Monday July the 28th

ON THIS DAY in 1892
comedian Joe E. (Evan) Brown was born in Holgate Ohio. After a lengthy career that took him  from circus acts to vaudeville to Broadway to Hollywood, he ended up guesting on radio & TV in the 1950's & 60's.  He died following a stroke July 6, 1973 at age 80.

              
In 1901, singer/bandleader Rudy Vallee was born in rural Vermont.  In the 1920's and 30's he was host of radio's first big variety show, The Fleischmann's Yeast  Hour, which introduced to the American public the likes of Jack Benny, Eddie Cantor & Kate Smith. Both The Aldrich Family & We The People originated as sketches on the Vallee show before becoming radio hits on their own.  He died July 3, 1986 at age 84.

In 1910, announcer Bill Goodwin (below) was born in San Francisco. He was for years the announcer on The Burns & Allen Show, and as well was incorporated into the script playing a ladies man.  He was spokesman for Swan Soap and Maxwell House Coffee, among others, on radio; Carnation Evaporated Milk on television.  His last job was on The Bob Hope Radio Show (1953-55.)  He died following a heart attack May 9 1958 at age 47.
                

In 1911, bit playing actress Ann Doran was born in Amarillo Texas. By one count she appeared in 500 movies & 1000 TV shows, the latter over a working span of 36 years.  Her last three assignments in the late 80's were Twilight Zone, Cagney & Lacey, and Hunter.  She died Sept. 19 2000 at age 89.

In 1914, bandleader Carmen Dragon was born in Antioch Calif. He conducted the Hollywood Bowl Symphony Orchestra on NBC Radio's "Standard Oil Hour"  broadcast for elementary schools in the late 1940s. On a less cultural level he conducted the orchestra on Maxwell House Coffee Time, for the Bickersons, and The Railroad Hour starring Gordon Macrae. His son Daryl continues the family's musical tradition as the Captain of The Captain & Tennille. Carmen died Mar 28, 1984 at age 69.
              
In 1933, the first singing telegram was sent. It was given to Rudy Vallee on his 32nd birthday.

                
In 1939, Judy Garland sang one of the most famous songs of the century with the Victor Young Orchestra.
The tune became her signature song and will forever be associated with the singer-actress. Garland recorded "Over the Rainbow" for Decca Records. It was the musical highlight of the film, "The Wizard of Oz".

In 1951, "Come On-a My House" by Rosemary Clooney topped the charts and stayed there for 8 weeks.

In 1954, Victoria radio station CJVI 900 AM became the first Vancouver Island station to broadcast with 5000 watts!

Also in 1954, at 4 p.m. local time Regina's CKCK-TV signed on as a CBC affiliate on Channel 2.  With no live network connection the CBC programs were all seen via kinescope.

Still in 1954, the Crew Cuts reached the top spot of the "Billboard" pop singles chart with "Sh-Boom (Life Could Be a Dream)".
              
It became the fastest-moving record to hit the music charts, making it to the top ten in only three weeks. The tune stayed atop the pop music listing for seven weeks.

In 1956, "I Almost Lost My Mind" by Pat Boone topped the charts and stayed there for 4 weeks.

In 1957, Jerry Lee Lewis made his TV debut on the "Steve Allen Show.''  

In 1958, three years after his "Cherry Pink and Apple Blossom White" reached number one, Cuban-born bandleader Perez Prado captured the top spot again, with "Patricia". Prado was known as the Mambo King for his popular, Latin-flavored instrumentals.

In 1967, Pirate Radio Station 390 (Radio Invicta) operating from a ship off England, closed down.
              
                              
In 1973, Canadian group The Band performed before 600,000 fans at the Watkins Glen (NY) Summer Jam, along with the Grateful Dead and the Allman Brothers Band. It was the biggest rock festival since Woodstock four years earlier.

Also in 1973, exactly a year after their first date, TV’s "Six Million Dollar Man", Lee Majors, married one of "Charlie’s Angels", Farrah Fawcett. The new Farrah Fawcett-Majors was named one of the 10 most beautiful women on the campus of the University of Texas. Farrah, famous for her blonde mane and brilliant smile, and Majors were divorced February 16, 1982

Still in 1973, Grand Funk Railroad's "We're An American Band" was released.
                

In 1974, announcer Truman Bradley, who in radio's so-called "golden era" was the golden voice of Roma Wines on CBS radio's Suspense, died at age 69.

In 1979, the World Series of Rock was held at Cleveland Stadium, with Journey, Ted Nugent and Thin Lizzy.

In 1985, actor Grant Williams, who played Grant McKenzie on ABC TV's Hawaiian Eye, died of toxic poisoning at age 54.

In 1987, the Beatles sued Nike and Capitol Records over the use of their song "Revolution" in shoe commercials.

              
In 1989, songstress Anne Murray opened the Anne Murray Centre in her hometown of Springhill, Nova Scotia. Packed with awards, photographs, memorabilia and audio-visual highlights of her life and career, the Centre is open every day from mid-May to mid-October.

In 1992, Patti LaBelle abruptly ended a concert in Warwick, R.I., after complaining on stage about backstage food.

In 1993, the 10,000 Maniacs played their last show with lead singer Natalie Merchant. Merchant left the group to pursue a solo career.

In 1995, the TV special premiere of Michael Jackson's video "You Are Not Alone" featured a semi-clad Jackson cavorting with his bride, Lisa Marie Presley.

                
In 1996, "You're Makin' Me High" by Toni Braxton topped the charts and stayed there for a week.

In 1998, it was announced that after 12 years and six albums, the members of Columbia Records act Toad The Wet Sprocket would go their own ways. Of the split, the band's singer/guitarist Glen Phillips said, "We came together as kids but have grown in different directions as adults."

In 1999, Wu-Tang Clan rapper Ol' Dirty Bastard was arrested for bouncing a check for a portion of his bail in his ongoing terrorist threat case in Santa Monica Superior Court.

                
In 2000, Kathie Lee Gifford made her final appearance as co-host of the ABC talk show "Live with Regis and Kathie Lee."

Also in 2000, a U.S. federal appeals court granted a last minute stay of an injunction that ordered Napster, Inc., to shut down. The order to stop operations came on July 26, two days previous.

In 2001, the Eagles played the first-ever concert at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas.

In 2003, Aaron Bell, jazz bassist with Duke Ellington, died in New York City at the age of 82.

              
In 2004, Jackson Beck, the man who introduced the Superman radio show with, "It's a bird! It's a plane! It's Superman!", died at age 92.


Today's Birthdays:

Actor Darryl Hickman (A Pup Named Scooby Doo, Jonny Quest) is 77.

Keyboardist Rick Wright of Pink Floyd is 65.

Actress Linda Kelsey (Lou Grant, Day By Day) is 62.

Singer Jonathan Edwards is 62.

TV producer Dick Ebersol (NBC Olympics, Sat. Night Live) is 61.

Actress Sally Struthers (All in the Family, Gilmore Girls) is 60.

Actress Georgia Engel (The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Coach) is 60.

Drummer Simon Kirke of Bad Company is 59.

Guitarist Steve Morse of Deep Purple is 54.

Actor Michael Hayden (Murder One) is 45.

Jazz musician-producer Delfeayo Marsalis is 43.

Actress Lori Loughlin (Summerland, Full House, Edge of Night) is 41.

Actress Elizabeth Berkley (Saved By The Bell) is 36.

Singer Afroman is 34.

Drummer Todd Anderson of Heartland is 33.

Singer Jacoby Shaddix of Papa Roach is 32.

Country singer Carly Goodwin is 27.

Yellowknife-born actor Dustin Milligan (Runaway) is 23.


Chart Toppers - July 28th

1945
The More I See You - Dick Haymes
Dream - The Pied Pipers
Sentimental Journey - The Les Brown Orchestra (vocal: Doris Day)
Oklahoma Hills - Jack Guthrie

1954
Sh-Boom - The Crew Cuts
If You Love Me (Really Love Me) - Kay Starr
The Little Shoemaker - The Gaylords
Even Tho - Webb Pierce

1963
Surf City - Jan & Dean
So Much in Love - The Tymes
Fingertips - Pt 2 - Little Stevie Wonder
Ring of Fire - Johnny Cash

1972
Lean on Me - Bill Withers
Alone Again (Naturally) - Gilbert O’Sullivan
Brandy (You’re a Fine Girl) - Looking Glass
It’s Gonna Take a Little Bit Longer - Charley Pride

1981
The One that You Love - Air Supply
Jessie’s Girl - Rick Springfield
Theme from "Greatest American Hero" (Believe It or Not) - Joey Scarbury
Feels So Right - Alabama

1990
She Ain’t Worth It - Glenn Medeiros featuring Bobby Brown
Vision of Love - Mariah Carey
Cradle of Love - Billy Idol
The Dance - Garth Brooks

1999
Wild Wild West - Will Smith featuring Dru Hill & Kool Moe Dee
If You Had My Love - Jennifer Lopez
Beautiful Stranger - Madonna
Amazed - Lonestar