Tuesday September the 16th  

ON THIS DAY in 1914
radio/TV host/producer Allen Funt (Candid Microphone, Candid Camera)
                                                                  
was born in New York City.  He died Sept 5, 1999, just days before his 85th birthday.

On this day in 1919, singer Andy Russell

was born in Los Angeles. He was the star of radio's Your Hit Parade for several years beginning in 1946.

Also this day in 1919, actor Lawrence Dobkin

was born in New York City.  He was one of the most used character actors on network radio out of Hollywood in the 1940's & 50's, the seamlessly made the transition to TV.  He worked into directing, but was still appearing in supporting roles on TV a year before his death in 2002 at age 83.

Also in 1919, the inventor of the rabbit ears TV antenna,
Marvin Middlemark

was born. He died in 1989 at age 69.

On this day in 1920, tenor Enrico Caruso

made his last recording for Victor Records in Camden, NJ.

On this day in 1922, singer/actress Janis Paige

was born Donna Mae Tjaden in Tacoma. Besides her Broadway & film career, she has appeared over many years on TV, from the Bob Hope Christmas Show to All in the Family & Eight is Enough.. & most recently, Family Law.

On this day in 1924, CBS newsman Nelson Benton was born. He died Feb 13, 1988 at age 63.

On this day in 1925, guitarist Charlie Byrd

was born in Suffolk Virginia.  Hits include Meditation, & Desafinado [w/Stan Getz.]  He died Nov 30, 1999 at 74.

On this day in 1927, actor Jack Kelly

(Bart on Maverick, Sale of the Century) was born in Queens, NY.  He died Nov 7, 1992 at 65.

On this day in 1938, Tommy Dorsey

and his orchestra recorded the swing classic Boogie Woogie for Victor Records.

On this day in 1941, CBS radio debuted The Arkansas Traveler. The program was later renamed The Bob Burns Show.
Burns played a very strange musical instrument called the ‘bazooka’. The U.S. Army chose the name to identify its rocket launcher, because it looked so much like Burns’ bazooka, believe it or not...

On this day in 1949, the ABC-TV flagship station in Los Angeles KABC TV channel 7 ibegan broadcasting.

On this day in 1954, CKLW TV channel 9 in Windsor started programming.

On this day in 1959, actress Jennifer Tilly was born at Harbor City, California. Tilley grew up in BC after her mother Patricia, a Canadian teacher and ex stage actress, divorced her father and moved the family home to live with Tilly's grandmother on Texada Island, off Powell River.  Her mother remarried and divorced again, and again moved the family, this time to Victoria. Tilley and sister Meg were both bitten with the acting bug, and took off for Hollywood. Jennifer initially specialized in bimbo roles - she played mobster moll Gina Srignoli in TV's Hill Street Blues (1981) before moving into movies.
Lately she's been back on the small screen in Out of Practice, and Family Guy(voice.)

On this day in 1963, She Loves You, by The Beatles, was released in the U.S. It was the first record by The Beatles; but the second single by the ‘Fab Four’ to hit #1, after I Want to Hold Your Hand.    

Also in 1963, the science-fiction anthology series "The Outer Limits" premiered on ABC-TV.

On this day in 1964, Shindig premiered on ABC-TV. The show was considered a cut above its competitors at the time because the acts performed on stage, rather than just lip-synched. The first show featured Sam Cooke, The Everly Brothers & The Righteous Brothers.  

On this day in 1965, the Dean Martin Show debuted on NBC-TV. The weekly variety show continued on the network for nine years. The theme song? Everybody Loves Somebody.

On this day in 1968, US president Richard Nixon appeared on "Rowan & Martin's Laugh-in.  "Sock it to ME??!?"

On this day in 1968, the Andy Griffith Show

was seen for the final time on CBS-TV. Sheriff Andy Taylor (Griffith), Opie (Ron Howard), Aunt Bee (Frances Bavier), Barney Fife (Don Knotts) and the rest of the gang from Mayberry, NC, are still seen regularly on TV through syndication.

On this day In 1970, a poll in Britain's "Melody Maker" magazine found that Led Zeppelin was the most popular band. It was the first time in eight years that The Beatles had not topped the list.

Also this day in 1970, Jimi Hendrix made his final public appearance, at a club in London with Eric Burdon and War.

On this day in 1972, two TV shows of note made their debut; Bridgit Loves Bernie, the first series about a mixed marriage, and the long running Bob Newhart Show.

Also this day in 1972, the song "Black & White" by Three Dog Night topped the charts, but only for the week.

On this day in 1975, the Canadian newsmagazine "The Fifth Estate" launched on CBC TV.  Hosts have included Stevie Cameron, Adrienne Clarkson, Gillian Findlay, Hana Gartner, Bob Johnstone, Linden MacIntyre, Sheila MacVicar, Victor Malarek, Eric Malling, Bob McKeown, Ian Parker, Francine Pelletier, Peter Reilly, Warner Troyer and Trish Wood.

On this day in 1977, rocker Marc Bolan, leader of the British band T Rex, died in a car crash in London at 29. His girlfriend was at the wheel.

    
On this day in 1978, quizmaster Roy Ward Dickson died in Victoria at age 68.  Credited as creator of the Quiz Show format, his long-running career in Canadian radio began as Professor Dick and his Question Box in 1935 on CFRB Toronto.  He is best remembered for the Canada-wide syndicated quiz shows Fun Parade & Take a Chance.  

On this day in 1979, "Rapper's Delight" by the Sugarhill Gang was released. It's considered to be the first rap record; it sold 2 million copies.

On this day in 1981, KCPQ CH. 13 Tacoma started being carried on cable in the Vancouver area.  Channel 13 had many different programming formats over the previous 28 years.  It carried mostly TV reruns and old movies like channel 11 in Tacoma.  It would become the Seattle/Tacoma area's FOX Network station in 1986.

On this day in 1984, one of "hippest" TV series of the 80's "Miami Vice" starring
Don Johnson

made its debut.  Some called the show "MTV Cops."

On this day in 1985, KISS released the album "Asylum."

On this day in 1987, the first episode of "Wiseguy" aired on CBS.

On this day in 1989, the song "Don't Wanna Lose You" by Gloria Estefan

got to #1 on the music charts.

On this day in 1990, the 42nd Emmy Awards were handed out.  Big winners were LA Law, Murphy Brown, Peter Falk for Columbo, & Patricia Wettig for Thirty Something.

On this day in 1991, Canadian-born Jenny Jones debuted her TV talk show.

On this day in 1993, the first episode of "Frazier" aired on NBC.

On this day in 1994, character actor Jack Dodson, who played Howard on the Andy Griffith Show, died at 63.

On this day in 1996, Hockey Night in Canada broadcaster Bob Cole
      
was among a number of players and executives inducted into the International Hockey Hall of Fame.

On this day in 2002, actor James Gregory died at age 90.   Although most of his career in early (& live) TV was spent in serious roles, he is best remembered today for his 8 years as the laugh-provoking Inspector Luger on "Barney Miller."

On this day in 2007, The Sopranos won best drama series and 30 Rock was best comedy series at the 59th Primetime Emmy Awards in Los Angeles. NBC won seven awards, HBO and ABC both won six.


Today's Birthdays:

Tacoma-born actress Janis Paige (Santa Barbara, General Hospital, Trapper John MD) is 86.

Actress Lauren Bacall (Too Rich:The Doris Duke Story, Kennedy Centre Honors) is 84.

Blues singer B.B. King is 83.

Actor Peter Falk (Columbo) is 81.

Actress Anne Francis (Honey West) is 76.

Singer Betty Kelly of Martha and the Vandellas is 64.

Drummer Kenney Jones (Small Faces, the Faces, the Who) is 60.

Actress Susan Ruttan (L.A. Law) is 60.

Actor Ed Begley Jr. (St. Elsewhere, Six Feet Under) is 59.

Singer David Bellamy of the Bellamy Brothers is 58.

Bassist Ron Blair of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers is 56.

Jazz guitarist Earl Klugh is 55.

Actor Christopher Rich (Reba, Murphy Brown) is 55.

Singer Frank Reed of the Chi-Lites is 54.

Illusionist David Copperfield is 52.

Country singer Terry McBride is 50.

Victoria-raised actress Jennifer Tilly (Out of Practice, Hill St. Blues) is 50.

Singer Richard Marx is 45.

Comedian Molly Shannon (Saturday Night Live) is 44.

Singer Marc Anthony is 39.

Comedian Amy Poehler (Saturday Night Live) is 37.

Singer Musiq is 31.

Actress Alexis Bledel (Gilmore Girls) is 27.

Actress Madeline Zima (The Nanny) is 23.

Actress Kyla Pratt (Fat Albert, Proud Family) is 22.

Singer Teddy Geiger is 20.

Musician Nick Jonas of The Jonas Brothers is 16.


Chart Toppers - Sept. 16

1950
Mona Lisa - Nat King Cole
Goodnight Irene - The Weavers
Tzena, Tzena, Tzena - The Weavers
Goodnight Irene - Red Foley-Ernest Tubb

1959
The Three Bells - The Browns
Sleep Walk - Santo & Johnny
I’m Gonna Get Married - Lloyd Price
The Three Bells - The Browns

1968
People Got to Be Free - The Rascals
Harper Valley P.T.A. - Jeannie C. Riley
1, 2, 3, Red Light - 1910 Fruitgum Co.
Mama Tried - Merle Haggard

1977
Best of My Love - Emotions
(Your Love Has Lifted Me) Higher and Higher - Rita Coolidge
Handy Man - James Taylor
Don’t It Make My Brown Eyes Blue - Crystal Gayle

1986
Take My Breath Away - Berlin
Dancing on the Ceiling - Lionel Richie
Stuck With You - Huey Lewis & The News
Little Rock - Reba McEntire

1995
Gangsta’s Paradise - Coolio featuring L.V.
You Are Not Alone - Michael Jackson
Kiss from a Rose - Seal
I Like It, I Love It - Tim McGraw

2004
She Will Be Loved - Maroon 5
My Happy Ending - Avril Lavigne
Pieces of Me - Ashlee Simpson
Girls Lie Too - Terri Clark