Monday September the 22nd

ON THIS DAY in 1899
six years before he developed the Audion tube, radio pioneer Lee DeForest

sought employment with a better known wireless figure, Guglielmo Marconi.

On this day in 1902, actor/director/producer John Houseman was born in Bucharest Romania.
                                                                                        
He & Orson Welles co-founded the Mercury Players in the 1930's.  Houseman won an Oscar for his work as an actor in The Paper Chase, a role he continued in the TV series of that name.
He also played a grandfather on Silver Spoons.  He died Oct 31, 1988 of spinal cancer at 86.

On this day in 1909, western actor Allan "Rocky" Lane was born Harry Albershart in small town Indiana.  After playing in scores of western movies Lane starred as Red Ryder in the 1950's TV series of that name.  He was the voice of Mr. Ed in that TV series in the 60's. He died Oct 27, 1973 at 64.

On this day in 1914,
actress Martha Scott

was born in Jamesport Mo.  Her film debut in Our Town in 1940 saw her receiving an Academy Award nomination Best Actress. Also had roles in The Howards of Virginia, Cheers for Miss Bishop, The Desperate Hours, The Ten Commandments, Ben-Hur, Airport 1975 and The Turning Point. On TV she played mothers on Bob Newhart, Bionic Woman & Dallas.   She died May 28 2003 at 88.

On this day in 1917,
CBS newsman Richard C. Hottelet was born.  

He covered World War II for UPI & CBS Radio, having been recruited by Edward R. Murrow, and broadcast the first eyewitness account of the Normandy Invasion June 6, 1944.  On this his 89th birthday he is still active, lecturing periodically at George Washington University.

On this day in 1927, NBC pioneer sportscaster Graham McNamee broadcast the famous "Long count" championship fight in which Jack Dempsey lost the heavyweight boxing title to Gene Tunney.

On this day in 1930, singer Joni James  was born Joan Carmello Babbo in Chicago.  Her hits in the 1950's include How Important Can It Be?, Your Cheatin' Heart, Have You Heard, & Why Don’t You Believe Me. She has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

On this day in 1943, singer Kate Smith   finished her War Bond radio appeal. For 13 continuous hours Smith had stayed on the air, collecting a whopping $39 million dollars in bond pledges.

On this day in 1949, actress Meryl Streep was born in Summit New Jersey. Besides her many distinguished big-screen performances, Streep played multiple roles in the TV miniseries, Angels in America.  

On this day in 1955, BBC-TV finally had some competition, as commercial television was beamed to homes in Great Britain for the first time. The rules said that only six minutes of ads were allowed each hour and there was no Sunday morning TV permitted.

On this day in 1957, James Garner got his big break, playing "Maverick" for the first time on ABC-TV.   It was the story of Bret Maverick, a card shark in the Old West.

Also this day in 1957, the CBS Radio Workshop was silenced after 18 months of what the critics said was ingenious radio programming.

On this day in 1962, there was a hootenanny of a good time in, of all places, New York's famed Carnegie Hall. The cast included newcomer Bob Dylan making his first appearance at Carnegie Hall.

On this day in 1964, Robert Vaughn

starred as Napoleon Solo when The Man From U.N.C.L.E. debuted on NBC-TV.  Solo's trusty side-kick in this James Bond spoof was Illya Kuryakin, played by David McCallum. U.N.C.L.E. stood for United Network Command for Law and Enforcement.

On this day In 1965, singer Roger Daltry of The Who nearly got thrown out of the band for punching out drummer Keith Moon on the opening date of their Scandinavian tour in Copenhagen.

On this day in 1969, radio station CKQR Castlegar signed on the air on AM 1230.

On this day in 1979, ABC began airing the first season of "Hart to Hart."

On this day in 1980, John Lennon signed with Geffen Records. The Lennon LP, Double Fantasy, was released in November, less than a month before John was assassinated.

On this day in 1982. Vancouver actor Michael J. Fox debuted in the NBC comedy, Family Ties.


On this day In 1983, the Everly Brothers
                                                        
performed together for the first time since their on-stage breakup at "Knott's Berry Farm" in LA ten years earlier.  Phil had smashed his guitar on the stage and walked off, leaving Don alone in front of the audience.

On this day in 1985, the poor of America's Heartland ... the financially troubled farmers of Middle America ... got help from their friends in the music biz. Singing stars Willie Nelson, Roy Orbison, Joni Mitchell, Neil Young and John Cougar Mellencamp held a benefit concert to raise funds. The stars came out and so did the money. The Farm Aid concert raised ten million dollars.

Also this day in 1985, the big winners as the 37th Emmy Awards were presented, included  Cagney & Lacey, The Cosby Show & Tyne Daly.

On this day in 1987, actor Dan Rowan,
  
co-host of Rowan & Martin's Laugh-in, died at age 65.

Also in 1987, ABC aired the first episode of "Full House."

On this day in 1989,
one of the mosy prodigious songwriters of all time
Irving Berlin

Died at age 101.  He wrote more than 3,000 songs in his lengthy lifetime.  

Also in 1989, NBC began airing the series "Baywatch" with Ladysmith's Pamela Anderson.
                                                                                          
On this day in 1991, Canadian rocker Bryan Adams' hit '(Everything I Do) I Do It For You' remained atop the UK pop singles chart for the 12th straight week.

On this day in 1994, Ottawa actor Matthew Perry
                                                    
appeared in the premiere of the sitcom "Friends" on NBC-TV.

Also this day om 1994, noted jazz critic & author Leonard Feather died at 80.

On this day in 1995, the Turner Broadcasting System agreed to merge with the
Time Warner

media conglomerate for $7.5 billion.

On this day in 1997, Elton John released his Diana tribute "Candle in the Wind 1997."

On this day in 1997, nationally known US sportscaster Marv Albert pleaded not guilty to sexual assault charges.

On this day in 1999,
actor George C. Scott

Died at age 71.  Besides his many successes on the big screen Scott did live TV in the 1950's, and an acclaimed TV series East Side West Side in the 60's.

On this day in 2003, Gordon Jump died at 71.   Jump played befuddled Station Manager Arthur Carlson in the classic TV sitcom, "WKRP in Cincinnati".

On this day in 2004, CBS-owned stations were fined a total of $550,000 by the FCC for showing Janet Jackson's exposed right breast during the Super Bowl halftime show.

Also in 2004, the first episode of "CSI: New York" was aired.

Still in 2004, CBS News announced that a panel would investigate the "60 Minutes" story that used forged documents to question U.S. President George W. Bush's National Guard Service. While the memos were dismissed as forged or fake by document experts, the facts alleged have never been disproved.

On this day in 2006, actor Edward Albert died of lung cancer at age 55.  

He was the only son of Green Acres star Eddie Albert and Mexican actress and dancer Margo.  Edward Albert enjoyed roles in scores of films, and TV shows such as Falcon Crest, Port Charles, The Yellow Rose, Invasion America, Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman, and mini-series Black Beauty and The Last Convertible.  

Today's Birthdays:

Actor Paul Le Mat (Lonesome Dove: The Series) is 62.

Singer David Coverdale (Whitesnake, Deep Purple) is 57.

Actress Shari Belafonte (Hotel) is 54.

Singer Debby Boone is 52.

Country singer June Forester of The Forester Sisters is 52.

Singer Nick Cave is 51.

Singer Johnette Napolitano of Concrete Blonde is 51.

Singer Joan Jett is 50.

Opera singer Andrea Bocelli is 50.

Actress Catherine Oxenberg (Dynasty, Watch Over Me) is 47.

Actor Scott Baio (Happy Days, Charles in Charge, Diagnosis Murder) is 47.

Actor Rob Stone (Mr. Belvedere) is 46.

Bassist-guitarist Dave Hernandez of The Shins is 38.

Singer Big Rube of Society of Soul is 37.


Chart Toppers - Sept.22

1947
Peg o’ My Heart - The Harmonicats
That’s My Desire - The Sammy Kaye Orchestra (vocal: Don Cornell)
I Wonder Who’s Kissing Her Now - Perry Como
Smoke! Smoke! Smoke! (That Cigarette) - Tex Williams

1956
Canadian Sunset - Hugo Winterhalter & Eddie Heywood
Whatever Will Be Will Be (Que Sera Sera) - Doris Day
Be-Bop-a-Lula - Gene Vincent & His Blue Caps
Don’t Be Cruel /Hound Dog - Elvis Presley

1965
Help! - The Beatles
Eve of Destruction - Barry McGuire
Hang on Sloopy - The McCoys
Is It Really Over? - Jim Reeves

1974
Can’t Get Enough of Your Love, Babe - Barry White
Rock Me Gently - Andy Kim
I Honestly Love You - Olivia Newton-John
I Wouldn’t Want to Live If You Didn’t Love Me - Don Williams

1983
Maniac - Michael Sembello
Tell Her About It - Billy Joel
The Safety Dance - Men Without Hats
I’m Only in It for the Love - John Conlee

1992
End of the Road - Boyz II Men
Baby-Baby-Baby - TLC
Humpin’ Around - Bobby Brown
Love’s Got a Hold on You - Alan Jackson

2001
I’m Real - Jennifer Lopez
Hit ’Em Up Style (Oops!) - Blu Cantrell
U Remind Me - Usher
What I Really Meant to Say - Cyndi Thomson