Saturday September the 27th

ON THIS DAY
in 1920, actor William Conrad

was born in Louisville Kentucky.  He was very active in network radio drama, most notably as Marshall Dillon on Gunsmoke. On TV he starred in Cannon and Jake & the Fatman. He died Feb. 11, 1994 of heart failure, at age 73.

On this day in 1920, actress Jayne Meadows was born in China.
Widow of Steve Allen, she is best remembered as a panelist on I've Got a Secret.

On this day in 1922,
Montreal radio station CKAC

started broadcasting..

Also this day in 1922, actor Carl Ballantine

was born in Chicago.  His most memorable role was in the 1960's sitcom McHale's Navy.

On this day in 1925, actress Kathleen Maguire was born in New York City. She appeared in a number of soap operas, most notably One Life to Live. She died Aug 9, 1989 at age 63.

On this day in 1929, actress Sada Thompson was born in Des Moines Iowa. She won a Tony on Broadway in 1972, and 6 years later an Emmy for her portrayal of the mother on ABC's Family.
                                                                              
Not only did Family reclaim a place for hour-long (melo)dramatic series dealing with contemporary everyday topics during a time when action series ruled, but it also prepared the ground for the explosion of prime time soap operas such as Dallas, Dynasty, Knots Landing, and Falcon Crest that appeared during the late 1970s and 1980s.

On this day in 1933, actor Greg Morris was born in Cleveland Ohio.   A frequent guest star on TV, he is best remembered for the series Mission Impossible & Vegas. He died Aug 27, 1996 at age 62, from cancer.  

Also this day in 1933,  NBC radio
debuted "Waltz Time", featuring the orchestra of Abe Lymon.

The program was a staple on the network until 1948.

On this day in 1934, actor Wilford Brimley

was born in Salt Lake City. On TV he is best known for his Quaker Oats and Liberty Mutual commercials, and the family series Our House.  

On this day in 1938, clarinet virtuoso Artie Shaw
                                                                            
recorded the song that would become his theme song.  Nightmare was waxed on Victor's Bluebird Jazz label.

On this day in 1938, "Thanks for the Memory"
was heard for the first time on The Bob Hope Show --

on the NBC Red radio network.  It was the start of Hope's association with NBC that would span 6 decades.

On this day in 1942,  having just left CBS radio, Glenn Miller led his civilian band for the last time at the Central Theatre in Passaic, NJ. Miller had volunteered for wartime duty, service that would claim his life.  

On this day in 1943, "Pistol Packin' Mama" and "Jingle Bells" were recorded by Bing Crosby, the Vic Schoen Orchestra and the Andrews Sisters.

On this day in 1952,  the song "I Went to Your Wedding" by Patti Page topped the charts and stayed there for 10 weeks.

On this day in 1954, many sources say Steve Allen

began "Tonight" on NBC TV.  We posted that three days ago, so we're ignoring it today.

On this day in 1962, Detroit secretary Martha Reeves cut a side
with a group called The Vandellas and the result was "I'll Have to Let Him Go."  Soon thereafter, the hits of Martha and The Vandellas just kept on comin.

On this day in 1962, a concert by Bob Dylan was held at Carnegie Hall. The New York Times gave a glowing review in a story about Bob Dylan: A Distinctive Folk Song Stylist.

On this day in 1964, the Beach Boys appeared on the Ed Sullivan Show for the first time. They performed "I Get Around."

On this day in 1970, it was heard for the last time.  "Round and round and round it goes and where it stops, nobody knows." Ted Mack said, Good night from Geritol for the last time.

After 22 years on various TV networks, and 15 years on radio, the curtain closed on The Original Amateur Hour on CBS.

On this day in 1972,  Rory Storme lead singer of Rory Storme & the Hurricanes, committed suicide.

He reportedly couldn't accept that his band didn't enjoy the same success as other bands from the Liverpool scene.

On this day in 1973, Rolling Stone magazine reported that Carlos Santana had changed his name to Devadip now that he was a disciple of Sri Chinmoy.

On this day in 1976, TV station CBUFT Ch. 26 Vancouver signed on bringing CBC French language TV service from coast-to coast.

On this day in 1979, British entertainer Gracie Fields, whose recordings were heard on airwaves all over the Commonwealth, died at 81.

Also this day in 1979, musician Jimmy McCullough of Wings, died of a drug overdose.

On this day in 1979, Elton John collapsed onstage while performing "Better Off Dead" at the Universal Amphitheatre. After a ten-minute delay John returned and completed the concert. He was suffering from exhaustion brought on by the flu.

On this day in 1981, actor-director Robert Montgomery,
host of the NBC anthology Robert Montgomery Presents, died at 77.

On this day in 1982, John Palmer became news anchor of the Today Show.

On this day in 1984, NFL films narratorJohn Facenda died at age 72.

On this day in 1985, actor Lloyd Nolan

who played Dr Chegley on "Julia", died of lung cancer at age 83.

On this day in 1986, bassist Cliff Burton of Metallica was killed when the band's tour bus skidded off an icy road in Sweden. He was 24.

Also in 1986, Lionel Richie's "Dancing on the Ceiling" was the #1 U.S. LP.

In 1987, the variety show "Dolly," starring Dolly Parton, premiered on ABC. It was cancelled after only one season.

On this day in 1989, Elton John apologized to 35,000 people for poor sound quality at a concert in Toronto's SkyDome.

In 1998, Phil Hartman's voice was featured for the last time on "The Simpsons" as Troy McClure. Hartman was killed by his wife in a murder-suicide the previous May.

On this day in 2003, actor/dancer Donald O'Connor,

the versatile movie star who became a TV favorite in the 50's (Francis the Talking Mule) and 60's (Donald O'Connor Show), died at age 78.

On this day in 2004, record producer Phil Spector

was charged with murder in the shooting death of Lana Clarkson at his mansion in 2003.  The case was declared a mistrial in Sept. 2007 when the jury failed to agree on a verdict.

Also this day in 2004, NBC announced that Conan O'Brien will take over Jay Leno's position on the "Tonight" show in 2009.


Today's Birthdays:

Actress Jayne Meadows (I've Got a Secret) is 88.  

Actress Sada Thompson (Family) is 79.

Actress Kathleen Nolan (Real McCoys) is 75.

Actor Wilford Brimley (Our House) is 74.

Former child actor Claude Jarman Jr.(Centennial) is 74.

Producer Don Cornelius (Soul Train) is 72.

Winnipeg-born musician Randy Bachman (Guess Who, BTO) is 65.

Actress Liz Torres (Gilmore Place, American Family) is 61.

Actor A Martinez (LA Law, Santa Barbara) is 60.

TV Host Robb Weller is 59.

Singer Meat Loaf is 57.

Sax player Greg Ham of Men At Work is 55.

Singer-actor-director Shaun Cassidy (Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries) is 50.

Singer-guitarist Stephan Jenkins of Third Eye Blind is 44.

Actor Patrick Muldoon (Melrose Place) is 40.

Actress Amanda Detmer (What About  Brian) is 37.

Actress Gwyneth Paltrow (Inside the Actor's Studio) is 36.

Singer Brad Arnold of 3 Doors Down is 30.

Rapper Lil Wayne is 26.

Belleville Ont.-born singer Avril Lavigne is 24.


Chart Toppers - Sept. 27

1952
You Belong to Me - Jo Stafford
Wish You Were Here - Eddie Fisher
Half as Much - Rosemary Clooney
Jambalaya (On the Bayou) - Hank Williams

1961
Take Good Care of My Baby - Bobby Vee
The Mountain’s High - Dick & DeeDee
Crying - Roy Orbison
Walk on By - Leroy Van Dyke

1970
Ain’t No Mountain High Enough - Diana Ross
Julie, Do Ya Love Me - Bobby Sherman
Cracklin’ Rosie - Neil Diamond
There Must Be More to Love Than This - Jerry Lee Lewis

1979
My Sharona - The Knack
Rise - Herb Alpert
Sad Eyes - Robert John
Just Good Ol’ Boys - Moe Bandy & Joe Stampley

1988
Don’t Worry Be Happy - Bobby McFerrin
I’ll Always Love You - Taylor Dayne
Loves Bites - Def Leppard
Addicted - Dan Seals

1997
Honey - Mariah Carey
4 Seasons of Loneliness - Boyz II Men
How Do I Live - LeAnn Rimes
How Your Love Makes Me Feel - Diamond Rio

2006
SexyBack - Justin Timberlake
London Bridge - Fergie
Too Little Too Late - JoJo
Brand New Girlfriend - Steve Holy