Friday June the 27th

ON THIS DAY in 1885  
Americans Chichester Bell and Charles S. Tainter applied for a patent for the gramophone. It was granted on May 4, 1886.

                
In 1927, one of the most beloved children's entertainers, Bob "Captain Kangaroo" Keeshan was born in Lynbrook New York.  He was Clarabelle the Clown on NBC-TV's Howdy Doody Show for four years ending in 1952.  In 1955 he became Captain Kangaroo, delighting the pre-school set on CBS TV's morning schedule for the next 29 years. He died of natural causes Jan. 23 2004 at age 76.

In 1947, the NBC station in Washington DC,  WRC TV channel 4 began broadcasting. It is celebrating 61 years with the same call letters today.

                
In 1949, Captain Video & His Video Rangers premiered on the Dumont Television Network. Captain Video was initially played by Richard Coogan. The voice of radio’s Green Hornet, Al Hodge, replaced Coogan in 1951. Don Hastings played the role of the ranger until the series ended in 1955. Maybe, if you check the basement or the attic, you’ll find your Captain Video decoder ring. Now’s the time to use it, kids!

In 1955, NBC TV aired the first of a new Sunday series, "Wide Wide World", designed to dazzle viewers with TV's ability to go live to various parts of the globe. Dave Garroway, of the Today show, was the program host.

Also in 1955, "The Julius LaRosa Show" debuted on CBS-TV.

              
In 1956, Vancouver's Red Robinson hosted the city’s first rock and roll concert featuring Bill Haley and the Comets at Kerrisdale Arena. An estimated 6,000 fans screamed for more. The review the next day in The Vancouver Sun described the concert as “the ultimate in musical depravity.” The concert was promoted by Deejay and record shop owner Jack Cullen.

Also in 1956, Clarence 'Frogman' Henry released "Ain't Got No Home" to radio. It became his first hit song.

In 1958, after nearly three years on NBC-TV, "Matinee Theatre" was seen for the final time. Critics called the daily hour of live drama one of the most successful failures in theatrical history.

                
In 1960, Connie Francis started a two-week run at No.1 on North American charts with 'Everybody's Somebody's Fool.'

In 1962, two albums of melancholy music by Jackie Gleason received gold record honors. Music, Martinis and Memories and Music for Lovers Only.. both from Capitol Records in Hollywood.

In 1963, Brenda Lee inked a new recording contract with Decca Records. She was guaranteed one million dollars over the following 20 years... really big money in those days.  

In 1964, Ernest Borgnine and Ethel Merman were married. It did not turn out to be one of Hollywood’s most enduring marriages. The couple broke up 38 days later.

                
Also in 1964, the No. 1 Billboard Pop Hit was "A World Without Love,'' by Peter & Gordon. Paul McCartney and John Lennon write the song. It was the first time a McCartney-Lennon song topped the pop chart for a group other than the Beatles. Peter Asher went on to become James Taylor and Linda Ronstadt's manager.

Still in 1964 , the "New Phil Silvers Show" (not the Sgt. Bilko show which had been a hit) aired for the last time on CBS-TV.

In 1966, Dark Shadows began its popular run as a daily serial on ABC-TV. The show became a popular late-afternoon favorite for the next five seasons, then reappeared as a prime-time revival for a short, two-month run in 1991.

                
Also in 1966, the No. 1 Billboard Pop Hit was "Strangers in the Night,'' by Frank Sinatra.

In 1968, Elvis began taping his first television special, commonly termed his 'comeback special,' at the NBC studios in Burbank.

In 1970, the Jackson 5: Marlon, Tito, Jackie, Randy and Michael, jumped to number one on the music charts with The Love You Save. The song stayed at the top of the charts for two weeks. It was the third of four number one hits in a row for the group.

In 1971, promoter Bill Graham closed the Fillmore East in New York City. It was a spin-off of San Francisco’s legendary rock ’n’ roll palace, Fillmore West (closed several days later). The Allman Brothers and J. Geils Band were among those performing on the final night. The New York City landmark and its San Francisco sister hosted just about every major rock group of the 1960s.

In 1972, the No. 1 Billboard Pop Hit was "Song Sung Blue,''  by Neil Diamond.

                
In 1974, the "Flip Wilson Show" aired for the final time on NBC-TV.

In 1975, Sonny & Cher (Bono) called it quits as husband and wife. They were divorced soon after their CBS-TV variety show was canceled. Sonny went on to become mayor of Palm Springs and then a U.S. Congressman from California. (He was killed Jan. 5, 1998 in a skiing accident.) Cher married rocker Gregg Alman just days after saying “bye-bye” to Sonny. She continued her recording career and became an Academy Award-winning actress.

In 1981, Infidelity, by REO Speedwagon, was replaced at number one by the LP, Mistaken Identity, featuring singer Kim Carnes. Hi Infidelity had been number one on the album charts for 14 weeks.

              
In 1983, the daytime serial "Loving" premiered on ABC TV.  It continued for 3,169 episodes until late 1995.

In 1984, the Federal Communications Commission moved to deregulate U.S. commercial TV by lifting most programming requirements and ending day-part restrictions on advertising.

In 1987, after spending a decade with NBC News, Linda Ellerbee (below) gave her last, “And so it goes.” NBC had tried to encourage Ellerbee to take a 40 percent cut in pay. And so she went. She wrote a most interesting book on her broadcasting career titled And So It Goes.
              

Also in 1987, Whitney Houston became the first woman in US history to enter the album chart at No.1 with 'Whitney' she also became the first woman to top the singles chart with four consecutive releases when 'I Wanna Dance With Somebody' hit No.1.

In 1988,  MCA Records bought Motown Records for $61 million.  

In 1989, The Who performed the rock opera, "Tommy," in its entirety for the first time in 17 years at New York's Radio City Music Hall.

Also in 1989, NBC aired "Miami Vice" for the last time.

                
Also in 1989, Tom Jones was awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk Of Fame.

In 1992, Michael Jackson kicked off the Dangerous Tour in Munich, Germany. 70,000 fans saw Jackson, with a helmet on and a fake rocket pack on his back, appear to fly off stage (or, maybe he really did). The tour would continue through November 11 stopping in some 42 cities.  

In 1995, actor Hugh Grant was arrested in Los Angeles for engaging in "lewd behavior" with a prostitute in a rented BMW. When he appeared days later on The Tonight Show, Jay Leno asked "What the hell were you THINKING!!"  

In 1996, actor Eddie Murphy got a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Fans started lining up a full day ahead to get a good look at the unveiling.

              
In 2001, actor Jack Lemmon died at age 76 of complications from bladder cancer.  Besides his bigscreen 'star turns' which ranged from brash or befuddled young men to grumpy old ones, he made many TV appearances early in his career, and a dozen TV movies in his later years.  His last smallscreen role was as Morrie in the film Tuesdays with Morrie. His ability to play both comic and serious roles endeared him to audiences as a sort of American ‘Everyman’.

In 2001, comedian Paula Poundstone was arrested on child endangerment charges in Malibu, California. The charges were later dropped.

In 2002, bassist John Entwistle of The Who was found dead in his hotel room in Las Vegas the night before the band was starting a tour. Entwistle was 57. His death was ruled a result of cocaine use and heart disease.

              
in 2003 at 7 pm, Channel M signed-on on channel 42, cable 8 on the Lower Mainland.  It was Vancouver’s first over-the-air multilingual TV station.  Although half of its programming is in English, its programming does feature 24 other languages.

In 2006, the CRTC approved Jim Pattison's $12.5 million purchase of Island Radio's six stations, consisting of CHWF-FM(The Wolf) and CKWV-FM (The Wave) Nanaimo, CIBH-FM (The Beach) and CHPQ-FM (The Lounge) Parksville, CKLR-FM (The Eagle) Courtenay, and CJAV-FM (The Peak) Port Alberni.


Today's Birthdays:  

Singer Bruce Johnston of the Beach Boys is 66.

Canadian musician Frank Mills is 66.

Actress Julia Duffy (Newhart) is 57.

Country singer Lorrie Morgan is 49.

Writer-director J.J. Abrams (Lost, Alias, Felicity) is 42.

Actor Yancey Arias (Thief, The Division) is 37.

Actor Tobey Maguire (Seduced by Madness, Duke of Groove) is 33.

Singer Leigh Nash (Sixpence None The Richer) is 32.

Actor Drake Bell (Drake and Josh) is 22.

Actor Ed Westwick (Gossip Girl) is 21.

Actress Madylin Sweeten (Everybody Loves Raymond) is 17.


Chart Toppers

June 27
1950
My Foolish Heart - The Gordon Jenkins Orchestra (vocal: Eileen Wilson)
Bewitched - The Bill Snyder Orchestra
The Old Piano Roll Blues - Hoagy Carmichael & Cass Daley
Why Don’t You Love Me - Hank Williams

1959
Personality - Lloyd Price
Lonely Boy - Paul Anka
Along Came Jones - The Coasters
The Battle of New Orleans - Johnny Horton

1968
This Guy’s in Love with You - Herb Alpert
MacArthur Park - Richard Harris
The Look of Love - Sergio Mendes & Brazil ’66
Honey - Bobby Goldsboro

1977
Got to Give It Up (Pt. I) - Marvin Gaye
Gonna Fly Now (Theme from "Rocky") - Bill Conti
Undercover Angel - Alan O’Day
Luckenbach, Texas (Back to the Basics of Love) - Waylon Jennings

1986
On My Own - Patti LaBelle & Michael McDonald
There’ll Be Sad Songs (To Make You Cry) - Billy Ocean
Crush on You - The Jets
Mama’s Never Seen Those Eyes - The Forester Sisters

1995
Have You Ever Really Loved a Woman? - Bryan Adams
Total Eclipse of the Heart - Nicki French
Don’t Take It Personal (just one of dem days) - Monica
Texas Tornado - Tracy Lawrence

2004
The Reason - Hoobastank
Burn - Usher
Roses - Outkast
Redneck Woman - Gretchen Wilson