Monday September the 29th


ON THIS DAY in 1907, cowboy actor & singer Gene Autry
                                                                    
was born in Tioga Texas.  As well as producing scores of movie oaters & several hit records, he had his own long-running programs on network radio & later TV, owned his own baseball team (California Angels) & Golden West Broadcasting (radio & TV stations.)
Autry is the only person to have 5 Hollywood Walk of Fame stars [film, radio, TV, stage, records]; he died Oct 2, 1998 at age 91.

On this day in 1920, "Radios for 10 bucks!" was what
Joseph Horne Company's

department store in Pittsburgh, PA was advertising in The Pittsburgh Sun.  One could get a ready-made radio in a box with headphones and tuning knob. This way, one could do away with the Quaker Oats round box and the cat's whisker wire, which was a pain in the butt to tune.

On this day in 1926, the National Broadcasting Company was incorporated by parent company RCA.  The network started programming Nov. 15 with 24 stations.  

On this day in 1930, "This is Lowell Thomas" was heard for the first time as a young Lowell Thomas made his debut on CBS Radio. He replaced Floyd Gibbons on the nightly, 15-minute newscast. Thomas, who started as a reporter for the New York Daily News (at age 19), was heard nightly on the radio for the next 46 years!

Also this day in 1930, Bing Crosby,

America's premier crooner for decades, married Dixie Lee.

On this day in 1936, radio was first used for a US presidential campaign.

On this day in 1939, actor Larry Linville
                                
was born in Ojai Calif.  He is best remembered for his role as the feckless Major Frank Burns on TV's MASH.  He died Apr 10, 2000 at age 59 following a cancer operation.

On this day in 1940, the radio quiz show "Double or Nothing" was first heard on the Mutual Radio Network. Each time contestants answered questions correctly, their winnings would double -- from $20 to $40 to the big payoff of $80. Best remembered MC Walter O'Keefe took over the show when it moved to CBS in 1947.  He & it continued until 1952.

On this day in 1942, actress/singer Madeline Kahn was born in Boston.  Best remembered for her supporting roles in Mel Brooks movies, she also was a hilarious & memorable guest on talk shows hosted by Merv Griffin, Dick Cavett & Johhny Carson.  She won a Broadway Tony for The Sisters Rosensweig [1993].  Madeline succumbed to ovarian cancer Dec 3, 1999 at age 57.

On this day in 1946, The Adventures of Sam Spade, starring Howard Duff, debuted on CBS radio and became a big hit in the Sunday night schedule. (It had aired in the summer of 1946 on ABC on Friday nights, and would move to NBC in 1949.)  
And now a word from our sponsor: "Use Wildroot Cream Oil, Charlie ... it keeps your hair in trim..."

On this day in 1947, jazz great Dizzy Gillespie

presented his first Carnegie Hall concert in New York, adding a sophisticated jazz touch to the famous concert emporium. His trademark: Two cheeks pushed out until it looked like his face would explode.

On this day in 1951, the University of California defeated the University of Pennsylvania 35-0 at Franklin Field in Philadelphia. It was the first network football game to be televised in color -- on CBS.

On this day in 1953, comedian Danny Thomas, who many now remember as Marlo's dad and Phil Donahue's father-in-law, debuted in the family comedy Make Room for Daddy on ABC-TV. Danny had negotiated a deal that would allow him to retain an ownership interest in his programs, an arrangement so successful that it allowed him to give something back to the world, in the form of his philanthropic efforts to build St. Jude's Children's Hospital in Memphis. "All I prayed for was a break," he once told an interviewer, "and I said I would do anything, anything, to pay back the prayer if it could be answered. All I needed was a sign of what to do and I would do it."  And so it was.

Also this day in 1953, the
"Buick-Berle Show"

starring the one & only "Uncle Miltie" debuted on NBC-TV.

On this day in 1956, "Oh! Susanna" starring Gale Storm debuted on CBS-TV.
                                        

On this day in 1957,  Buddy Holly & the Crickets released their 2nd single "Oh Boy!" backed with "Not Fade Away."

On this day in 1958, "It's All in the Game" by Tommy Edwards topped the charts and stayed there for 6 weeks.

On this day in 1958, the prestigious anthology drama "Studio One," concluded its 10-year run on CBS-TV.   The program had begun on radio in the 40's.

Also this day in 1958, "Summertime Blues" by Eddie Cochran peaked on the pop charts at #8.

On this day in 1959,  "The Many Loves Of Dobie Gillis" starring Dwayne Hickman debuted on CBS-TV, while "Philip Marlowe" made its first appearance on ABC-TV.

On this day in 1960, "My Three Sons

was welcomed into U.S. homes for the first time on ABC-TV. Fred MacMurray, who was a movie actor, had a difficult time making the adjustment to the small screen. But adjust he did, and My Three Sons endured so well that CBS bought the successful hit for somewhere between seven and ten million dollars in 1965.

On this day in 1962, two pop instrumentals peaked on the charts, "Alley Cat" by Bent Fabric & His Piano at #7, and "Green Onions" by Booker T & MG's at #3.

On this day in 1963, the Rolling Stones began their first tour in England, opening for Bo Diddley & the Everly Bros.

Also this day in 1963, two notable programs debuted on CBS-TV, "The Judy Garland Show,"  and "My Favorite Martian," starring Ray Walston.

On this day in 1969, "Love American Style," made its first appearance on ABC-TV.

On this day in 1970, character actor Edward Everett Horton died at 84 due to cancer.  He had an active 50 year career from the silent era of movies to running roles in TV'sF Troop and Dennis the Menace series, as well as  narrating the Bullwinkle Show.  

On this day in 1971, "McMillan & Wife"

starring Rock Hudson & Susan St. James debuted on NBC-TV.

On this day in 1975, Calgary's CBR-FM signed on at 102.1 MHz.

On this day in 1976, Jerry Lee Lewis accidentally shot his bass player, Norman "Butch" Owens, while trying to shoot at a soda bottle with a .357 Magnum. Lewis was charged with shooting a firearm within city limits.

Also in 1976, the sitcom "Alice" premiered on CBS-TV.

On this day in 1977, the most-watched prize fight in history was staged, as Muhammad Ali beat Ernie Shavers (in a decision) to claim the heavyweight championship boxing crown. The bout was officiated by the first woman official of a heavyweight title boxing match. Ali "floated like a butterfly ... stung like a bee" before an estimated 70 million viewers --on NBC-TV.

On this day in 1982, the premiere broadcast of the classic, long-running comedy "Cheers"
                                                                                
was seen on NBC-TV.

On this day in 1984, the song "Let's Go Crazy" by Prince & the Revolution topped the charts and stayed there for 2 weeks.

On this day in 1985, three TV firsts of note, as "Alfred Hitchcock Presents" returned to NBC-TV, along with the premiere of "Amazing Stories," by Steven Spielberg, while "MacGyver," starring Richard Dean Anderson, was seen for the first time on ABC-TV.

On this day in 1986, the Southern Belle comedy "Designing Women," debuted on CBS.

On this day in 1987, "Didn't We Almost Have It All," by Whitney Houston hit #1.

Also in 1987, the nighttime relationship drama "thirtysomething,"

made its debut on ABC-TV.

On this day in 1993, the sitcom "Grace Under Fire," starring Brett Butler made its first appearance on ABC-TV.

Also in 1993, top honours at the 27th Country Music Assn Awards went to Vince Gill.

On this day in 2002, the first pilot episode of "American Chopper" aired on Discovery Channel.  A second pilot was aired four months later.  

On this day in 2004, New York City radio personality,
Scott Muni,

died at age 78.


Today's Birthdays:

Actress Lizabeth Scott (Pantomime Quiz) is 86.

Actor Steve Forrest (Dallas, SWAT) is 84.

Actor Eddie Barth (Civil Wars, Mike Hammer) is 77.

Singer Jerry Lee Lewis is 73.

Actor Ian McShane (Deadwood) is 66.

Jazz musician Jean-Luc Ponty is 66.

Television-film composer Mike Post is 64.

Actress Patricia Hodge (Rumpole of the Bailey) is 62.

TV personality Bryant Gumbel is 60.

Guitarist Mike Pinera of Iron Butterfly is 60.

Singer-guitarist Mark Farner of Grand Funk Railroad is 60.  

Country singer Alvin Crow is 58.

Actor Drake Hogestyn (Days of our Lives) is 55.

Singer Suzzy Roche (The Roches) is 52.

Comedian Andrew "Dice" Clay is 51.

Rock singer John Payne (Asia) is 50.

Actor Roger Bart (Desperate Housewives) is 46.

Singer-musician Les Claypool is 45.

Actress Jill Whelan (Divorce Court, Love Boat) is 42.

Bassist Brad Smith of Blind Melon is 40.

Rhythm-and-blues singer Devante Swing (Jodeci) is 39.

Actress Natasha Gregson Wagner (The 4400, Pasadena) is 38.

Country singer Brad Cotter (Nashville Star) is 38.

Vancouver-born actress Rachel Cronin (Ed) is 37.

Country musician Danick Dupelle (Emerson Drive) is 35.

Country singer Katie McNeill (3 of Hearts) is 26.

Guitarist Josh Farro of Paramore is 21.



Chart Toppers - Sept. 29

1945
If I Loved You - Perry Como
On the Atchison, Topeka and the Santa Fe - Johnny Mercer
Till the End of Time - Perry Como
You Two Timed Me One Time Too Often - Tex Ritter

1954
Sh-Boom - The Crew Cuts
Hey There - Rosemary Clooney
Shake, Rattle and Roll - Bill Haley & His Comets
I Don’t Hurt Anymore - Hank Snow

1963
Blue Velvet - Bobby Vinton
Sally, Go ’Round the Roses - The Jaynetts
Be My Baby - The Ronettes
Abilene - George Hamilton IV

1972
Baby Don’t Get Hooked on Me - Mac Davis
Saturday in the Park - Chicago
Back Stabbers - O’Jays
I Can’t Stop Loving You - Conway Twitty

1981
Endless Love - Diana Ross & Lionel Richie
Queen of Hearts - Juice Newton
Stop Draggin’ My Heart Around - Stevie Nicks with Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers
Tight Fittin’ Jeans - Conway Twitty

1990
(Can’t Live Without Your) Love and Affection - Nelson
Close to You - Maxi Priest
Praying for Time - George Michael
Jukebox in My Mind - Alabama

1999
Bailamos - Enrique Iglesias
Unpretty - TLC
She’s All I Ever Had - Ricky Martin
Something Like That - Tim McGraw