Sunday June the 1st

ON THIS DAY in 1890,
actor Frank Morgan was born Francis Wuppermann in New York City.
              
The jovial, somewhat flamboyant Morgan had a successful radio career on Maxwell House Coffee Time in which he was notorious for tall tales that stretched human credulity, to the weekly exasperation of host John Conte. Morgan shared the program for years with Fanny Brice's Baby Snooks.  He is best remembered today as The Wizard of Oz in the 1939 film classic.   He died after a heart attack Sept. 18, 1949 at age 59.

In 1921, musician Nelson Riddle was born in Oradell New Jersey.  He became one of the most admired and versatile arranger/composers of the post-war era, with major radio, television, film, and recording successes to his credit. Some of his best work was in backing Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Judy Garland, Peggy Lee & Nat Cole on Capitol records.  He died of liver ailments Oct 6, 1985 at age 64.

In 1922, actress (Beatrice) Joan Caulfield was born in West Orange New Jersey. She is best remembered as Liz Cooper (the role created on radio by Lucille Ball) in TV's My Favorite Husband.  She died two weeks after cancer surgery June 18, 1991 at age 69.

              
In 1926, actress Marilyn Monroe was born Norma Jean Baker Mortenson in Los Angeles.  Probably THE star of all female movie stars, she never worked on any TV projects, and apparently only guested as herself on the Jack Benny TV show. On network radio she did a bit of light dramatic work, and is fondly recalled sparring verbally with Charlie McCarthy, the famous wooden creation of ventriloquist Edgar Bergen. She died of a drug overdose Aug 5, 1962 at age 36.

In 1928, comedian Bob Monkhouse was born in Kent England. One of British TV's most popular performers with a career that spanned four decades, funnyman Bob Monkhouse started off as a radio writer & comic and became a hit quiz & variety TV host.  He died of prostate cancer Dec. 29 2003, at age 75.

In 1930, actor Pat Corley was born in Dallas.  Best known as Phil the bartender on TV's Murphy Brown, he also had recurring roles on Bay City Blues, Hill St. Blues, He's the Mayor, Robert Kennedy & his Times, Roots,  & Fresno.  He died of congestive heart failure Sept. 11 2006, at age 76.  

In 1936, the Lux Radio Theater moved from New York City to Hollywood. Cecil B. DeMille, the program's host on the NBC Blue network, introduced Clark Gable and Marlene Dietrich in The Legionnaire and the Lady.

              
In 1938, the caped super-hero who would become a sensation on radio & TV was born in a comic book. Toronto-born cartoonist Joe Shuster teamed up with Jerry Siegel to create Superman, who made his first appearance in Action Comics. The cost of issue #1 was 10 cents (collectors will pay almost $100,000 today).

In 1939, actor Cleavon (Jake) Little was born in Chikasha Oklahoma. The Tony & Emmy Award winner appeared on TV over almost 30 years, with recurring roles in Dear John, Bagdad Cafe, True Colors, Temperatures Rising, Felony Squad & Another World.  He died of colon cancer Oct 22, 1992 at age 53.

Also in 1939, the 1st televised heavyweight boxing match, at least a decade before TV became a major influence, featured Max Baer vs Lou Nova.

In 1948, blues singer Sonny Boy Williamson was killed during a robbery in Chicago. He was only 34. The first of two singers to perform under that name, Williamson was a major influence on later blues harp players, such as Little Walter and Junior Wells.

              
In 1953, "The Mask of Medusa," on ABC-TV's Twilight Theater, featured the network-TV acting debut of New Westminster's Raymond Burr. He later became the star of Perry Mason and Ironside.

In 1958, after years of using kinescope films to serve the far reaches of the network, CBC-TV finally initiated Canada-wide television broadcasts.

In 1959, celebrating a solid year at the top of the album charts was Johnny's Greatest Hits (Johnny Mathis) on Columbia Records. The LP stayed for several more years at or near the top of the album charts. It became the all-time album leader at 490 weeks.

Also in 1959, "The Battle of New Orleans" by Johnny Horton topped the charts and stayed there for 6 weeks.

In 1960, CHEK-TV Victoria celebrated its 3-and-a-half-year birthday by increasing power to 100,000 watts, from a new transmitter site on Saturna Island.

In 1961, there was a new sound on the US airwaves.  FM multiplex stereo broadcasting was enjoyed for the first time by FM listeners in Schenectady, NY, Los Angeles and Chicago. The FCC adopted the standard a year later.

In 1964, the Rolling Stones arrived in New York to begin their first American tour. Their first date was at a high school stadium in Lynn, Massachusetts. The Stones also stopped in Chicago to record at the Chess studios, but a riot broke out when they tried to hold a news conference.

              
Also in 1964, Dolly Parton moved to Nashville, one day after her high school graduation.

In 1965, Penticton radio station CKOK FM 97.1 signed on with effective radiated power of 1800 watts.

In 1966, Toronto's CFTO transmitted Canada's first colour TV.

Also in 1966, the final episode of "The Dick Van Dyke Show" aired on CBS, completing a highly successful 5 year run.

Still in 1966, shortwave station "Radio New York Worldwide" changed its call letters from WRUL to WNYW.

              
In 1967, the Beatles' landmark concept album, "Sergeant Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band,'' was released in Britain -- two days before its North American release. The album took 700 hours over three months to record, with a then state-of-the-art four-track recorder used to build each song layer by layer. The album is estimated to have sold more than 15-million copies, and stayed on the Billboard chart for 113 weeks.

In 1968, Simon & Garfunkel reached the top of the U-S charts with "Mrs. Robinson,'' a song featured in the soundtrack of the film "The Graduate.'' The song won a Grammy Award for the Best Contemporary Pop Performance by a Vocal Duo or Group.

In 1969, the ban on advertising tobacco on Canadian radio and TV came into effect.

Also in 1969, during their Montreal bed-in, John Lennon and Yoko Ono recorded "Give Peace a Chance" with Tommy and Dick Smothers, Derek Taylor, Murray the K and Timothy Leary.

              
In 1971, the CBS/CBC Sunday night TV showcase which drew families together for 22 years, the Ed Sullivan Show aired for its final time.  

Also in 1971, Elvis Presley's birthplace -- a two-room home in Tupelo, Mississippi -- was opened to the public... at a price.

In 1973, Robert Wyatt, the former drummer for the British progressive rock band Soft Machine, was paralyzed after falling from a window during a party.

In 1974, John Cale, Brian Eno, Kevin Ayers and Nico recorded the live LP "June 1, 1974.''

In 1975, guitarist Ron Wood celebrated his 28th birthday by making his debut with the Rolling Stones, replacing Mick Taylor, in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

              
In 1980, Ted Turner's great 'experiment' in 24-hour TV news, the Cable News Network (CNN) began broadcasting.

In 1984, Nate Nelson, lead singer of the doo-wop group the Flamingos, died at 52. He was with the group when they recorded their biggest hit, "I Only Have Eyes For You," in 1959. Nelson joined the Platters three years later.

In 1985, British actor Richard Greene, who starred in TV's Adventures of Robin Hood in the 1950's, suffered cardiac arrest & died at age 67.

              
In 1990, Mariah Carey made her national TV debut on the "Arsenio Hall Show" performing "Vision of Love."

In 1991, former Temptations member David Ruffin died in Philadelphia of a cocaine overdose at 50. Ruffin, who had a history of drug problems, was the lead singer on such Temptations hits as "My Girl" and "Ain't Too Proud To Beg."

In 1992, Marilyn Monroe's star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame was rededicated in honor of what would have been her 66th birthday.

In 1993, Dan Rather and Connie Chung began as co-anchors on "The CBS Evening News."

In 1994, actress Frances Heflin, who played Mona Kane Tyler on TV's All My Children, died of lung cancer at age 70.

In 1996, jazz musician Don Grolnick, who played with the likes of James Taylor, Roberta Flack, Carly Simon, Bette Midler, Peter Erskine, Dave Holland and Steely Dan, died at the age of 49.

In 1997, Kenny Rogers married his production assistant Wanda Miller at their farm in Athens, Ga. It was the fifth marriage for Rogers, 58, and the second for Miller, 30.

In 1998, Scott Weiland, lead singer for the Stone Temple Pilots, was charged with heroin possession in New York City. The arrest forced the cancellation of the remaining four dates of Weiland's tour to promote his first solo album, "12 Bar Blues.'' After pleading guilty, Weiland received a conditional discharge and was ordered back into drug rehab.

In 2000, Beach Boys co-founder Brian Wilson launched his official Web site with streaming audio feeds of songs from his latest double album, "Live At The Roxy Theater."
              

Today's Birthdays:

Actor Richard Erdman (Where's Raymond, Perry Mason, Pirates of Dark Water) is 83.

Actor Andy Griffith (Matlock, Andy Griffith Show, Mayberry RFD) is 82.

Actor Ty Hardin (Bronco, Riptide) is 78.

Actor Edward Woodward (The Equalizer, La Femme Nikita) is 78.

Singer Pat Boone is 74.

Actor Morgan Freeman (Electric Company, Another World) is 71.

Actor Rene Auberjonois (Boston Legal, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine) is 68.
  
Singer Linda Scott (I've Told Every Little Star) is 63.

Actor Brian Cox (Deadwood) is 62.

Guitarist Ron Wood of the Rolling Stones is 61.
  
Actor Powers Boothe (Deadwood, 24, Phillip Marlowe Private Eye) is 58.

Singer Graham Russell of Air Supply is 58.

Country singer Ronnie Dunn of Brooks and Dunn is 55.

Actress Lisa Hartman Black (Knots Landing, Legend of Cadillac Jack, 2000 Malibu Rd.) is 52.

Bassist Simon Gallup of The Cure is 48.

Actress Teri Polo (West Wing, Wedding Bells, I'm With Her) is 39.

Model Heidi Klum (Project Runway) is 35.

Ottawa-born singer Alanis Morissette is 34.

TV host Damien Fahey (MTV's Total Request Live) is 28.

Actor Taylor Handley (Hidden Palms, The O.C.) is 24.


Chart Toppers

June 1

1944
Long Ago and Far Away - Helen Forrest & Dick Haymes
I’ll Get By - The Harry James Orchestra (vocal: Dick Haymes)
I’ll Be Seeing You - The Tommy Dorsey Orchestra (vocal: Frank Sinatra)
Straighten Up and Fly Right - King Cole Trio

1952
Kiss of Fire - Georgia Gibbs
Blue Tango - The Leroy Anderson Orchestra
Be Anything - Eddy Howard
The Wild Side of Life - Hank Thompson

1960
Cathy’s Clown - The Everly Brothers
He’ll Have to Stay - Jeanne Black
Paper Roses - Anita Bryant
Please Help Me, I’m Falling - Hank Locklin

1968
Mrs. Robinson - Simon & Garfunkel
The Good, the Bad and the Ugly - Hugo Montenegro
Yummy Yummy Yummy - Ohio Express
Honey - Bobby Goldsboro

1976
Love Hangover - Diana Ross
Get Up and Boogie (That’s Right) - Silver Convention
Misty Blue - Dorthy Moore
One Piece at a Time - Johnny Cash

1984
Let’s Hear It for the Boy - Deniece Williams
Time After Time - Cyndi Lauper
Oh Sherrie - Steve Perry
As Long as I’m Rockin’ with You - John Conlee