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 as a regular in only one series (Broadside in ’64). He died at age 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. He died Aug. 14 2016 at age 93.
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 1929, 22-year old singing cowboy
Gene Autry made his first record as a duet with Jimmie Long and two Hawaiian guitars, “My Dreaming Of You” b/w “My Alabama Home.”
On this day in 1931, early crooner
Russ Columbo recorded his biggest hit,
‘Prisoner of Love’ — on RCA 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 1937, master program director
John Rook was born in Chillicothe Ohio. Beginning in the late 1960’s he took first WLS Chicago, then WCFL Chicago and then KFI Los Angeles to dominance in audience share, and consulted dozens of other stations to success. He died March 1 2016 at age 78.
Om this day in 1938, Bluegrass entertainer
Bill Monroe made his debut at the Grand Ole Opry.
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 loyal 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 title 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, now ghosts, returned to their home — now occupied by Topper.
On this day in 1957, singer
Perry Como was in RCA Victor’s New York studios to record his final #1 hit, “Catch a Falling Star.”
On this day in 1958, singer
Eddie Cochran
recorded one of his biggest rockabilly hits,
“C’mon Everybody.”
On this day in 1959, singer
Bobby Darin
became the youngest entertainer (at 23) to headline at the Sands Hotel 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 (above, 2nd from the left), a panel member on
It Pays to Be Ignorant on both radio & TV, died at age 80.
On this day in 1964, The
Beach Boys were in Capitol Records’ Hollywood studios to wax ‘Dance Dance Dance’, with
Glen Campbell playing the lead guitar intro. It would soon become their twelfth Top 40 hit.
On this day in 1965, the
Beatles’ “Yesterday,” single goes #1 & stays #1 for 4 weeks.
On this day in 1966,
John Lennon and
Yoko Ono met for the first time at a London art gallery.
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.
Also in 1967, popular deejay “
Murray The K” Kaufman was fired from New York’s WOR-FM because of what was called his “inability to live with direction” from format-radio pioneer & consultant
Bill Drake. The so-called “Fifth Beatle” would soon turn up on Toronto’s CHUM 1050.
On this day in 1968,
The Beatles recorded “Long Long Long” and “Why Don’t We Do It In The Road.”
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. Barry Wilkins scored the very first Canucks goal.
Also in 1970,
Conway Twitty and
Loretta Lynn were paired for the first time to record “After The Fire Is Gone” for Decca Records. It would soon become Ms. Lynn’s first #1 country hit.
On this day in 1971,
Rod Stewart was at No.1 on the UK singles chart with ‘Maggie May.’
On this day in 1973,
Priscilla Presley
was divorced from
Elvis — in Santa Monica, CA. “Cilla” got $725,000 in cash, $1,200 per month in alimony, half interest in a $750,000 home plus a 5% interest in two of Elvis’ publishing companies. The split was amicable, and the two remained close friends.
Also this day in 1973, and still speaking of riches,
Paul Simon was awarded 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 1976, one hit wonders
Walter Murphy and the Big Apple Band went to No.1 on the US singles chart with ‘A Fifth Of Beethoven.’
On this day in 1978, Belgian singer-songwriter
Jacques Brel died of cancer aged just 49. Artists who recorded his songs include Ray Charles, Scott Walker, Alex Harvey, Frank Sinatra, Dusty Springfield, David Bowie, Nina Simone and Terry Jacks.
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.
On this day in 1980,
John Lennon celebrated his 40th birthday by releasing the single “(Just Like) Starting Over.”
On this day in 1981, during what would be the largest grossing tour of the year
The Rolling Stones played the first of two nights at the Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles, with
Prince opening the show. He was not a hit, and the crowd booed him from the stage after 15 minutes.
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 2.5-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. She was fired less than 8 mnths later. Carson quipped, “The (Rivers) show proves that all that glitters is not watched.”
On this day in 1987, Columbia records released
Bruce Springsteen‘s eighth studio album, “Tunnel of Love,” recorded largely without the E Street Band.
On this day in 1990, radio stations around the world played
“Imagine” to honor
John Lennon. Had he lived John would have turned 50 that day.
On this day in 1993,
Nirvana‘s In Utero entered the Billboard pop album chart in the #1 spot.
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 at age 76.
Also in 1999,
Mariah Carey featuring
Jay-Z were at No.1 on the US singles chart with ‘Heartbreaker.’
On this day in 2000, actor
David Dukes (Sisters, The Winds of War, War and Remembrance) suffered a fatal heart attack at age 55.
Also 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.”
Still 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 joined 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
Again this day in 2000, the 100th episode of “
Everybody Loves Raymond” aired on CBS.
On this day in 2001, early TV late-night personality & model
Dagmar (NBC’s Broadway Open House) died at the age of 79.
On this day in 2002, on what would have been the Beatle’s 62nd birthday, the man who killed
John Lennon,
Mark David Chapman was denied parole for a second time.
On this day in 2003, for the first time
Billboard’s Hot 100 singles chart had only African-American performers occupying the Top 10 spots.
Again in 2003, the Queen honored
Sting with a CBE (Commander of the British Empire.)
On this day in 2005, one of Steve Allen’s original “Men on the Street”
Louis Nye died of lung cancer at age 92. He started acting on radio’s soaps, his last appearances were in a running role on TV’s Curb Your Enthusiasm.
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.
Also in 2006,
Barbra Streisand lost patience with a persistent heckler at her Madison Square Garden show and yelled at the troublemaker “Shut the f— up!”
On this day in 2007, most of the late
George Harrison‘s solo music made its digital debut as iTunes released its version of his albums. The music of the other three Beatles had beaten Harrison’s to the digital revolution.
Also in 2007,
The Police had to postpone a pair of concerts in Belgium and Germany because frontman Sting was suffering from a “serious” throat infection and doctors advised him to rest.
On this day in 2008, longtime vegetarian
Paul McCartney was furious with a McDonald’s outlet in Liverpool that was displaying his picture. He called it a lousy way to attract customers, asking “What sort of morons do McDonald’s think Beatles fans are?”
Also in 2008,
Chris Cornell‘s “Ground Zero,” from his “Scream” album, was featured on the series premiere of ABC’s short-lived drama series “Life On Mars.”
On this day in 2010, radio & TV newscasts were dominated with the good news that drillers in Chile had reached the underground chamber where
33 miners were trapped…but alive.
On this day in 2011, longtime New York Oldies DJ
Bill Brown died at age 69. He did middays (plus a Saturday morning shift) at WCBS-FM for 36 years.
Also this day in 2011,
Paul McCartney got married for a third time (the late Linda Eastman and Heather Mills were his first two wives). At a service at Old Marylebone Town Hall (where Paul married Linda in ’69), the 69-year old ex-Beatle wed 51-year old Nancy Shevell of New Jersey, the daughter of a trucking company owner, who had been introduced to him by TV’s Barbara Walters.
On this day in 2012, veteran voice of the NHL’s Detroit Red Wings
Budd Lynch died at age 95. After doing radio play-by-play from 1949 to 1975 he became the Red Wings’ public address announcer and community relations director. Despite having only one arm he was the longest-tenured employee in team history.
On this day in 2013,
Paul McCartney gave a surprise performance at the Frank Sinatra School for the Arts in Astoria, Queens, which was founded by singer Tony Bennett in ’01. Said Paul, “This beats going to class.”
On this day in 2014,
comedienne and actress
Jan Hooks, who came to prominence as a cast member of Saturday Night Live (1986-91), succumbed to cancer at age 57. She went on to make repeated appearances in the last two seasons of CBS-TV’s Designing Women, as well as on NBC’s Third Rock from the Sun.
On this day in 2016,
Jane Pauley made her first appearance as the new host of
CBS Sunday Morning, replacing
Charles Osgood.
On this day in 2017, 
retired Vancouver talk show host Rafe Mair died at age 85. After working in the oil and insurance businesses, then as a lawyer, a city councillor in Kamloops and a BC cabinet minister, in 1981 he started his radio talk show career at Vancouver’s CJOR AM 600 at age 49. Laid off in 1984 he moved to CKNW where he remained on air .. and a ratings leader .. for the next two decades. He wrapped up his ‘open line’ career back at AM600 2003-04, and became a guest commentator for CBC radio & TV, as well as columnist for various publications including the online Tyee.
Also in 2017,
Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers “Greatest Hits” was #2 on the Billboard chart in the week following Petty’s death. The ’94 compilation was lodged behind Canadian country singer
Shania Twain’s comeback album “Now.”
On this day in 2018, the
46th Annual American Music Awards were held in
Los Angeles & aired live on
ABC.
Taylor Swift and
Camila Cabello were the big winners, with four awards each.
Today’s Birthdays
Actress
Lorna Raver (The Young & the Restless) is 78.
R&B singer
Nona Hendryx (LaBelle) is 77.
Singer
Jackson Browne is 73.
Spokane-born actor Gary Frank (Family) is 71.
Actor
Richard Chaves (War of the Worlds) is 70.
Actor
Robert Wuhl (Arli$$) is 70.
Actress-TV personality
Sharon Osbourne (The Talk, America’s Got Talent, The Osbournes) is 69.
Actor
Tony Shalhoub (Monk, The Marvellous Mrs. Maisel, BrainDead, Wings) is 68.
Actor
Scott Bakula (NCIS: New Orleans, Men of a Certain Age, Quantum Leap, Star Trek: Enterprise) is 67.
Actor/TV host
John O’Hurley (Family Feud, Seinfeld, To Tell the Truth, General Hospital) is 67.
Accordion player
James Fearnley of The Pogues is 67.
Vancouver-born actor/writer/producer Linwood Boomer (Little House on the Prairie, The Mindy Project, Malcolm in the Middle) is 66.
Actor
Michael Paré {South Beach, Houston Knights) is 63.
Actress
Dana Wheeler-Nicholson (Nashville, Friday Night Lights, Beverly Hills Buntz) is 61.
Actress/singer
Marin Mazzie (Still Standing) is 61.
Jazz saxophonist
Kenny Garrett is 61.
Actress
Sheila Kelley (Gossip Girl, Sisters, L.A. Law) is 60.
Actress/TV director
Jean Sagal (Two & a Half Men, Double Trouble, Picket Fences) is 60.
TV writer/producer
Liz Sagal (Sons of Anarchy, Midnight Texas) is 60.
Rock singer-musician
Kurt Neumann (The BoDeans) is 60.
New Brunswick-born actor John Ralston (Degrassi: the Next Generation, Good God, Living in Your Car, Life with Derek). is 57.
Actress
Sheila Kelley (L.A. Law, Sisters, Lost) is 57.
Writer/producer
Guillermo del Toro (The Strain) is 57.
Country singer
Gary Bennett (BR549) is 57.
Singer/songwriter
P.J. Harvey is 52.
Actor
Jason Butler Harner (Ray Donovan, Alcatraz) is 51.
Actress
Erin Daniels (The L Word) is 49.
Actress
Jennifer Aspen (Rodney, Party of Five) is 48.
Country singer
Tommy Shane Steiner is 48.
Actor/TV host
Steve Burns (Blue’s Clues) is 48.
Actor
Kieren Hutchison (One Tree Hill, Wildfire) is 47.
Singer/musician
Sean Lennon is 46.
Comedian/actor
Nick Swardson (Reno 911, Chozen) is 45.
Actor
Randy Spelling (Beverly Hills 90210, Sunset Beach) is 44.
Actor
Brandon Routh (Legends of Tomorrow, Arrow, One Life to Live) is 43.
Actor/voicist
Chris O’Dowd (Puffin Rock, Monsters vs. Aliens) is 43.
Musician
Lecrae is 43.
Actor
Zachery Ty Bryan (Home Improvement) is 41.
Actor
Colin Donnell (Chicago Med, Arrow) is 39.
Actress
Spencer Grammer (Greek, As the World Turns) is 38.
Actor
Gethin Anthony (Game of Thrones, Aquarius) is 38.
Actress
Jayden Cole (Life on Top) is 36.
Actress
Angelica Chitwood (Algo’s Factory) is 35.
Comedian
Melissa Villasenor (Saturday Night Live) is 34.
Actor
Tyler James Williams (Criminal Minds, RePlay, The Walking Dead, Go On, Everybody Loves Chris) is 29.
BC-born actress Autumn Chiklis (The Shield) is 28.
Country singer
Scotty McCreery (American Idol) is 28.
Nanaimo BC-born actress Joelle Ferland (Dark Matter, Kingdom Hospital, Home Alone: the Holiday Heist) is 27.
Model
Bella Hadid (Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show) is 25.
Actor
Jharrel Jerome (Mr. Mercedes) is 24.
Actor
Louis Hynes (A Series of Unfortunate Events) is 20.
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
2009
I Gotta Feeling – Black Eyed Peas
Run This Town – Jay-Z, Rihanna & Kanye West
Down – Jay Sean featuring Lil Wayne
Small Town USA – Justin Moore
Today in Broadcast History compiled by Ron Robinson
