Sunday August the 3rd

ON THIS DAY in 1876,
at Brantford Ontario, Alexander Graham Bell held the World's first definitive telephone tests, and made the first intelligible telephone call from building to building. In a one-way transmission, he heard his uncle David Bell recite Hamlet's 'to be or not to be...'

              
In 1902, orchestra leader Ray Bloch was born in France.  He came to the US in World War I, and headed an orchestra touring in vaudeville.  He provided the music for hundreds of radio shows, including Milton Berle's, and among dozens of TV assignments was musical director for superstars Ed Sullivan and Jackie Gleason.  He died March 29 1982 at age 79.

In 1922, WGY in Schenectady, NY presented the first full-length melodrama on radio. It was "The Wolf", written by Eugene Walter.

In 1929, Emile Berliner, inventor of the gramophone, died in Washington, D.C.  Berliner took out a Canadian patent on his machine and set up manufacturing facilities in Montreal.  His firm was sold to the Victor Talking Machine Company about five years before his death.

              
In 1953, announcer Frank Blair became news anchor of the NBC Today Show.

In 1963, the Beatles made their final appearance at the Cavern Club in Liverpool, England. The group was about to leave its hometown behind for unprecedented world-wide fame and fortune.

Also in 1963, the Beach Boys’ "Surfer Girl", was released on Capitol Records. It became one of their biggest hits. Six weeks later Surfer Girl made it to number seven on the hit music charts.

Still in 1963, comedian Allan Sherman’s summer camp parody, "Hello Mudduh, Hello Fadduh!" (A Letter from Camp) was released on Warner Brothers Records. It went to number two on the pop charts three weeks later.

In 1965, CBS-TV war correspondent Morley Safer sent out a Vietnam report showing American troops using their Zippo lighters to set fire to thatched huts in a Vietnamese village. The filmed report aired in the States on August 5th.
              

Also in 1965, the No. 1 Billboard Pop Hit was the novelty "I'm Henry VIII, I Am,'' by Herman's Hermits. The song was written in 1911 by Fred Murray and R.P. Weston and was popularized at the time by Cockney comedian Harry Champion.

In 1966, legendary comedian Lenny Bruce died of a morphine overdose.  He was just 40 years of age.

Also in 1966, the Rolling Stones recorded "Have You Seen Your Mother, Baby."

In 1968, "Hello, I Love You" by the Doors topped the charts and stayed there for 2 weeks.

In 1969, Beach Boy Carl Wilson was indicted in Los Angeles after failing to work as a hospital orderly in lieu of the military draft.

              
In 1971, Paul McCartney formed a new band called Wings. Joining McCartney in the group were Denny Laine, formerly of The Moody Blues, Denny Seilwell and McCartney’s wife, Linda.

In 1974, guitarist Jeff Baxter quit Steely Dan and joined the Doobie Brothers.

In 1975, the  No. 1 Billboard Pop Hit was "Jive Talkin','' by The Bee Gees.

In 1979, Tonight Show host Johnny Carson graced the cover of the Burbank telephone directory. You know you’ve made it when you’re on the cover of the phone book.

In 1983, actress Carolyn Jones, who played Morticia on The Addams Family, died of cancer at age 54.

In 1984, legendary 1950s DJ, Dick Biondi, joined Chicago's WJMK-FM, the oldies station.

              
In 1985, the song "Shout" by Tears for Fears topped the charts and stayed there for 3 weeks.

In 1988, the No. 1 Billboard Pop Hit was "Roll with It,'' by Steve Winwood. Billboard ranked it the top song of the year.

In 1989, the ABC news magazine Primetime Live debuted, with Sam Donaldson and Diane Sawyer reporting/starring. Just one of many creations of ABC News president Roone Arledge.

In 1995, actress/director Ida Lupino (below) died from a stroke while undergoing treatment for colon cancer at age 77.  She had become a pioneer among women film makers, directing episodes of The Twilight Zone, Have Gun Will Travel, The Donna Reed Show, Gilligan's Island, 77 Sunset Strip, The Fugitive & Bewitched.   As an actress she was the 4th star in TV's Four Star Playhouse, and played opposite husband Howard Duff in the sitcom Mr. Adams & Eve.
              

In 1996, the song that inspired a sensation "Macarena (Bayside Boys Mix)" by Los Del Rio topped the charts and stayed there for 14 weeks.

In 1997, country superstar Garth Brooks performed a free concert in New York's Central Park for the HBO cable network.

In 1999, the late Patsy Cline received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

In 2002, Bob Dylan played the Newport Folk Festival in Rhode Island for the first time in 37 years. In 1965, the crowd was outraged when he played electric guitar at the festival.

In 2005, the U.S. FCC (Federal Communications Commission) and Dept. of Justice gave their approval to the merger of communications companies Sprint and Nextel.

              
in 2007, San Francisco broadcaster Ron Lyons died at age 69. Lyons was a "Good Guy" on station KEWB-AM in the 1960s and also worked stints at KNBR, KFBK, KNEW, and KCBS.


Today's Birthdays

Singer Gordon Stoker of The Jordanaires is 84.

Singer Tony Bennett is 82.

Actor Martin Sheen (The West Wing) is 68.

Singer Beverly Lee of The Shirelles is 67.

Lifestyle guru Martha Stewart is 67.

Bassist B.B. Dickerson of War is 59.

Actress JoMarie Payton (Family Matters, Proud Family) is 58.

Actor Jay North (Dennis the Menace) is 57.

Guitarist Randy Scruggs is 55.

Actor John C. McGinley (Scrubs) is 49.

Bassist Lee Rocker (Stray Cats) is 47.

Singer-guitarist James Hetfield of Metallica is 45.

Singer Ed Roland of Collective Soul is 45.

Actor Isaiah Washington (Grey's Anatomy) is 45.

Saskatchewan-born comedian/actor Brent Butt (Corner Gas) is 42.

Keyboardist Dean Sams of Lonestar is 42.

Guitarist Stephen Carpenter of Deftones is 38.

Musician Spinderella of Salt-N-Pepa is 37.

Actress Brigid Brannagh (Army Wives) is 36.

Alberta-born actress Evangeline Lilly (Lost) is 29.

Singer Holly Arnstein of Dream is 23.

Chart Toppers - August 3rd

1951
Too Young - Nat King Cole
Mister and Mississippi - Patti Page
Because of You - Tony Bennett
I Wanna Play House with You - Eddy Arnold

1960
I’m Sorry - Brenda Lee
Itsy Bitsy Teeny Weenie Yellow Polkadot Bikini (facts) - Brian Hyland
It’s Now or Never  - Elvis Presley
Please Help Me, I’m Falling - Hank Locklin

1969
In the Year 2525 - Zager & Evans
Crystal Blue Persuasion  - Tommy James and The Shondells
What Does It Take (To Win Your Love) - Jr. Walker and The All Stars
Johnny B. Goode - Buck Owens

1978
Shadow Dancing  - Andy Gibb
Miss You  - The Rolling Stones
Last Dance  - Donna Summer
Only One Love in My Life - Ronnie Milsap

1987
Shakedown (facts) - Bob Seger
I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For  - U2
I Want Your Sex  - George Michael
Snap Your Fingers - Ronnie Milsap

1996
Macarena (Bayside Boys Mix)  - Los Del Rio
I Can’t Sleep Baby (If I) - R. Kelly
Change the World  - Eric Clapton
Don’t Get Me Started - Rhett Akins

2005
We Belong Together - Mariah Carey
Behind These Hazel Eyes  - Kelly Clarkson
Don’t Phunk With My Heart  - Black Eyed Peas
As Good As I Once Was  - Toby Keith