ON THIS DAY in 1905
Alice Frost
actress Alice Frost was born in Minneapolis. She is best remembered for her portrayal of Pam North on Mr. and Mrs. North for nearly 13 years, first on NBC, then on CBS radio. She also appeared in scores of other radio shows including The Shadow, Grand Central Station, Big Sister, Orson Welles Playhouse, What Would You Have Done, On Broadway, Famous Jury Trials, Al Pearce and His Gang, David Harum, Lorenzo Jones, Suspense, Aunt Jenny’s Real Life Stories, etc. She died Jan. 6 1998 at age 92.
In 1912, actor Henry Jones was born in Philadelphia. After success on Broadway & in film, he became a much in demand character actor on TV series like Phyllis, Falcon Crest, Kraft TV Theatre, Playhouse 90, Studio One, Alfred Hitchcock Presents, Mrs. Columbo & Gun Shy. He died May 17 1999 of complications from injuries suffered in a fall at the age of 86.
in 1922, actor Arthur Hill was born in Melfort Sask. After serving in WWII he enrolled at UBC where he helped support himself by playing in CBC radio drama from Vancouver. He found success on the London stage, on Broadway & in film before coming to TV, where he starred in the series Owen Marshall, Counselor at Law(1971), the 1984 series Glitter, and a score of guest roles. He died of Alzheimer’s Oct 22, 2006 at age 84.
In 1927, at 6 pm CKWX signed on as a Vancouver radio station from studios in the Belmont Hotel, after being known as CFDC in Nanaimo from 1923 to ’27.
In 1937, Mutual radio debuted “The Goodwill Hour”, with its familiar phrase, “You have a friend and advisor in John J. Anthony.” A Bob & Ray spoof kept the ‘tales of woe’ concept alive for a later generation in the 50’s & 60’s.
In 1942, Jimmy Dorsey and his orchestra recorded Charleston Alley, on Decca Records.
Also in 1942, musician/songwriter Jerry Garcia, leader of the Grateful Dead was born in San Francisco. The original group members were part of Mother McCree’s Uptown Jug Champions and later the Warlocks. Precipitated by an unhealthy weight, bad eating habits, and drug use, Garcia collapsed into a diabetic coma in 1986, and died of diabetes complications Aug. 9 1995 at age 53.
Still in 1942, the American Federation of Musicians went on strike. Union president James C. Petrillo told musicians that phonograph records were “a threat to members’ jobs.” As a result, musicians refused to perform in recording sessions over the next several months, leading to hit recordings without much instrumentation. Live, musical radio broadcasts continued, however.
In 1949, Frankie Laine‘s future #1 hit “That Lucky Old Sun” was released on the Mercury label.
In 1954, Victoria radio station CKDA 1340 moved to AM 1280 and increased its power from 250 watts to 5000 watts.
Also in 1954, New York DJ Alan Freed’s first “Moondog Jubilee of Stars Under the Stars” took place at Ebbets Field, the home of baseball’s Brooklyn Dodgers. Acts on the bill included Fats Domino, Muddy Waters, the Clovers, the Orioles, and Little Walter.
In 1958, The Teddy Bears released the soon-to-be-chart-topper “To Know Him Is To Love Him.”
Also in 1958, upset that Sun Records owner Sam Phillips wouldn’t allow him to record the gospel music he grew up with, Johnny Cash signed with the Columbia label.
Still in 1958, Tony Bennett was in the Columbia studios in New York to record a future Top 20 hit, ‘Firefly.’
In 1960, radio station CFTK in Terrace signed on at 1140 KHz. It moved to its current 590 dial spot in 1963, and is now branded EZ Rock.
Also in 1960, Chubby Checker‘s The Twist was released. The song inspired the dance craze of the 1960s. Round and around and around…
Still in 1960, Billboard reported the findings of a Seventeen Magazine survey; that the average teenage girl listens to the radio two hours and thirteen minutes a day and plays records two hours and twelve minutes a day.
Again in 1960, Elvis Presley was named Public Enemy #1 by the East German newspaper, “Young World,” because he embodied “decadent American culture.”
Aretha Franklin
Once more in 1960, Aretha Franklin made her first secular recordings for the Columbia label, including “Today I Sing the Blues.”
In 1962, radio station WMCA New York City published its first music chart.
In 1963, Winnipeg’s CKY-FM signed on, less than a year before owner Lloyd Moffat died suddenly on vacation in Hawaii. His son, Randy Moffat, took over as General Manager of CKY AM & FM in 1965.
In 1964, “A Hard Day’s Night” by the Beatles topped the charts and stayed there for 2 weeks.
In 1965, The Rolling Stones played the London Palladium for the first time. The Moody Blues and Steam Packet, with then little-known vocalist Rod Stewart, were the opening acts.
In 1969, more than 110,000 music fans in Atlantic City paid just $13 each for the first rock festval in that area of the East Coast. The all-star lineup at the three-day event included Janis Joplin, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Santana, Joe Cocker, Three Dog Night, Little Richard, Jefferson Airplane and Iron Butterfly.
In 1971, “The Sonny and Cher Comedy Hour” launched on CBS-TV with a short summer run followed by three regular seasons.
Also in 1971, the Concert for Bangladesh was held at Madison Square Garden in New York City. George Harrison, Ringo Starr, Eric Clapton, Bob Dylan, Leon Russell, Ravi Shankar and Billy Preston performed. A multirecord set commemorating the event was a super sales success. Together, the concert and the album raised more than $11 million to help the starving minions of Bangladesh.
In 1972, RCA Victor released Elvis Presley‘s new single “Burning Love.”
In 1974, Robert Charlebois, Felix Leclerc and Gilles Vigneault held a live concert on the Plains of Abraham, telecast by Radio Canada.
In 1977, the book “Elvis: What Happened?” went on sale. It was an expose’ by two former bodyguards who presented Elvis as an overweight recluse. Elvis died two weeks later, and the book started flying off the bookstore shelves, selling more than three-million copies.
In 1979, CBS TV aired the last episode of “Good Times.”
In 1980, Def Leppard made their US live debut when they opened for AC/DC at a concert in New York City. It was also Def Leppard singer Joe Elliott’s 21st birthday.
In 1981, novelist/screenwriter Paddy Chayefsky, renowned for the many plays he penned for the Golden Age of live TV, succumbed to cancer at age 58.
Also in 1981, MTV (Music Television) made its debut in the US at 12:01 a.m. The first music video shown on the rock-video cable channel designed for 18-24 year olds, was, appropriately, Video Killed the Radio Star, by the Buggles. MTV’s original five veejays were Martha Quinn, Nina Blackwood, Mark Goodman, J.J. Jackson and Alan Hunter.
Still in 1981, “Jessie’s Girl” by Rick Springfield topped the charts and stayed there for 2 weeks.
In 1984, singer Jermaine Jackson made a guest appearance on the TV soap opera, As the World Turns.
In 1986, Canada-raised actor Matt Frewer starred in the Max Headroom TV Talk Show, which debuted on the US movie channel Cinemax.
In 1987, “Shakedown (From Beverly Hills Cop II)” by Bob Seger topped the charts, but stayed #1 for just a week.
In 1988, Cincinnati’s WCVG-AM changed its format to become the first U.S. all-Elvis radio station. The concept lasted for a little more than a year.
In 1992, NBC-TV’s “Saturday Today” premiered.
In 1994, The Rolling Stones began their Voodoo Lounge world tour in Washington DC. That same day they turned down an invitation from U.S. President Bill Clinton to play at the White House .
Also in 1994, Victoria radioman Al Ferraby left CKDA and the basement of the Douglas Hotel to join C-FAX 1070 where he is still the star morning man decades later.
Still in 1994, Michael Jackson and Lisa Marie Presley announced that they were married 11 weeks earlier in a private ceremony in the Dominican Republic. Rumors of the marriage between the pop superstar and the only child of Elvis Presley had circulated after a Dominican official said he had been paid $50 to perform the ceremony.
In 1995, sportscaster Brian Smith was shot in the head by a mentally ill person as he was leaving work at CJOH-TV. The former NHL player died the following day.
Also in 1995, Westinghouse Electric Corporation made a deal to buy CBS for $5.4 billion.
In 2000, CKAY-AM Duncan (B.C.) became SUN-FM on 89.7 MHz. CKAY’s 1500 KHz frequency went silent on August 27th.
Also in 2000, Madonna‘s forthcoming single ‘Music’ had its release date brought forward by two weeks after the track was made available as an illegal MP3 file on the Internet.
In 2002, a new book ‘Show the Girl the Door‘ written by a former tour manager disclosed some strange demands by female acts. It revealed that Shania Twain would travel with a sniffer dog in case of bombs. Jennifer Lopez liked her dressing room to be all white, including carpets flowers and furniture. Janet Jackson would have a full medical team on standby including a doctor nurse and throat specialist and Britney Spears would demand her favourite Gummie Bear soft sweets.
In 2003, CKBL-AM Kelowna switched from Country to become Oldies 1150, changing call letters to CKFR in May 2004. Those are still the official calls today, but the format is News/Talk/Sports.
in 2004, Red Hot Chili Peppers went to No.1 on the UK album chart with ‘Live In Hyde Park’, the band’s second No.1 in Britain.
Also in 2004, Ashlee Simpson started a five week run at No.1 on the Billboard album chart with ‘Autobiography.’ Juvenile featuring Soulja Slim were at No.1 on the singles chart with ‘Slow Motion.’
In 2007, Eminem’s publishing company was seeking more than $75,000 for copyright infringement and unfair competition against computer firm Apple for allegedly selling his music on iTunes without permission.
Also in 2007, Prince kicked off a series of 21 sold out UK shows at London’s O2 arena. After completing the 21 nights the Jehovah’s Witness was planning to take time out to study the Bible.
Still in 2007, John Lennon‘s “granny” sunglasses were snapped up by a British collector at auction. The sunglasses, from one of the last Beatles concerts, were expected to fetch around £1m, but auction bosses refused to say what the actual figure was. Lennon gave the gold-rimmed glasses to his Japanese interpreter in Tokyo in 1966, and the translator removed the lenses when Lennon was killed.
Again in 2007, The Police played the first of two sold-out concerts at Madison Square Garden on their Reunion Tour.
In 2008, Lollapalooza got underway in Chicago. More than 100 bands hit the stages over three days. Radiohead was the first to sell out their show. “Their production is just incredible,” raved festival organizer Perry Farrell of Jane’s addiction. The three-day event also featured Nine Inch Nails, Rage Against The Machine and The Raconteurs.
In 2009, Daughtry went to No.1 on the Billboard album charts with ‘Leave This Town’, the band’s second studio album.
In 2010, two Aretha Franklin concerts in New York were cancelled after the 68-year-old singer fell and broke several ribs.
In 2011, Kings Of Leon cancelled the remainder of their summer tour in the wake of an awful show in Dallas three days earlier. That concert was cut short after lead singer Caleb Followill left the stage to vomit.
In 2012, in Helsinki Finland, Bruce Springsteen played a 33 song set that lasted four hours and six minutes. According to NME.com, it was Springsteen’s longest concert ever.
In 2013, TV producer & actress Gail Kobe died at age 81. She had recurring roles in ABC’s Peyton Place and CBS-TV’s Trackdown. After her acting career stagnated she turned to production on TV soap operas including The Edge of Night, Return to Peyton Place, Texas, The Guiding Light, and The Bold & the Beautiful.
Also in 2013, John Lennon and Paul McCartney topped a UK poll of the greatest songsmiths of all time. Bob Dylan was #2 on the list, while Queen, Neil Young and Kurt Cobain rounded out the top five.
In 2014, Vancouver’s Phillip Till and Bill Good Jr. did their final programs for AM 980 CKNW.
Also in 2014, Duran Duran‘s John Taylor was named the best bassist of all-time in a MusicRadar poll. Taylor netted 30% of the vote. Geddy Lee, from Rush, was second.
In 2015, TV weatherman Joe Holbrook, who spent 42 years reporting on the weather for channel 10 in Columbus Ohio, before retiring in 1992, died at age 87.
Also in 2015, Rush performed the final show of their 40th anniversary R40 Live tour at The Forum in L.A. The show presented material from throughout their career.
In 2017, Toronto-born Goldy McJohn, a founding member of Steppenwolf and the keyboardist who powered some of the band’s best songs, suffered a fatal heart attack at age 72. Originally a classically trained pianist, he was a pioneer in the early use of the electronic organ in heavy metal.
Today’s Birthdays
Singer Ramblin’ Jack Elliott is 93.
Actor Brian Patrick Clarke (Young & the Restless, Eight is Enough) is 73.
Blues musician Robert Cray is 71.
Actor Lewis Smith (Karen’s Song, North & South Books 1 & 2) is 68.
Actress Laura Johnson (Falcon Crest, Heartbeat, Born Free) is 67.
Actor Steve Schirripa (The Sopranos, The Secret Life of the American Teenager) is 66.
Singer Michael Penn is 66.
Singer Joe Elliott of Def Leppard is 65.
Rapper Chuck D of Public Enemy is 64.
Guitarist Suzi Gardner of L7 is 64.
Actor Jesse Borrego (Dexter, 24) is 62.
Actor Demián Bichir (The Bridge) is 61.
Actor John Carroll Lynch ( TURN: Washington’s Spies, Crawford, American Horror Story, Body of Proof, Drew Carey Show) is 61.
Rapper Coolio is 61.
Singer Adam Duritz of Counting Crows is 60.
Director Sam Mendes (Penny Dreadful) is 59.
Country singer George Ducas is 58.
Country musician Charlie Kelley (Buffalo Club) is 56.
Director/actor David Wain (Wet Hot American Summer: First Day of Camp, Children’s Hospital) is 55.
Actress Jennifer Gareis (The Bold & the Beautiful, The Young & the Restless) is 54.
Actor Charles Malik Whitfield (If Loving You is Wrong, The Guardian) is 52.
Actress Tempestt Bledsoe (The Cosby Show, The Replacements, Guys With Kids) is 51.
Ontario-born actor Kris Holden-Ried (Lost Girl, The Listener, The Tudors) is 51.
Actress Kate Norby (Swingtown, Boston Public) is 48.
Actor Jason Momoa (Frontier, Game of Thrones, Stargate: Atlantis, North Shore, Baywatch) is 45.
Actress Honeysuckle Weeks (Foyle’s War) is 45.
Actress Miracle Laurie (Dollhouse) is 43.
Actress Sally Pressman (Army Wives) is 43.
Former child actress Taylor Fry (Kirk, Get a Life, Nightingales) is 43.
Singer Ashley Parker Angel (O-Town) is 43.
Actress Miracle Laurie (Dollhouse) is 43.
Actress Deborah Baker Jr. (The Great Indoors, Stan Against Evil) is 42.
Actress Valery M. Ortiz (Hit the Floor, Diary of a Single Mom, South of Nowhere) is 40.
Actor Elijah Kelley (Star, The New Edition Story) is 38.
Actor Max Carver (The Leftovers, Teen Wolf, Desperate Housewives) is 36.
Actress Sasha Jackson (One Tree Hill) is 36.
Actress Landry Allbright (The Bold & the Beautiful) is 35.
Actress Devanny Pinn (Casey Anthony: An American Murder Mystery) is 35.
Producer/actor James Francis Kelly (PlanetE! Entertainment Network) is 35.
Actor Leon Thomas III (Victorious, The Backyardigans) is 31.
Actor Khamani Griffin (All of Us) is 26.
Actress Ella Wahlestedt (Army Wives) is 26.
Chart Toppers – August 1st
1949
Some Enchanted Evening – Perry Como
Bali Ha’i – Perry Como
Again – Gordon Jenkins
I’m Throwing Rice (At the Girl that I Love) – Eddy Arnold
1958
Poor Little Fool – Ricky Nelson
Patricia – Perez Prado
Splish Splash – Bobby Darin
Alone with You – Faron Young
1967
Light My Fire – The Doors
I was Made to Love Her – Stevie Wonder
A Whiter Shade of Pale – Procol Harum
Tonight Carmen – Marty Robbins
1976
Kiss and Say Goodbye – Manhattans
Love is Alive – Gary Wright
Moonlight Feels Right – Starbuck
Teddy Bear – Red Sovine
1985
Everytime You Go Away – Paul Young
Shout – Tears For Fears
You Give Good Love – Whitney Houston
Love Don’t Care (Whose Heart It Breaks) – Earl Thomas Conley
1994
I Swear – All-4-One
Stay (I Missed You) – Lisa Loeb & Nine Stories
Fantastic Voyage – Coolio
Summertime Blues – Alan Jackson
2003
Crazy In Love – Beyonce Knowles featuring Jay-Z
Are You Happy Now? – Michelle Branch
Where Is The Love? – Black Eyed Peas featuring Justin Timberlake
My Front Porch Looking In – Lonestar
Today in Broadcast History compiled by Ron Robinson
