Thursday October the 9th


ON THIS DAY in 1888, actor Hank Patterson (Gunsmoke, Green Acres) was born in Alabama. He died at age 86 Aug 23 1975 of bronchial pneumonia.

On this day in 1888, silent screen star & director Irving Cummings was born in New York City.  In 1952 he became the 3rd & final permanent host on the long-running Lux Radio Theatre, after Cecil B. DeMille & William Keighley.

On this day in 1890, radio's first female evangelist Aimee Semple McPherson was born Aimee Kennedy at Ingersoll, Ontario.  Her packed tent meetings led to her first broadcasts in 1923 in Los Angeles. Her main message was no divorce, no dancing and no cosmetics, but in 1926 she divorced McPherson, and disappeared for a time with her radio station manager. Her career faltered, and she divorced a third husband, and died of an apparent accidental drug overdose in 1944.

On this day in 1904, actor Wally Brown was born in Malden Mass.  After beginning as a fast-talking monologist in vaudeville, Brown had an undistinguished B movie career.  He spent his last 10 working years in TV, including regular roles in I Married Joan, Cimarrion City, and Daniel Boone. He also served as a regular on radio's Abbott and Costello Show. He died at 57 in November 1961.

On this day in 1905, actor Howard St. John (Studio One,The Investigator, Hank) was born in Chicago.  He died at 68 in March 1974 following a heart attack.

On this day in 1914, actor Edward Andrews was born in Griffin Georgia.  His stage career beginning at 12 led to Broadway & movies & much episodic TV.  He was cast in only one series (Broadside in '64).  He died at 70 March 8 1985 after a heart attack.

On this day in 1915, legendary jazz singer Lee Wiley was born at Fort Gibson Okla. She died Dec 11 1975 at 60 due to cancer.

On this day in 1922, ethnic actor Fyvush Finkel (Picket Fences, Boston Public) was born in Brooklyn.  

Also this day in 1922, actor Philip Sterling (Sisters, St. Elsewhere) was born. He succumbed to bone disease in Nov. 1998 at age 76.

On this day in 1931, early crooner Russ Columbo recorded his biggest hit, Prisoner of Love -- on Victor Records.

On this day in 1935, "Cavalcade of America" was first broadcast on radio.  The CBS show (until moving to NBC 1939-53) featured some of Hollywood and Broadway’s most famous stars in leading roles in the half hour dramas about obscure incidents and people in American history.
                                                  
The DuPont Company introduced its slogan on "Cavalcade of America" ..."Better things for better living through chemistry"

On this day in 1940, leading Beatle & songwriter John Lennon was born in Liverpool, allegedly during a German air raid. He was shot to death at age 40 on Dec 8, 1980.

On this day in 1943, ABC Radio presented "Land of the Lost" for the first time. The opening phrase for the show was, “In that wonderful kingdom at the bottom of the sea...This children's adventure-fantasy serial took the audience underwater where the main characters, Isabel and Jimmy, were guided by their friend, a red fish named Red Lantern and played at first by Junius Matthews and later, by Art Carney. Land of the Lost found a large audience and remained on the air until 1948.

On this day in 1944, bass & French horn player John Entwistle of The Who was born in suburban London England. He died at age 57 June 27 2002 from a heart attack brought on by cocaine abuse.

On this day in 1953, "Topper" debuted on CBS-TV.  Anne Jeffreys played Marion Kirby, Robert Sterling was George Kirby and the lead character of Topper was played by Leo G. Carroll. Topper was called the first of the "spirit" shows of the day. Marion and George Kirby had died along with their dog Neil (a St. Bernard) in an avalanche while on a skiing vacation. The three characters returned to their home -- now occupied by Topper.

On this day in 1958, rocker Eddie Cochran
                                
recorded "C'mon Everybody."

On this day in 1959, singer Bobby Darin
                                
became the youngest entertainer (at 23) to headline the Sands Hotel's Copa Room in Las Vegas.
YouTube presents Bobby Darin and his 1959 hit song "Mack the Knife"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CBTITHA8twI

On this day in 1961, "Hit the Road Jack"

by Ray Charles topped the charts and stayed #1 for 2 weeks.
YouTube presents, Ray Charles and "Hit the Road Jack"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q8Tiz6INF7I

On this day in 1962, the gravel-voiced ex-vaudevillian Lulu McConnell, a panel member on It Pays to Be Ignorant on both radio & TV, died at 80.  

On this day in 1965, the Beatles' "Yesterday," single goes #1 & stays #1 for 4 weeks.

On this day in 1966, John Lennon met Yoko Ono for the first time at an art gallery in London.

On this day in 1967, trumpeter Doc Severinson
                                  
came out of the orchestra to become musical director of The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson,
replacing Skitch Henderson.  

Doc went on to play with various symphony orchestras and even became the owner of a custom trumpet company in the San Francisco Bay Area.

On this day in 1969, the Supremes released one of their big hits "Someday We'll Be Together."


                                                    
On this day in 1970, CBC-TV aired the NHL debut of the Vancouver Canucks against the Los Angeles Kings.  Jim Robson did the TV play by play, while Montreal TV icon Danny Gallivan did the CKNW radio broadcast, assisted by Al Davidson.  

On this day in 1973, Priscilla Presley
                  
was divorced from Elvis -- in Santa Monica, CA. "Cilla" got $1.5 million in cash, $4,200 per month in alimony, half interest in a $750,000 home plus about 5% interest in two of Elvis' publishing companies.

Also this day in 1973, and still speaking of riches, Paul Simon got a gold record for his hit, Loves Me like a Rock.

On this day in 1975, as John Lennon turned 35, Yoko Ono presented him with a newborn son, Sean Ono Lennon.

On this day in 1979, Howard Stern began his first morning show on WCCC in Hartford Conn, marking the beginning of what is now known as the irreverent Stern style of broadcasting.

Also this day in 1979, Styx released what would become a megahit. Babe hit number one two months later on December 8.

On this day in 1980, John Lennon celebrated his 40th birthday by releasing the single "(Just Like) Starting Over."

On this day in 1984, the No. 1 Billboard Pop Hit is "I Just Called to Say I Love You," by Stevie Wonder. The song from the Gene Wilder film "The Woman in Red'' won an Academy Award.

On this day in 1985, a 2�-acre garden memorial was dedicated to John Lennon by his widow, Yoko Ono.  The memorial in New York City's Central Park is named Strawberry Fields.

On this day in 1986, Joan Rivers debuted her new The Late Show
                      
on the fledgling FOX network -- opposite former boss Johnny Carson on NBC. Reportedly, Rupert Murdoch paid up to $25,000 a week for Joan's lovely gowns. Carson quipped, "The show proves that all that glitters is not watched."

On this day in 1990 radio stations around the world played "Imagine" to honor John Lennon.

On this day in 1993, Nirvana's In Utero was the #1 LP in the U.S.                                                      

On this day in 1998 at 3 pm, Canada's first regional sports network CTV SPORTSNET was launched.   It included more coverage of regional sporting events, e. g. 45 Vancouver Canucks and 25 Grizzlies games during each of the first 3 seasons.

On this day in 1999, Milt Jackson, who was for more than 50 years the premier vibraharpist in jazz and a founding member of the Modern Jazz Quartet, died in Manhattan of liver cancer. He was 76.

On this day in 2000, John Lennon's views on everything from the breakup of the Beatles to his attitude toward revolution and drugs, deemed too controversial to print 30 years before, were revealed in a the book "Lennon Remembers, The Complete Rolling Stone Interviews."

Also this day in 2000, the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band reunited at Nashville's historic Ryman Auditorium for a performance of their signature song,
"Will the Circle Be Unbroken."

Longtime member John McEuen joins Jimmie Fadden, Jeff Hanna, Jimmy Ibbotson and Bob Carpenter for the filming of an IMAX movie, that traced the roots and branches of country music.
YouTube presents Johnny Cash and the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band and "Will the circle be unbroken"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3afUrkx_VwM


Still in 2000, the 100th episode of "Everybody Loves Raymond" aired on CBS.
                                    

On this day in 2006, internet search giant Google agreed to acquire YouTube, the video-sharing Web site, for $1.65 billion US in stock.


Today's Birthdays:

Actor Fyvush Finkel (Boston Public, Picket Fences) is 86.

Singer Jackson Browne is 60.

Spokane-born actor Gary Frank (Family) is 58.

Actor Richard Chaves (War of the Worlds) is 57.

Actor Robert Wuhl (Arli$$) is 57.

Actress-TV personality Sharon Osbourne (America's Got Talent, The Osbournes) is 56.

Actor Tony Shalhoub (Monk, Wings) is 55.

Actor Scott Bakula (Star Trek: Enterprise) is 54.

Actor John O'Hurley (Dancing With the Stars, Seinfeld, To Tell the Truth) is 54.

Vancouver-born actor Linwood Boomer (Little House on the Prairie) is 52.

Actor Michael Pare (South Beach) is 49.

Rock singer-musician Kurt Neumann (The BoDeans) is 47.

Country singer Gary Bennett (BR549) is 44.

Singer P.J. Harvey is 39.

Country singer Tommy Shane Steiner is 35.

Actor Steve Burns (Blue's Clues) is 35.

Singer Sean Lennon is 33.

Actor Randy Spelling (Beverly Hills 90210, Sunset Beach) is 30.

Actor Brandon Routh (One Life to Live) is 29.

Actor Zachery Ty Bryan (Home Improvement) is 27.

Actor Tyler James Williams (Everybody Hates Chris) is 16.


Chart Toppers - Oct. 9

1946
To Each His Own - Eddy Howard
Five Minutes More - Tex Beneke
South America, Take It Away - Bing Crosby& The Andrews Sisters
Wine, Women and Song - Al Dexter

1955
Love is a Many-Splendored Thing - The Four Aces
Autumn Leaves - Roger Williams
Moments to Remember - The Four Lads
The Cattle Call - Eddy Arnold

1964
Oh, Pretty Woman - Roy Orbison
Do Wah Diddy Diddy - Manfred Mann
Dancing in the Street - Martha & The Vandellas
I Guess I’m Crazy - Jim Reeves

1973
Half-Breed - Cher
Loves Me Like a Rock - Paul Simon
Higher Ground - Stevie Wonder
You’re the Best Thing that Ever Happened to Me - Ray Price

1982
Jack & Diane - John Cougar
Eye in the Sky - The Alan Parsons Project
Who Can It Be Now?  - Men at Work
Yesterday’s Wine - Merle Haggard/George Jones

1991
Good Vibrations - Marky Mark & The Funky Bunch/Loleatta Holloway
Emotions - Mariah Carey
Do Anything - Natural Selection
Where are You Now - Clint Black

2000
Kryptonite - 3 Doors Down
Music  - Madonna
Come On Over (All I Want Is You) - Christina Aguilera
That’s the Way - Jo Dee Messina