July 23













1894 -- Arthur Treacher is born in Brighton, England.  
While his film career consisted mainly of playing butlers
(but playing them very well), the 6'4" Treacher enjoyed a
career resurgence from 1965 - 1970 when he was the
announcer/sidekick on 'The Merv Griffin Show.' ('And
now, here's the dear boy himself, Meerrvinn . . .') This led
to the establishment of the fast food chain Arthur
Treacher's Fish & Chips, which still exists today.found a
high-profile role on TV as announcer/sidekick on the
Merv Griffin syndicated talk show.  That led to
establishment of the fast food chain Arthur Treacher's
Fish & Chips, which still exists today. Arthur died of heart
disease on December 14, 1975. He was 81 years old.  









1908 -- Karl Swenson is born in Brooklyn. Of Swedish
descent, he worked steadily on radio throughout the '30s
and '40s, including the title role in 'Lorenzo Jones,' before
beginning the transition into television. He's perhaps
best-remembered for his role of Lars Hanson, founder of
Walnut Grove, on 'Little House on the Prairie.' Karl died
of a heart attack on October 8, 1878. He was 70 years
old.








1933 -- Bernard Whalen ('Bert') Convy is born today in
St. Louis. While remembered today more for his role as
a game show guest and host ('Tattletales,' 'Win, Lose or
Draw'), Bert was also a talented singer, actor -- and
baseball player. (According to author Jon Weisman, Bert
was a left-handed hitting leftfielder in 1951-1952
Philadelphia Phillies farmhand.)
Sadly, Bert's life came to an all-too-sudden end: In April,
1990, while visiting his mother, he collapsed while visiting
his mother. Bert was diagnosed with a malignant brain
tumor and, after suffering several strokes, he died July
15, 1991, eight days shy of his 58th birthday.











































1950 -- Speaking of baseball, one-time media mogul,
cowboy deluxe and owner of the California Angels, Gene
Autry, goes to the small screen with 'The Gene Autry
Show.' Already a legend, Gene was dubbed 'America's
Favorite Cowboy.' Aided by his pal Pat Buttram and
faithful horse Champion, the show ended on Christmas
Eve, 1955.


1966 -- Less than a week after marrying Mia Farrow,
Frank Sinatra hits the top of the pop album charts with
'Strangers in the Night,' his first top-selling LP since
1960.   












1966 -- One-hit wonder Napoleon XIV released the
soon-to-be-novelty-smash 'They're Coming to Take Me
Away, Ha! Ha!' The song eventually hits the Top Five.





          


          
1982 -- In a true Hollywood tragedy, Vic Morrow,
best-known for the lead role of Sgt. Saunders on
'Combat!' was killed along with the two child actors he
was carrying while filming a scene for 'Twilight Zone: The
Movie.' Director John Landis ('The Blues Brothers') was
later acquitted of manslaughter charges. Vic was 53
years old at the time of his death; the two children,
My-Ca Dinh Le and Renee Shin-Yi Chen were ages 7
and 6, respectively.










1987 -- St. Louis Cardinals broadcaster Jack Buck is
inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame as winner of the
Ford Frick Award.

          
1989 -- , FOX-TV topped ABC, NBC and CBS for the
1st time, thanks to "America's Most Wanted."



1990 -- Daniel Jacob Radcliffe is born in London. At just
nine years of age he won the role of young David in
'David Copperfield.' Then, two years later, he won the
title role of 'Harry Potter.'
Enough said?
Napoleon XIV
was actually
singer, producer
and songwriter
Jerry Samuels.
Jerry's identity
was unknown
until Cousin
Brucie broke the
'news' on WABC.
'Time Out,' which starred Vic
Morrow, was the only 'new'
segment of 1982's 'Twilight
Zone: The Movie.' The others
were recreations of classic TZ
episodes 'Kick the Can,'
'Nightmare at 20,000 Feet' and
'It's a Good Life.'
1939 -- Another multi-talented
actor, singer and songwriter is
born today in Cloudcroft, New
Mexico. Daniel Ronald 'Ronny'
Cox first takes to music before
he decides to work as an
actor, as well. His first time in
front of a camera becomes a
classic as he portrays ill-fated,
double-jointed (that's how they
got the chilling look of him up
against the rocks) Drew in
John Boorman's 'Deliverance.'
     Over the years, Ronny
plays good (his short-lived Earl
Hamner series 'Apple's Way,'
bad ('Robocop,' 'Total Recall')
and we're not sure at first
('Beverly Hills Cop').
     Lately, Ronny has returned
to his first love of music and
frequently performs around the
world. See what he's up to next
at his website.
Photos Courtesy
of Ronnycox.com
According to imdb.com, Karl
made nine different appearances
-- each time as a different
character -- on what TV show? A.
Gunsmoke; B. The Odd Couple;
C. Run for Your Life; or D.,
Bonanza.
Answer: A., Gunsmoke