Sunday October the 5th


ON THIS DAY in 1904, actor John Hoyt was born in Bronxville NY.
                                        
The veteran of film, television, and theater portrayed Dr. Philip Boyce in Star Trek's first pilot, "The Cage". Footage of his role as Boyce was later incorporated into the two-part episode "The Menagerie, Part I" and "The Menagerie, Part II".  He capped a 40 year career in episodic TV playing Grandpa on "Gimme A Break" ('82-'87.)  He died Sept. 15 1991 from lung cancer, at age 86.

On this day in 1912, Arthur Godfrey's longtime radio & TV announcer and the original voice of "Tony the Tiger," Tony Marvin was born in Brooklyn. He died Oct 10, 1998 at age 86.

On this day in 1918, radio & TV host Allen Ludden was born in Mineral Point, Wisc.
                                  
The affable host of Password & G.E. College Bowl was married to TV actress Betty White; he died June 9, 1981 from cancer at age 62.

On this day in 1925, radio station WSM in Nashville  began transmissions. One of its first regular programs was a Saturday night feature called the "WSM Barn Dance.'' Two years later, the program was retitled the "Grand Ole Opry.''

The Opry became the world's premiere showcase for country music, and is the longest running radio show in history, having been on the air for more than 80 years.

On this day in 1930, the New York Philharmonic Orchestra was first heard on the air over CBS from Carnegie Hall. The Sunday afternoon concerts set CBS back $15,000. Not per week, but for the entire season!
Then, right after the concert, Father Coughlin, The Fighting Priest
                                      
was heard for the first time on the radio web.  The Canadian-born Catholic priest lit up the airwaves with dynamic, sometimes controversial oratory every Sunday into the early forties.

On this day in 1934, the first major network radio show to originate from Hollywood was heard.  "Hollywood Hotel" aired on CBS and was heavily promoted as being the first to broadcast from the West Coast of the U.S.

On this day in 1936, coaxial cable strung between New York City and Philadelphia made it possible for the first intercity telecast.

On this day in 1945, the public affairs program "Meet the Press" debuted on Mutual radio.
It is still on the air today, 61 years later, Sundays on NBC-TV.

On this day in 1947, the first U.S. president to make use of television, Harry Truman addressed the nation from the White House. 'Give 'Em Hell Harry' requested that the American people not eat meat on Tuesdays, nor poultry on Thursdays, to save on feed grains to help the starving in Europe.

Also this day in 1947, a small Northern California company got a major boost from Bing Crosby.
                                                                                                            
Bing's first radio show recorded on tape was broadcast on ABC radio. "Der Bingle" was so popular, that his taped show promoted wide distribution of the new magnetic tape recorders that would become broadcast classics -- the venerable Ampex 200.
                                                                                                          

On this day in 1950, the game show  "You Bet Your Life" premiered on NBC-TV, with Groucho Marx as the wise-cracking host. It had already been running for three years on radio.

On this day in 1951. "The Honeymooners"

was introduced during Jackie Gleason's first variety series, "Cavalcade of Stars" on the Dumont Network.  

On this day in 1952, following an 11-year run, Inner Sanctum, the legendary mystery series, was heard for the final time on ABC Radio. We'll never know if they oiled that squeaky door...

On this day in 1956, one-time Vancouver movie critic
Clyde Gilmour

began his famous "Gilmour's Albums" on CBC Radio. The weekly show would run on the network for more than 40 years. Gilmour played an incredible range of music -- classical, folk, jazz and even such offbeat things as recordings of train whistles and rhino mating calls. Clyde Gilmour died in 1997.

On this day in 1959,  "Mack the Knife" by Bobby Darin hit number one on the pop charts. And Paul Anka's 'Put Your Head On My Shoulder' peaked at #2.

On this day in 1961, the No. 1 Billboard Pop Hit was "Hit the Road Jack,'' by Ray Charles. The song was Charles' second No. 1 hit.

On this day in 1963, "Casper the Friendly Ghost" made its debut on ABC TV.

On this day in 1965, arranger & orchestra leader Henry Mancini
                                                              
added to his many honors with a gold record for the soundtrack LP from the movie, The Pink Panther.


On this day in 1969, the off-the-wall comedy ''Monty Python's Flying Circus'' made its debut on BBC Television.

Also this day in 1969, The Who performed on "The Ed Sullivan Show."

On this day in 1970, NET (National Education Television) in the US became the Public Broadcast System (PBS) TV network.

On this day in 1972, the consumer-friendly "Market Place" debuted on CBC TV.  The show investigates product claims, frauds, misleading advertising and consumer issues.

On this day in 1973, Toronto rocker Neil Young joined Graham Nash and David Crosby, for a 50 minute set with Stephen Stills and Manassas at San Francisco's Winterland ballroom. It was the first performance of Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young in two years.

On this day in 1974, the Beach Boys "Endless Summer"
                                      
"Endless Summer" was the #1 album in the U.S. The lovely Olivia Newton-John had the number-one single. "I Honestly Love You" was #1 for two weeks. The album that single was taken from, "If You Love Me, Let Me Know", hit number one the following week after the one-week run by the Beach Boys.

On this day in 1975, spearheaded by Roger Abbott and Don Ferguson, the Royal Canadian Air Farce began its 18 year run on CBC Radio.  It would continue until 2008 on CBC TV.

Also in 1975, the hit record "Cats in the Cradle" was released by Harry Chapin.

On this day in 1976, actress Barbara Nichols died at 46 of a liver ailment. For twenty years on TV she specialized in playing the archetypal brassy, bosomy, Brooklynesque bimbo with the highly distinctive scratchy voice, from The Bob Cummings Show & Jack Benny to Disneyland.

On this day in 1981, actress Gloria Grahame succumbed to cancer at 55.
After pursuing a big screen career in the 40's and 50's, Grahame moved into TV for the next two decades, including the role of Sue in the memorable 1976 mini-series, "Rich Man, Poor Man."

Also this day in 1981, singer/comedian Jud Strunk of Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In, and the hit song "Daisy a Day", died at 45 in a small plane crash.  

On this day in 1985, Finkleman's 45s with Danny Finkleman began a 20-year run Saturday nights on the CBC AM network.

On this day in 1986, Grateful Dead guitarist Jerry Garcia performed at a soldout concert in San Francisco in his first appearance since he fell seriously ill with diabetes three months earlier.

Also in 1986, guitarist Stevie Ray Vaughan cancelled a European tour after being admitted to a clinic in London for treatment of exhaustion.

On this day in 1988, a debate was held between the candidates for vice president of the U.S.  In a memorable exchange, Democrat Lloyd Bentsen
                                          
told Republican Dan Quayle, "You're no Jack Kennedy."
YouTube presents this part of the debate
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O-7gpgXNWYI

On this day in 1989, former evangelist, Jim Bakker,

was convicted by a jury in Norfolk, VA of bilking 116,000 P.T.L. (Praise the Lord) TV show followers out of $158 million. Bakker was released from prison in 1994 after serving five years of his 45-year sentence. During his jail stay, Bakker's wife and former co-host Tammy Faye divorced him.

On this day in 1992, Eddie Kendricks, the lead singer of the R&B group the {b]Temptations[/b] during the 1960s, died of lung cancer. Kendricks left the group in 1971 after such hits as the No. 1 songs "My Girl'' and "I Can't Get Next to You.''

On this day in 1995, bandleader Dick Jurgens,

composer of "Elmer's Tune" and "Careless," died at age 85. His was a popular, sweet dance band, in the manner of Freddy Martin.  

On this day in 1997, Arthur Tracy, radio's "Street Singer" who delighted millions of listeners in the 1930s with his sweet, flexible tenor, died at the age of 98.

On this day in 1999, actor Kevin Spacey (Wiseguy) received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

On this day in 2001, Nanaimo's CHLY-FM officially signed on at 101.1 MHz as the campus radio station of Malaspina College. The station had been streaming live on the Internet since April 1st.

On this day in  2003,  "Baby Boy" by Beyonce Knowles featuring Sean Paul began a 9-week run at #1 on the Billboard Top 100.

On this day in 2004, comedian Rodney Dangerfield died at 81 following heart surgery.



Today's birthdays:

Actress Glynis Johns (Coming of Age, Batman) is 85.

Comedian Bill Dana (Zorro & Son, New Steve Allen Show) is 84.

Actress Diane Cilento (Rogues Gallery, Tycoon) is 75.

Rhythm-and-blues singer Arlene Smith (The Chantels) is 67.

Singer Richard Street (The Temptations) is 66.

Singer-musician Steve Miller is 65.

Rock singer Brian Johnson (AC/DC) is 61.

Actor Jeff Conaway (Taxi, Babylon 5) is 58.

Actress Karen Allen (Road Home, East of Eden) is 57.  

Rock musician David Bryson (Counting Crows) is 54.

Rock singer and famine-relief organizer Bob Geldof is 54.

Comedian Bernie Mac (Bernie Mac Show) is 51.

Actor Daniel Baldwin (Homicide) is 48.

Rock singer-musician Dave Dederer (Presidents of the United States of America) is 44.

Actor Guy Pearce (Home & Away) is 41.

Singer-actress Heather Headley is 34.

Actress Parminder Nagra (ER) is 33.

Actor Scott Weinger (Full House) is 33.  

Rock musician Brian Mashburn (Save Ferris) is 33.

Rock musician James Valentine (Maroon 5) is 30.

Rock musician Paul Thomas (Good Charlotte) is 28.

TV personality Nicky Hilton (Simple Life) is 25.

Rhythm-and-blues singer Brooke Valentine is 23.


Chart Toppers - Oct. 5

1951
Because of You - Tony Bennett
I Get Ideas - Tony Martin
Cold, Cold Heart - Tony Bennett
Always Late (With Your Kisses) - Lefty Frizzell

1960
My Heart Has a Mind of It’s Own - Connie Francis
Chain Gang - Sam Cooke
Mr. Custer - Larry Verne
Alabam - Cowboy Copas

1969
Sugar, Sugar - The Archies
Jean  - Oliver
Little Woman - Bobby Sherman
Since I Met You, Baby - Sonny James

1978
Kiss You All Over - Exile
Hopelessly Devoted to You - Olivia Newton-John
Summer Nights - John Travolta & Olivia Newton-John & Cast
Heartbreaker - Dolly Parton

1987
Didn’t We Almost Have It All - Whitney Houston
Lost in Emotion - Lisa Lisa & Cult Jam
I Heard a Rumour - Bananarama
You Again - The Forester Sisters

1996
Macarena (bayside boys mix) - Los Del Rio
I Love You Always Forever - Donna Lewis
It’s All Coming Back to Me Now - Celine Dion
Living in a Moment - Ty Herndon

2005
Shake It Off - Mariah Carey
Beverly Hills - Weezer
Pon De Replay  - Rihanna
A Real Fine Place to Start - Sara Evans