| June 11 |
| 1914 -- handsome Gerald Mohr is born in New York City. Equally adept at comedy and drama, good guys and bad, his rich baritone voice garnered him the 'Radio and Television Life' 1950 award as 'Best Actor in Radio.' While a frequent guest star on television and co-star in 'B' movies, this Columbia University-educated actor's face is best remembered for the 1960 sci-fi classic 'The Angry Red Planet' and his voice for the classic 'Lone Ranger' introduction ('Here's adventure . . . here's romance . . .) He also provided the voice of Reed Richards in the '60s Saturday morning cartoon 'Fantastic Four.' Gerald died of a heart attack November 9, 1968, near Stockholm, Sweden, where he'd finished filming a pilot called 'Private Entrance.' Gerald Mohr was 54. 1936 -- Raymond Lee Cramton is born in South Bend, Indiana. Under his screen name of Chad Everett, Raymond is best-known for his role of Dr. Joe Gannon on the CBS drama 'Medical Center.' A recovering alcoholic, Raymond/Chad appeared in the 1999 re-shooting of 'Psycho' as wealthy Tom Cassidy, whose $40,000 cash proves an irresistible temptation to Marion Crane (and we know how that turned out). 1953 -- the TV sitcom 'Amos 'n Andy,' the focus of sharp criticisms for its racial stereotypes, airs for the final time. The radio series on which it was based (and which had white actors in the starring roles), continued to air until 1960. 1970 -- actor Frank Silvera, who portrayed Don Sebastian Montoya on 'High Chaparral,' is electrocuted while repairing his garbage disposal. Frank was 55. 1976 -- a game show based on a 50-foot high pinball machine, 'The Magnificent Marble Machine,' airs for the last time on NBC. Hosted by Art James, 'Marble' was dreamed up by Merrill Heater and Bob Quigley, creators of 'Hollywood Squares.' 1979 -- John Wayne, one of America's greatest legends, dies of cancer. While his career included more than 200 films, you might be interested in his lesser-known influence on television. It's well-known that he declined the role of Matt Dillon and instead recommended James Arness, but the Duke was so supportive of Arness that he even filmed an introduction to the first 'Gunsmoke' episode. His other appearances include a cameo in the October 4, 1962, episode 'Alcoa Presents' entitled 'Flashing Spikes,' which starred Jimmy Stewart and was directed by friend and legendary director John Ford; as himself in a 5th-season episode of 'The Lucy Show;' and the November 23, 1960, episode of Wagon Train in which he appeared only in silhouette (and unmistakeable voice) as General William T. Sherman in 'The Colter Craven Story.' This was directed by another legend, Howard Hawkes. Sadly, this was a bittersweet episode because it marked the last time that good friends Wayne, Hawkes and star Ward Bond ever worked together; Bond died of a massive heart attack 18 days before the episode aired. John Wayne delivered the eulogy. 1986 -- the under-appreciated 'Blacke's Magic,' in which magician Alexander Blacke (Hal Linden) and his conman father (Harry Morgan) solve crimes airs for the last time after just five months on the air. 1999 -- Deforest Kelley -- Chief Medical Officer Dr. Leonard 'Bones' McCoy aboard the Federation starship Enterprise -- dies at the age of 79. |