ON THIS DAY in 1904
Dr. Bergen Evans was born in Franklin, Ohio. As an English professor he was the ultimate authority, The Question Supervisor, on CBS’s $64,000 Question in the mid 1950’s. He died Feb. 4 1978 at age 73.
On this day in 1924, Canadian comedian, actor, director, journalist, author, playwright and composer Don Harron was born in Toronto. He is perhaps best remembered as the creator of the humourous country philosopher Charlie Farquarson, for his hosting of the CBC radio daily interview show Morningside (1977-82), and for co-creating the musical stage version of Anne of Green Gables. He died Jan. 17 2015 at age 90, after deciding not to seek treatment for his cancer.
On this day in 1928, actor Adam West was born Wm. West Anderson in Walla Walla Washington. He is best remembered as Batman, the Caped Crusader, in the 1960’s ABC campy series of the same name. He died June 9, 2017 at age 88 after a brief battle with leukemia.
On this day in 1931, singer Brook Benton was born Benjamin Franklin Peay in Camden South Carolina. Hits include It’s Just a Matter of Time, Endlessly, Think Twice, Kiddio, & The Boll Weevil Song. After being weakened by spinal meningitis he died of pneumonia Apr. 9, 1988 at age 56.
On this day in 1932, the soap opera “Just Plain Bill” was first heard as an early evening quarter-hour on a regional CBS network from Chicago, with Arthur Hughes in the title role. A production of Anne & Frank Hummert, it was “the real life story of people just like people we all know.” Stories centred around the town barber (just plain) Bill Davidson and his daughter, Nancy, who lived in (just plain) Hartville. The broadcast moved to New York at the end of the year, and to NBC daytime in 1935, where it continued Mon.-Fri. for another 20 years. On this day in 1934, Beatles’ manager Brian Epstein was born in England. He died Aug 26, 1967 at age 32. On this day in 1935, bass player & singer Nick Massi of The Four Seasons was born. He died Dec 24, 2000, at age 65.
On this day in 1935, bass player & singer Nick Massi of The Four Seasons was born. He died Dec 24, 2000, at age 65.
On this day in 1936, movie-star singers Nelson Eddy and Jeanette MacDonald recorded “Indian Love Call.” It quickly became the signature song for which both would be remembered.
On this day in 1939, U.S. citizen William Joyce, a.k.a. Lord Haw-Haw became radio host of Germany’s Reichsrundfunk Overseas Service, broadcasting propaganda out of Berlin. Six years later to the day, Lord Haw Haw was sentenced to death for treason.
On this day in 1941, “Mama” Cass Elliott(of the Mamas & the Papas) was born Ellen Naomi Cohen in Baltimore. She died less than 33 years later July 29, 1974.
On this day in 1951, the first broadcast of the daytime soap “Search for Tomorrow” aired on CBS-TV.
The final curtain came down some 35 years later ..on NBC.
On this day in 1953, Winnipeg-born Gisele MacKenzie took over as host & singer on NBC-TV’s Your Hit Parade. Her biggest hit during that stint (1953-57) was ‘Hard to Get’ in June of 1955.
On this day in 1955, a big night of live TV drama, as Eva Marie Saint, Frank Sinatra and Paul Newman starred in the Producer’s Showcase presentation of “Our Town” on NBC-TV.
On this day in 1958, Elvis Presley left Fort Hood Texas bound for New York City and a troopship headed to Germany, where he would serve a tour of duty with the U-S Army. He arrived in West Germany on October first.
On this day in 1960, former chicken plucker Chubby Checker went to No.1 on the US singles chart with ‘The Twist’.
Also in 1960, Johnny Burnette was in Hollywood to record his biggest hit and a future Gold Record, “You’re Sixteen.” Still on this day in 1960, Decca Records released Brenda Lee‘s first #1 pop single, ‘I Want to be Wanted.’
On this day in 1961, The Beatles played a lunchtime gig at the Cavern Club in Liverpool.
On this day in 1963, the Crystals‘
“Then He Kissed Me” debuted on U.K. charts. It had hit U.S. charts on Aug. 17, and made it to #6 for three weeks.
Also in 1963, Jimmy Dean debuted his hour-long country music variety show which ran through 1966 on ABC-TV. Still in 1963, Ann Margret guest starred on the popular prime time TV cartoon series ‘The Flintstones,” playing the prehistoric singing superstar “Ann Margroc.”
On this day in 1966, The Lovin’ Spoonful got their first #1 single with “Summer In The City.”
On this day in 1967, the original host of radio’s “Make Believe Ballroom” (1934), and announcer for TV’s Chesterfield Supper Club, Martin Block died at age 64.
On this day in 1968, country singer Red Foley died of respiratory failure at age 58. Also this day in 1968, Steppenwolf was awarded a Gold Record for its biggest-selling single “Born to be Wild,” which introduced us to the term “heavy metal.”
On this day in 1969, Creedence Clearwater Revival started a four-week run at No.1 on the US album chart with ‘Green River.’
On this day in 1970, the song “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” by Diana Ross topped the charts and stayed there for 3 weeks. It was her first solo No.1 since leaving The Supremes.
Also this day in 1970, the theme lyric “She could turn the world on with her smile” aired for the first time, as The Mary Tyler Moore Show debuted on CBS-TV.It became one of the most successful television shows of the 1970s, lasting 94 episodes & seven seasons.
Still in 1970, The Rolling Stones released one of the all-time best live albums, “Get Yer Ya Ya’s Out.”
On this day in 1973, singer-songwriter Gram Parsons died under mysterious circumstances in Joshua Tree, California, at age 26. Parsons played with The Byrds and the Flying Burrito Brothers. His coffin was later stolen by two of his associates and set ablaze out in the desert.
On this day in 1974, Eric Clapton received a gold record for “I Shot the Sheriff”. The song had reached #1 on the charts on September 14th.
Also in 1974, Max Weinberg made his debut as the drummer for Bruce Springsteen’s E Street Band in Bryn Mawr Pennsylvania. On this day in 1978, one of the most successful albums of the 70’s, “Living In The USA” by Linda Ronstadt was released.
On this day in 1979, the first No Nukes concert was held at New York’s Madison Square Garden. Performers included Stephen Stills, David Crosby, Jackson Browne, Bonnie Raitt, The Doobie Brothers, Poco, Tom Petty, Carly Simon, James Taylor and Bruce Springsteen.
Also in 1979, Frank Sinatra recorded his final Top Forty entry and future signature song, “Theme from New York, New York.”
On this day in 1981, Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel reunited for a free concert to benefit New York City parks, their first joint effort in years. The concert attracted a crowd of 500,000 people in Central Park, and was taped for later broadcast to an even larger audience on HBO.
Also in 1981, The Rolling Stones album ‘Tattoo You’ started a nine-week run at No.1 on the US chart, the band’s ninth No.1.
On this day in 1983, the final episode of “M*A*S*H” was aired on CBS-TV, attracting a record viewership.
Also in 1983, the syndicated “Wheel of Fortune” began its long-running current version with Pat Sajak and Vanna White.
On this day in 1984, NBC began airing “Highway to Heaven” with Michael Landon. 111 hour-long episodes were produced over the next five years.
On this day in 1987, Dick Clark’s American Bandstand left ABC TV after 30 years, and went into first-run syndication. ABC had shortened the program to 30 minutes, and Clark wanted it to return to the original one-hour format.
Also this day in 1987, Michael Jackson‘s I Just Can’t Stop Loving You, from Jackson’s “Bad” LP, rose to #1 on the Billboard Hot 100. Still in 1987, Lincoln, Nebraska hosted Farm Aid III, with musical appearances by Emmylou Harris, Vince Gill, Lyle Lovett, John Denver, Joe Walsh, plus organizers Willie Nelson, John Mellencamp and Neil Young.
On this day in 1991, Pasadena (Calif.) was the scene for a benefit concert, “Ray Charles: 50 Years in Music, Uh-Huh!” It featured Stevie Wonder, Willie Nelson, Michael Bolton, Randy Travis, Michael McDonald and James Ingram, all of whom had a series of duets with Charles.
On this day in 1994, NBC aired the very first episode of “ER.” The hour-long medical drama would remain a highlight of “must-see Thursdays” for 331 episodes over the next 15 years.
On this day in 1995, popcorn mogul/TV pitchman Orville Redenbacher drowned after suffering a heart attack while sitting in a whirlpool. He was 88.
Also in 1995, rocker Bryan Adams opened GM Place in Vancouver before a sold-out crowd of 18,000.
On this day in 1996, guitarist/singer George Benson was on hand as his new star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame was unveiled.
Also in 1996, CBC President Perrin Beatty announced 2,500 job cuts to be made in the coming months. On this day in 1999, the first episode of “Judging Amy” aired on CBS.
Also in 1999, Edward Cobb died of leukaemia at age 61. Singer/songwriter & producer, member of The Four Preps (1958 US No.3 single ‘Big Man’), he wrote ‘Tainted Love,’ a hit for Soft Cell in 1981.
Still in 1999, Christina Aguilera was at No.1 on the US album chart with her self-titled debut album.
On this day in 2003, police were investigating reports that Paul McCartney scuffled with a photographer when the singer went to see magician David Blaine, who was in a plastic box dangling over the River Thames. The London Evening Standard said one of its photographers had clashed with McCartney resulting in a scuffle.
On this day in 2004, country singer Skeeter Davis succumbed to breast cancer at age 72. She’d sung on the Grand Ole Opry for 40 years. Her big pop-crossover hit was “The End of the World.”
Also in 2004, Canadian superstar Celine Dion extended her Las Vegas show for another year. Dion was reportedly being paid $100 million for the original three-year run of five 90-minute concerts a week.
On this day in 2005, Bon Jovi performed at a Times Square theater in New York to promote their new album “Have A Nice Day” which came out the following day. The concert was beamed to more than 100 U.S. movie theaters and was also available online.
Also in 2005, U2’s Bono made a surprise appearance during Pearl Jam’s Toronto concert. They did a version of Neil Young’s “Keep On Rocking In The Free World.”On this day in 2007, TV news star Dan Rather filed a $70-million lawsuit alleging that CBS and its former parent company (Viacom) attempted to curry favor with the Bush administration by intentionally botching the aftermath of a discredited story about the military service of U.S. President George W. Bush.
Also in 2007, White Stripes frontman Jack White joined Bob Dylan onstage in Nashville for a performance of “Meet Me In the Morning.”
On this day in 2008, a private plane carrying Blink-182 drummer Travis Barker and DJ AM crashed shortly after takeoff outside Columbia, South Carolina. Barker and DJ AM were seriously hurt. Four others were killed.
Also in 2008, American drummer Earl Palmer died at age 83. He worked with The Beach Boys, Little Richard (‘Tutti Frutti’), Frank Sinatra, Ike And Tina Turner (‘River Deep, Mountain High’), The Monkees, Fats Domino (‘I’m Walkin’), Neil Young and Elvis Costello, among others.
On this day in 2009, Arthur Ferrante of the piano playing duo of Ferrante & Teicher, died at age 88. Lou Teicher had died the previous year at age 83.
Also in 2009, Whitney Houston went to No.1 on the US album chart with ‘I Look to You’, the singer’s seventh studio album.
This day in 2010 was Frank Zappa Day in Baltimore, the musician’s hometown. The date marked the twenty-fifth anniversary of Zappa’s infamous testimony on Capitol Hill, where the founder of The Mothers Of Invention stood his ground against Tipper Gore and the Parents Music Resource Center’s (PMRC) crusade for music censorship. A stretch of road was re-named “Frank Zappa Way” and a Zappa statue was dedicated.
On this day in 2011, former singer Dolores Hope, the widow of comedian/actor Bob Hope, died at age 102. Her husband had died 8 years earlier at age 100.
On this day in 2014, Alice’s Attic and Thrift Store, owned by Alice Cooper, opened in Phoenix. Cooper, a self-confessed thrift store ‘shopaholic,’ dedicated a portion of the proceeds to his Rock Teen Center.
On this day in 2015, UK-born novellist Jackie Collins, whose lusty best-sellers were frequently made into TV miniseries (Hollywood Wives, Lady Boss, Lucky Chances, etc.), lost her battle with breast cancer at age 77.
Also in 2015, the 30th anniversary Farm Aid show had Imagine Dragons, John Mellencamp, Neil Young, Willie Nelson and Dave Matthews. Founded in ’85, this edition took place at First Merit Bank Pavilion outside of Chicago.
On this day in 2016, Montreal-born former child singer and movie star Bobby Breen died of natural causes at age 87. He was discovered by Eddie Cantor in 1936 and sang on Cantor’s popular NBC radio show for three seasons.
On this day in 2017,
Scottie Nell Hughes, a former guest on the Fox News Channel and Fox Business Network, alleged in a lawsuit that she was blacklisted by the network and defamed after accusing anchor Charles Payne of rape and assault.
Also in 2017, actor Bernie Casey, featured in movies and over 35 years as a guest in episodic TV, and a cast member of 1983’s Bay City Blues on NBC, died after a stroke at age 78.
On this day in 2018, following a long break from music to battle Lyme disease, Ontario-born singer Avril Lavigne released the single “Head Above Water” on YouTube and streaming services. The lyrics concerned her fight for health. Lavigne called the last five years “the worst years of my life as I went through both physical and emotional battles.”
Today’s Birthdays
Actress Rosemary Harris (Death of a Salesman, Hallmark Hall of Fame) is 95.
Actor David McCallum (NCIS, Man from UNCLE) is 89.
Chatham Ont.-born folksinger Sylvia Tyson is 82
Singer Bill Medley of the Righteous Brothers is 83.
Singer-songwriter/actor Paul Williams (Muppets Xmas: Letters to Santa) is 82.
Singer Freda Payne is 80.
Former TV commentator/Baseball Hall of Famer Joe Morgan (Sunday Night Baseball) is 80.
Singer David Bromberg is 78.
Actor Randolph Mantooth (Emergency, As The World Turns) is 77.
Guitarist Lol Creme of 10cc is 74.
Actor Jeremy Irons (Elizabeth I, Dame Edna Live at the Palace) is 74.
Actress-model Twiggy Lawson is 73.
Former TV personality Joan Lunden (Good Morning America) is 72.
Actor Scott Colomby (Days of Our Lives, One Day at a Time) is 70.
Guitarist-producer Nile Rodgers of Chic is 70.
Singer-actor Rex Smith (Street Hawk, As the World Turns) is 67.
Actor/director Kevin Hooks (Prison Break, 24, White Shadow) is 64
White Shadow) is 63. Singer/guitarist Lita Ford is 64.
Actress Carolyn McCormick (Law and Order, L & O: SVU) is 63.
Seattle-born TV chef Mario Batali (The Chew, Iron Chef America, Good Morning America) is 61.
Comedian Cheri Oteri (Saturday Night Live, Sit Down Shut Up) is 60.
Actor Spencer Garrett (Satisfaction, The Legend of Korra) is 59.
Country singer Jeff Bates is 59.
Country singer Trisha Yearwood is 58.
Actress Kim Richards (Hello Larry, James at 16, Nanny & the Professor) is 58
Nanny & the Professor) is 57. Former CNN news anchor Soledad O’Brien is 56.
American conservative radio/TV commentator Monica Crowley is 54.
Singer Esperonza Griffin (Society of Soul) is 53.
Celebrity TV chef Michael Symon (The Chew, Rachel Ray, Beat Bobby Flay) is 52.
Actor Victor Williams (The Affair, The King of Queens) is 52.
Actress Sanaa Lathan (The Cleveland Show, Nip/Tuck, LateLine) is 51.
Actor Nic Bishop (Dominion, Covert Affairs) is 49.
Singer A. Jay Popoff of Lit is 49.
Comedian/host Jimmy Fallon (Tonight Show, NBC Late Night, Saturday Night Live) is 48.
Actor Daniel Eric Gold (Ugly Betty, Good Girls Revolt) is 47.
TV personality Carter Oosterhouse (Trading Spaces, Three Wishes) is 46.
Actress/host Alison Sweeney (Days of Our Lives, The Biggest Loser) is 46.
Seattle-born comedian/actor Kyle Cease (Comics Unleashed) is 45.
Musician Ryan Dusick is 45.
Tacoma-born model /TV presenter/actress Amber Lancaster (The Price Is Right, Hard Times of R.J.Berger) is 42.
Calgary-born twin singing sisters Sara & Tegan Quin (Tegan & Sara) are 42.
Actor Columbus Short {Scandal, Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip) is 40.
Rapper Eamon is 39.
Ontario-born actor Kevin Zegers (Gracepoint, Titanic:Blood & Steel, Gossip Girl, Titans) is 38.
Actress Lydia Hearst (South of Hell) is 38.
Pro wrestler/TV personality/actress Natalie Eva Marie (WWE Raw, Total Divas, WWE NXT) is 38.
Actor Peter Vack (Mozart in the Jungle, I Just Want My Pants Back ) is 36.
Actress Mandy Musgrave (South of Nowhere, Cowgirl Up, Days of Our Lives) is 36.
Actress Danielle Panabaker (The Flash, Shark, Empire Falls) is 35.
Actress Katrina Bowden (30 Rock, The Bold & the Beautiful, Public Morals) is 34.
Actress Lorenza Izzo (Feed the Beast) is 33.
Chart Toppers – Sept. 19
1944 I’ll Walk Alone – Dinah Shore Swinging on a Star – Bing Crosby Time Waits for No One – Helen Forrest Soldier’s Last Letter – Ernest Tubb
1953 You, You, You – The Ames Brothers Vaya Con Dios – Les Paul & Mary Ford Crying in the Chapel – June Valli A Dear John Letter – Jean Shepard & Ferlin Husky
1962 Sherry – The 4 Seasons Ramblin’ Rose – Nat King Cole Green Onions – Booker T. & The MG’s Devil Woman – Marty Robbins
1971 Go Away Little Girl – Donny Osmond Ain’t No Sunshine – Bill Withers Maggie May /Reason to Believe – Rod Stewart The Year that Clayton Delaney Died – Tom T. Hall
1980 Upside Down – Diana Ross All Out of Love – Air Supply Fame – Irene Cara Lookin’ for Love – Johnny Lee
1989 Don’t Wanna Lose You – Gloria Estefan Girl I’m Gonna Miss You – Milli Vanilli Heaven – Warrant Nothing I Can Do About It Now – Willie Nelson
1998 I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing – Aerosmith Tearin’ Up My Heart – ’N Sync I’ll Never Break Your Heart – Backstreet Boys How Long Gone – Brooks & Dunn
2007 The Way I Are – Timbaland featuring Keri Hilson Big Girls Don’t Cry (Personal) – Fergie Who Knew – Pink More Than a Memory – Garth Brooks
Today in Broadcast History is compiled by Ron Robinson
