Saturday June the 7th

ON THIS DAY in 1917  
singer/comedian/actor Dean Martin was born in Steubenville Ohio.
                
He was one of the most famous music artists in the 1950s and 1960s. Playboy magazine later called Martin "the coolest man who ever lived." He & Jerry Lewis began as a team in movies & on NBC radio in the late '40's, and did TV together in the early 50's, but split in 1956.  He became a big TV star with NBC's Dean Martin Show (1965-74) and his Celebrity Roasts ('73-'84.)  He succumbed to lung cancer Christmas Day 1995 at age 78.

In 1931, actor Lang Jeffries was born in Ontario.   Although he made movies for more than 23 years, his lone TV assignment was as Skip Johnson in 13 episodes of the series Rescue 8 in the late '50's.  He died Feb 12 1987 at age 55.

In 1932, a Cincinnati radio station was authorized to experiment with a power of 500,000 watts at 700 khz.  Two years later WLW became the only US radio station to regularly transmit with that much power.  

In 1938, with TV still in experimental mode, the first play was telecast with its original Broadway cast, "Susan & God."

              
In 1939, Larry Clinton and his orchestra recorded In a Persian Market on Victor Records.

In 1945, the NBC radio program The Adventures of Topper was heard for the first time. Later, the popular program would move to TV and continue with rave reviews.

In 1946, Jasmine Bligh was the first announcer as BBC Television returned after being off the air during World War II.  The Mickey Mouse cartoon "Mickey's Gala Premiere" which had been the last programme on Sept. 1, 1939, was the first programme to air after a 20-minute announcement.

In 1950, Canadian band leader Guy Lombardo and his orchestra had a #1 hit with their recording of The Third Man Theme.

In 1952, "Here in My Heart" by Al Martino topped the charts and stayed there for 3 weeks.

              
In 1953, children's show stars Kukla, Fran Allison) and Ollie, along with the Boston Pops Orchestra under the direction of Arthur Fiedler, were featured on the first network telecast in "compatible color". The program was broadcast from Boston.  

In 1955, NBC radio presented The Lux Radio Theatre for the final time. The program had aired for 21 years, most of them on CBS radio.

Also in 1955, the $64,000 Question, a summer replacement show, with host Hal March, premiered on CBS.  The show became the most watched and talked about program on TV.
              

In 1963, actress Zasu Pitts, who started in silent movies, and played 2nd banana to Gale Storm in TV's Oh Susannah in the late '50's, died of cancer at age 65.  

In 1963, the Rolling Stones made their first T-V appearance on the British show, "Thank Your Lucky Stars.'' They were promoting their first record, a cover of Chuck Berry's "Come On.'' After the show, its producer is reported to have told Stones' manager Andrew Loog Oldham to get rid of "that vile-looking singer with the tire-tread lips.''

In 1965, Sony Corporation unveiled its first consumer 1/2-inch format helical scan VTR (video tape recorder). It was priced under $3000 (and only in black & white, yet).

                
In 1966, singer Roy Orbison's first wife, Claudette, was killed in a motorcycle a
accident which Orbison witnessed.

In 1969, the rock group Blind Faith made its British debut at a free concert at London’s Hyde Park. Over 100,000 fans attended what was called “the most remarkable gathering of young people ever seen in England.� The group was composed of Eric Clapton, Ginger Baker, Stevie Winwood and Rick Grech.

Also in 1969, the Bob Dylan-Johnny Cash TV special aired on A-B-C.

Still in 1969, ''Tommy,'' the Who's two-record rock opera, first hit the U-S charts.

              
Again in 1969, Tommy James & the Shondells released "Crystal Blue Persuasion"

In 1972, the musical ''Grease'' opened on Broadway after four months in a smaller New York theatre.

In 1974, The Entertainer, the original music from the motion picture The Sting, earned a gold record for pianist and conductor, Marvin Hamlisch.

In 1975, "Thank God I'm a Country Boy" by John Denver topped the charts, but stayed there for just a week.

In 1976, jazz cornetist Bobby Hackett, best remembered for the albums of lush laid-back insrumentals he recorded with Jackie Gleason in the 1950's, died after a heart attack at age 61.

              
Also in 1976, NBC Nightly News, with John Chancellor and David Brinkley paired together, aired for the first time. The partnership lasted until Brinkley moved to ABC News. Chancellor then held the lone, anchor spot until retiring.

Still in 1976, Capitol Records released the Beatles package "Rock 'N' Roll Music."

In 1977, London police arrested 11 people after breaking up a floating Sex Pistols concert on the Thames River.

In 1979, Chuck Berry was charged with three counts of income tax evasion, two days before a performance for U-S President Jimmy Carter at the White House. Berry eventually served 100 days in prison.

                
In 1986, "Live to Tell" by Madonna topped the charts, but remained #1 for just the one week.

Also in 1986, anti-apartheid protesters picketed the opening concert of Queen's European tour in Stockholm. A Swedish magazine claimed that guitarist Bryan May said that going to South Africa was the best thing the group ever did. May said he was misquoted.

In 1989, CBS Records said it was changing the title of George Jones's hit "Ya Ba Da Ba Do (So Are You)" to avoid infringing on trademarks owned by Hanna-Barbera Productions. "Ya Ba Da Ba Do" was a favourite saying of cartoon character Fred Flintstone. Jones's record became known as "The King Is Gone (So Are You)."

Also in 1989, Atlantic Records' New York studio, where artists such as Aretha Franklin, the Rolling Stones and Led Zeppelin made some of their classic albums, closed because of problems with a new landlord. The building owner said other tenants were complaining about the noise.

In 1991, a birthday party for Damian Hall of the rhythm-and-blues group Guy was marred by the killing of Hall's bodyguard.

In 1992, an estimated 2,000-3,000 people attend the dedication of the sod house in Strasburg, N.D., where bandleader and accordion player Lawrence Welk was born. A private group restored the farm after Congress scrapped a proposed $500,000 grant for a German-Russian museum in Strasburg amid criticism over wasteful spending.

              
In 1993, Pete Townshend and Chuck Berry were among those on hand as ground was finally broken for the much-delayed Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame and Museum in Cleveland.

Also on this date in 1993, Prince celebrated his 35th birthday by announcing he was changing his name and splitting with his band, the New Power Generation. Prince said he wanted to be referred to with the symbol that combines the symbols for male and female. The same combination symbol had served as the title of his previous album. He didn't bother telling anyone how to pronounce it.

In 1994, Dame Vera Lynn, known as "The Forces' Sweetheart" during the Second World War, entertained 15-hundred Canadian, British and American veterans aboard the "Queen Elizabeth Two." They were returning from D-Day 50th anniversary observances in France.

              
In 1996, Queen Elizabeth and Paul McCartney opened a school for performing arts that the former Beatle set up in his home town. The Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts was established in a building that housed the school that McCartney and fellow Beatle George Harrison attended as teens.

Also in 1996, on the daytime serial "All My Children," Julia & Noah got married.  

In 1998, the Rolling Stones rescheduled the British leg of their "Bridges to Babylon'' tour for the following year. The band cited guitarist Keith Richards' recovery from a broken rib, scheduling problems and tax issues.

Also in 1998, songwriter Jerry Capehart, who co-wrote "Summertime Blues'' with Eddie Cochran in 1958, died in Nashville, two weeks after being diagnosed with brain cancer. He was 69.

In 1999, James Eugene "Rosy" McHargue, a prolific jazz clarinetist, saxophonist and singer, died in Los Angeles. He was 97. McHargue played with the bands of Benny Goodman and Kay Kyser.

              
In 2001, Canadian evangelist-turned-broadcaster & author Charles Templeton died of Alzheimers at age 85.  He did public affairs TV for the CBC in the late 50's & 60's, and for 18 years co-hosted the radio discussion 'Dialogue' on CFRB Toronto with Pierre Berton.

In 2002, singer/songwriter R. Kelly was booked on child pornography charges in Chicago. He had been arrested two days before and was released after posting bond.


Today's Birthdays:

Singer Tom Jones is 68.

Actor Ken Osmond (Eddie Haskell on "Leave It to Beaver") is 65.

Canadian-born talk-show host Jenny Jones is 62.

Actress Anne Twomey (Third Watch, LA Law) is 57.

Actor Liam Neeson (A Woman of Substance, Ellis Island, Liberty's Kids: Est. 1776) is 56.

Actress Colleen Camp (Rich Man Poor Manook 2) is 55.

Singer-songwriter Johnny Clegg is 55.

Actor William Forsythe {John Doe, UC: Undercover) is 53.

Record producer L.A. Reid is 52.

Musician Prince is 50.

Singer-guitarist Gordon Gano of Violent Femmes is 45.

Rapper Ecstacy of Whodini is 44.

Drummer Eric Kretz (Stone Temple Pilots) is 42.

Guitarist Dave Navarro is 41.

Actor Karl Urban (Xena:Warrior Princess) is 36.

Guitarist-keyboardist Eric Johnson of The Shins is 31.

Actress Larisa Oleynik (3rd Rock From the Sun, Boy Meets World) is 27.

Actor Michael Cera (Arrested Development) is 20.

Actress Shelley Buckner (Just for Kicks, Summerland) is 19.


Chart Toppers

June 7

1950
My Foolish Heart - The Gordon Jenkins Orchestra (vocal: Eileen Wilson)
Bewitched - The Bill Snyder Orchestra
The Third Man Theme - The Guy Lombardo Orchestra
Birmingham Bounce - Red Foley

1958
The Purple People Eater - Sheb Wooley
Secretly - Jimmie Rodgers
Do You Want to Dance - Bobby Freeman
All I Have to Do is Dream - The Everly Brothers

1966
When a Man Loves a Woman - Percy Sledge
A Groovy Kind of Love - The Mindbenders
Paint It, Black - The Rolling Stones
Distant Drums - Jim Reeves

1974
The Streak - Ray Stevens
Band on the Run - Paul McCartney & Wings
You Make Me Feel Brand New - The Stylistics
Pure Love - Ronnie Milsap

1982
Ebony and Ivory - Paul McCartney with Stevie Wonder
Don’t Talk to Strangers - Rick Springfield
I’ve Never Been to Me - Charlene
Finally - T.G. Sheppard

1990
Vogue - Madonna
All I Wanna Do is Make Love to You - Heart
Hold On - Wilson Phillips
I’ve Cried My Last Tear for You - Ricky Van Shelton

Quoted Text

In 1953, children's show stars Kukla, Fran Allison) and Ollie, along with the Boston Pops Orchestra under the direction of Arthur Fiedler, were featured on the first network telecast in "compatible color". The program was broadcast from Boston.  

You'd think with all his success Kukla could afford a good dentist.