT in New York.  

In 1940, Jimmy Dorsey and his band recorded the bandleader's signature song, Contrasts, for Decca Records. The song went on to become one of the most familiar big band themes of the era.

              
In 1945,  
"How would you like to be queen for a day?!"
was heard for the first time, as Jack Bailey introduced the so-called daily agony show "Queen For a Day" on Mutual radio. The first Queen for a Day was Mrs. Evelyn Lane.  A short time later the radio program moved from New York to Hollywood, where it debuted on TV in 1956 for a further 8 year run.

Also in 1945,
Arthur Godfrey began his CBS radio morning show. His theme was "Seems Like Old Times". Arthur Godfrey Time ran until this very same day in 1972. Godfrey's show was different in that he used live talent and not records. His popularity with listeners was the major reason that several sponsors gave Godfrey the freedom to ad-lib their commercials and often joke about the products as well.

In 1953, Frank Sinatra and Nelson Riddle became a team this day at Capitol Records in Hollywood. Sinatra's new musical style, under Riddle's direction, brought the crooner to the top of the record world for the second time in his illustrious career.

In 1955, "Cherry Pink and Apple Blossom White" by Perez Prado topped the charts and stayed there for 10 weeks.

In 1956, the Fowler Commission on Canadian Broadcasting began hearings which, two years later, led to the creation of tbe Board of Broadcast Governors, to replace the CBC as radio & TV regulators.

                
In 1957, Elvis recorded "Jailhouse Rock."

In 1964, TV sets would be drastically different after a ruling by the FCC stating that all TV receivers should be equipped to receive both VHF (channels 2-13) and the new UHF (channels 14-83). As a result, TV dealers scrambled to unload their VHF-only models as fast as possible. Antenna manufacturers were kept busy, as the new UHF receivers required new antennas too.

In 1965, The Kinks began their first U.K. tour. That same day Herman's Hermits and the Zombies began their first U.S. tour.

In 1966, folk artist Richard Farina died in a motorcycle accident in California on his 29th birthday.  He had just been at a party to promote his book "Been Down So Long It Looks Like Up To Me."

Also in 1966, "Good Lovin'" by Young Rascals topped the charts.. but stayed #1 for just a week.

            
In 1968, Blood, Sweat and Tears founder Al Kooper, along with saxophonist Randy Brecker, left the band after recording the group's first album, "Child is Father to the Man."

In 1972, the CBS Radio program, "Arthur Godfrey Time," after 27 years, aired for the final time.

In 1973, Paul McCartney released "Red Rose Speedway" including the soon-to-be smash hit "My Love."

In 1974, actress Agnes Moorehead died from uterine cancer at age 73.  She had a rich radio & TV career, especially on Orson Welles' Mercury Players, Suspense & The Mayor of the Town on radio.  Besides her signature TV role as Endora on Bewitched, she played scores of guest roles, including an Emmy-winning portrayal on an episode of The Wild Wild West.  

             In 1975, ABC aired the pilot episode of "Starsky and Hutch."
                                                                  

In 1976, Paul McCartney's Wings released their "Silly Love Songs."

In 1977, "Southern Nights" by Glen Campbell topped the charts, but for just a week.

In 1979, the No. 1 Billboard Pop Hit was "Reunited'' by Peaches & Herb.

In 1981, the 16th Academy of Country Music Awards saw Barbara Mandrell & George Jones win top honors.

In 1983, the original Manfred Mann reunited for a concert in London.

In 1983, blues singer McKinley Morganfield, better known as Muddy Waters, the father of Chicago blues, died in his sleep at age 68.

Still in 1983, the song "Beat It" by Michael Jackson topped the charts and stayed there for 3 weeks.

            
In 1985, Phil Collins released "Sussudio."

In 1987, Madonna's "La Isla Bonita" became her 11th consecutive top five single.

Also in 1987, three more compact discs of music by The Beatles went on sale for the first time. The discs were Help!, Rubber Soul and Revolver. All became hits again for the Fab Four.

In 1989, Siskel & Ebert filmed their 500th movie-review TV show.

            
In 1992, the 208th & final episode of "The Cosby Show" was seen on NBC-TV.

In 1996, actor David Opatoshu died at age 78.  He read the evening news in yiddish on New York radio during WW II, and embarked on a long series of TV guest roles over more than three decades beginning in 1952.  

In 1996, Jackson Communications Inc. was ordered to pay $1.6 million to Smith-Hemion Productions. Smith-Hemion had lost money because of Michael Jackson's failure to perform on the "Jackson Family Honors" TV special.

In 1997, the television series "Ellen" made TV history when its lead character, played by Ellen DeGeneres, "came out" as a lesbian.  42-million tuned in for the 'outing.'

Also in 1997, ABC sportscaster Frank Gifford, Kathie Lee Gifford's husband, was caught on videotape in a hotel embracing an ex-flight attendant.

            
In 1998, the Oak Ridge Boys performed in Washington, D.C., at ceremonies marking the 50th anniversary of the American Red Cross' blood services.

In 1999, Darrell Sweet, the drummer for Scottish rock group Nazareth, suffered a fatal heart attack as the band arrived at an amphitheater in New Albany, Ind., to begin the second leg of its U.S. tour. He was 51.

In 2002, NBC aired the "Tonight" show's celebration of its 10th year with Jay Leno. Appearances were made by Tom Cruise, Cher and Steven Tyler (Aerosmith).


Today's Birthdays:

Singer Bea Wain (Lucky Strike Hit Parade) is 91.

Actress Cloris Leachman (Mary Tyler Moore, Phyllis, Malcolm in the Middle) is 82.

Singer Willie Nelson is 75.

TV host/actor Gary Collins (Hour Magazine, The Home Show, The Sixth Sense) is 70.

Actor Burt Young (The Last Don, Roomies, Sopranos) is 68.

Rocker Johnny Farina (Santo & Johnny) is 67.

Singer Bobby Vee is 65.

Actress Jill Clayburgh (Ally McBeal, Leap of Faith, Search for Tomorrow) is 64.

Actor Perry King (Titans, Melrose Place, Riptide) is 60.

Singer Merrill Osmond of The Osmonds is 55.

Calgary-born actor Paul Gross (Slings & Arrows, Due South) is 49.

Bassist Robert Reynolds of The Mavericks is 46.

Actor Adrian Pasdar (Heroes) is 43.

Rapper Turbo B of Snap is 41.

Guitarist Clark Vogeler (The Toadies) is 39.

Singer Chris "Choc" Dalyrimple of Soul for Real is 37.

Guitarist Chris Henderson of 3 Doors Down is 37.

Country singer Carolyn Dawn Johnson is 37.

Actress Lisa Dean Ryan (Class of 96, Doogie Howser MD) is 36.

Singer J.R. Richards of Dishwalla is 36.

Singer Akon is 35.

Singer Jeff Timmons of 98 Degrees is 35.

Actor Johnny Galecki (Roseanne) is 33.

Rapper Lloyd Banks is 26.

Actress Kirsten Dunst (ER, Sisters, Loving) is 26.

Country singer Tyler Wilkinson of The Wilkinsons is 24.


Chart Toppers

April 30

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

1952
Wheel of Fortune - Kay Starr
Anytime - Eddie Fisher
Blacksmith Blues - Ella Mae Morse
(When You Feel like You’re in Love) Don’t Just Stand There - Carl Smith

1960
Stuck on You - Elvis Presley
Sink the Bismarck - Johnny Horton
Sixteen Reasons - Connie Stevens
He’ll Have to Go - Jim Reeves

1968
Honey - Bobby Goldsboro
Cry like a Baby - The Box Tops
Young Girl - The Union Gap
The Legend of Bonnie and Clyde - Merle Haggard

1976
Disco Lady - Johnnie Taylor
Let Your Love Flow - Bellamy Brothers
Right Back Where We Started From - Maxine Nightingale
Together Again - Emmylou Harris

1984
Against All Odds (Take a Look at Me Now) - Phil Collins
Hello - Lionel Richie
Hold Me Now - The Thompson Twins
Right or Wrong - George Strait