1910 -- Sophia Kosow, who would one day be called the
actress with the saddest eyes in Hollywood, is born
today in the Bronx. In fact, so weepy were some of her
early roles that she joked that she was 'paid by the tear.'
But before the ride was over, 'Sylvia Sidney' had a
career that comedy, drama, music, film and television.










Although she's known to present-day film fans for the
role as chain-smoking post-death counselor Juno in
'Beetlejuice,' Sylvia's earlier resume' included starring
roles in 'The Trail of the Lonesome Pine' with Henry
Fonda, 'Madame Butterfly with Cary Grant and Alfred
Hitchcock's 'Sabatoge.'
With the exception of 'Beetlejuice' and 'Mars Attacks'
(her character stumbles across the fact that Martians
can't stand Slim Whitman music), most of the last two
decades of Sylvia's career were spent on television, with
roles as the original 'Mother Carlson' on 'W.K.R.P. in
Cincinatti' and, in her last appearances, as the travel
clerk in the revival of 'Fantasy Island.'
Sylvia's personal life was often as interesting as her life
on-screen. Married and divorced three times, none of
the unions lasted more than ten years. In fact, the first
one, to publisher and future gameshow panelist Bennett
Cerf lasted just three months (officially resulting in
divorce after eight months). Later, Cerf reportedly said,
'One should never legalize a hot romance.'
Sylvia died of throat cancer on July 1, 1999. She was 88
years old.















1922 -- Francis Timothy McCown is born in Los
Angeles. With a spotty legal past and any number of jobs
that he tried and failed at, Rory Calhoun finally makes
good when he tries his hand at acting. With wavy black
hair and a mischievous glint in his eye, Rory often played
noble scoundrels. (Okay, I'm starting to scare myself. If I
write about heaving bosoms and unfathomable aches
that lie deep within the abyss of the heart, someone stop
me. Please . . . just stop me.)
Among his 80 films were Edward G. Robinson's
psychological thriller 'The Red House,' the comedy 'That
Hagen Girl' with Ronald Reagan and Shirley Temple and
Susan Hayward's 'With a Song in My Heart.' But Rory's
film career was dwarfed by his television appearances;
imdb.com credits him with more than 1,000 tv
appearances, including starring roles as on daily soap
'Capitol' and 'The Texan.













Rory died of complications of diabetes and emphysema
on April 28, 1999. He was 76 years old.



1934 -- Bing Crosby becomes the first singer to record
for Decca Records.













1966 -- Ever wonder whatever happened to the Barkley's
father? Handy Random does. In fact, he killed Mr.
Barkley's murderer and tonight returns to 'The Big Valley'
but this time . . . something's not quite right. James
Whitmore portrays Handy.













1974 -- Roberta Flack receives a gold record for 'Feel
Like Makin' Love, which was featured in the film 'Play
Misty for Me,' which starred Clint Eastwood and
television veterans Donna Mills, Jessica Walter and John
Larch.










1987 -- U2 returns to the top of the charts with one of the
best songs of all time, 'I Still Haven't Found what I'm
Looking For,' the second single from 'The Joshua Tree.'


2002 -- The FCC orders television manufacturers to
install tuners for digital signals in new sets by 2007. The
official conversion to digital took place June 12, 2009.
August 8
When first wife Lita Baron
sought to end their
22-year marriage, she
named 79 women that
Rory allegedly committed
adultery with. Responded
Calhoun, 'She didn't reply
half of them.'
Film and television veteran
John Larch (L) acted until he
was 86 years old. Along with
'Play Misty for Me,' he will
always be remembered for
the classic Twilight Zone
episode 'It's a Good Life'
with Cloris Leachman and
Billy Mumy.
1950 -- Speaking of Bing,
his son Harry is born today
in Hollywood. Although
Harry's film career includes
just a handful of roles, in
1980 he co-starred (L) in
the still-popular horror film
'Friday the 13th.'