Wednesday September the 24th  

ON THIS DAY in 1911
singer & black western B movie star Herb Jeffries was born in Detroit Mich.  As he celebrates his 97th birthday today, he is best remembered for his recordings with Duke Ellington in the 1940's.

On this day in 1912, actor Don Porter was born in Miami Oklahoma. He played dozens of TV character roles on series from Private Secretary to Gidget to Barnaby Jones. He died Feb 11, 1997 at age 84.


On this day in 1915, actor Larry Gates was born in St Paul Minn. He had many roles in the early days of live TV (Studio One, etc) and on dozens of filmed projects, but is best remembered as Harlan Billy "H.B".Lewis on the Guiding Light soap from 1983-96. He died Dec 12, 1996 at age 81.

On this day in 1918, actress Audra Lindley was born in Los Angeles.  She is best remembered as landlady Helen Roper on the sitcom Three's Company, and 5 years as 'Aunt Liz' in the soap Another World.  
                                                                               
Lindley unexpectedly succumbed to leukemia on October 16, 1997 at the age of 79, with a script for her new role on the TV series Sybil beside her.

On this day in 1919, comedian Dayton Allen (Steve Allen Show) was born in New York City. "Why not?" was his catch phrase.  He died November 11 2004 at age 85.

On this day in 1921, sports commentator Jim McKay was born in Philadelphia.  He is fondly remembered as host of ABC's Wide World of Sports from 1961-1998, and for anchoring the hostage-taking news coverage from the 1982 Munich Olympics.  He died of natural causes June 7 2008 at age 86.  

On this day in 1931, singer & actor Anthony Newley was born in England.   His big hit in North America was What Kind of Fool Am I?  He died April 14, 1999 from renal cancer at age 67.

On this day in 1933 the first dramatic presentation for radio, "Roses and Drums", was heard on WABC in New York City.

On this day in 1936, Muppeteer Jim Henson

was born in Greenville Mississippi. The residents of Sesame Street, including  Kermit, Big Bird, Bert & Ernie, Miss Piggy, and Oscar the Grouch are his creation.  He died May 16, 1990 at the age of 53 from pneumonia.  

On this day in 1941, Linda (Eastman) McCartney was born in New York City.  After her marriage to Paul McCartney in 1969 he taught her to play keyboards, and made her part of his new band Wings.  Breast cancer claimed her life in 1998 at age 56.
                                                                                    

On this day in 1942, Glenn Miller ended his Moonlight Serenade series on CBS radio. It was time for Miller to go to war. The show had aired three times a week for Chesterfield Cigarettes.

On this day in 1948 "Axis Sally" (real name Mildred Gillars) pleaded not guilty to charges of treason. She was convicted and wound up serving 12 years behind bars for being a Nazi wartime radio propagandist.  

Also this day in 1948, comedian Phil Hartman was born in Brantford Ontario.
He starred on Saturday Night Live, NewsRadio, & The Pee-wee Herman Show.. before being shot to death by his mentally disturbed wife Brynn May 28, 1998.

On this day in 1954,   Steve Allen's Tonight Show premiered on NBC.  He was followed in the host's chair by Jack Paar, and in 1962, Johnny Carson.

On this day in 1955, millions of North Americans tuned in to watch Judy Garland make her TV debut on the Ford Star Jubilee. The CBS show received the highest television ratings to that time.

On this day in 1958, "The Donna Reed Show"
made its debut on ABC.

On this day in 1961, Bullwinkle J. Moose and his friend, Rocket J. (Rocky) Squirrel, were seen in Sunday night prime time for the first time on NBC-TV. Originally Bullwinkle and Rocky appeared on ABC in a weekday afternoon series, Rocky and His Friends.

on this day in 1962, the CTV National News debuted in a 15 minute format at 10:30 pm.  When that failed to catch on, it was moved a year later to 11:00 p.m. and was extended to 20 minutes.

On this day in 1964, "The Munsters" starring Vancouver's Yvonne Decarlo, made its debut.  

On this day in 1968, `Hey Jude'' by the Beatles hit #1 on the Billboard charts. The song is the biggest for the best-selling rock group of all time. It stays at  #1 for nine weeks.

Also in 1968, the Vogues received a gold record for"Turn Around Look at Me" on the Reprise label.

Still on this day in 1968, the longest-running newsmagazine on television began on CBS-TV. 60 Minutes started on this, a Tuesday, night in 1968, debuting with just two correspondents: Mike Wallace and Harry Reasoner.

Again in 1968, "The Mod Squad" premiered on ABC-TV.

On this day in 1970, the first episode of "The Odd Couple" aired on ABC.

On this day in 1977, the "Love Boat" set sail -- on ABC-TV.
The voice of Ernie Anderson, will always be remembered for his intros announcing, The Luuuuuve Boat.

On this day in 1978, one of the early singing stars of radio, Ruth Etting, who also at one time sang & danced in the Ziegfeld Follies, died at 80.

On this day in 1984, actor Neil Hamilton, Police Commander Gordon
on the Batman TV show, died of asthma at age 85.

Also this day in 1984, Paul McCartney released "No More Lonely Nights."

On this day in 1985, the first episode of "Growing Pains" aired on ABC.

On this day in 1987, the series "A Different World" debuted on NBC.

On this day in 1988, "Don't Worry, Be Happy," by Bobby McFerrin, became the first a cappella song to reach No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. McFerrin's bubbly song got former president George Bush in trouble when the Republican hopeful used the song without permission as an election campaign song.

Also in 1988,  Guns N' Roses "Appetite for Destruction" reached #1 on the Billboard album chart.

On this day in 1993, former Guns N' Roses drummer Steven Adler reached a $2.5 million settlement in his lawsuit against the group and managers. Adler was thrown out of the band because he couldn't kick his heroin habit.

Also in 1993, ABC debuted the series "Boy Meets World."

In 1995, one person piloting a personal watercraft was killed after colliding with a boat with singer Gloria Estefan and her husband on board. The Estefans weren't hurt and were not found to be at fault.

On this day in 1996, the 200th episode of "Roseanne" aired on ABC.

On this day in 1997, ABC began airing the series "Dharma and Greg."

On this day in 2003, actor Anthony Hopkins got his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. On TV he has played Othello and George Washington, and appeared in the mini-series Great Expectations and Hollywood Wives.


Today's birthdays:

Singer/actor Herb Jeffries is 97.

Actress Sheila MacRae (Honeymooners, General Hospital) is 84.

Seattle broadcast legend Pat O'Day is 74.

Singer Gerry Marsden of Gerry and the Pacemakers is 66.

Actor Gordon Clapp (NYPD Blue) is 60.

Actor Kevin Sorbo (Andromeda, Hercules: Legendary Journeys) is 50.

Singer Cedric Dent of Take 6 is 46.

Winnipeg-born actress-writer Nia Vardalos (My Big Fat Greek Life) is 46.

Actress Megan Ward (General Hospital, Boomtown, Class of 96) is 39.

Country drummer Marty Mitchell of Ricochet is 39.

Singer-musician Marty Cintron (No Mercy) is 37.

Contemporary Christian musician Juan DeVevo (Casting Crowns) is 33.

Actor Kyle Sullivan (Malcolm in the Middle) is 20.


Chart Toppers - Sept. 24

1949
You’re Breaking My Heart - Vic Damone
Let’s Take an Old Fashioned Walk - Perry Como
Someday - Vaughn Monroe
Slipping Around - Ernest Tubb

1958
Nel Blu Dipinto Di Blu (Volare) - Domenico Modugno
It’s All in the Game - Tommy Edwards
Rock-in Robin - Bobby Day
Bird Dog - The Everly Brothers

1967
The Letter - The Box Tops
Never My Love - The Association
Apples, Peaches, Pumpkin Pie - Jay & The Techniques
My Elusive Dreams - David Houston & Tammy Wynette

1976
Play that Funky Music - Wild Cherry
I’d Really Love to See You Tonight - England Dan & John Ford Coley
A Fifth of Beethoven - Walter Murphy & The Big Apple Band
I Don’t Want to Have to Marry You - Jim Ed Brown/Helen Cornelius

1985
Money for Nothing - Dire Straits
Cherish - Kool & The Gang
Don’t Lose My Number - Phil Collins
I Fell in Love Again Last Night - The Forester Sisters

1994
I’ll Make Love to You - Boyz II Men
Endless Love - Luther Vandross & Mariah Carey
When Can I See You - Babyface
Third Rock from the Sun - Joe Diffie

2003
Shake Ya Tailfeather - Nelly, P. Diddy & Murphy Lee
Can’t Hold Us Down - Christina Aguilera featuring Lil’ Kim
Senorita - Justin Timberlake
It’s Five O’Clock Somewhere - Alan Jackson (with Jimmy Buffett)