| June 12 |
1909 -- bandleader and arranger Archie Bleyer is born in Queens. Although he had a long career in music, Archie's biggest link to television was his 1946-53 stint as orchestra leader for Arthur Godfrey on radio & TV. While it's remembered that Godfrey fired singer Julius LaRosa in the on the air in 1953 because he 'lost his humility,' Godfrey also fired Bleyer days later. The November 6-12, 1953, TV Guide had an interesting piece by Bob Stahl about the behind-the-scenes turmoil. In essence, LaRosa was basically working for scale but a week earlier had signed with a talent agency that would, undoubtedly, be looking for a significant raise from the notoriously tight Godfrey. As for Bleyer, during his vacation two weeks earlier 'he recorded some poetry readings by Don McNeill, star of ABC's Breakfast Club. Since that program is on the air directly opposite Godfrey's morning show, it is reported -- reliably -- that Arthur thought Bleyer guilty of cooperating a little too much with the competition.' Stahl's piece went on to say that in a press conference days later, Godfrey 'indicated that he still wanted an apology from the band leader for making the Don McNeil recordings.' Archie Bleyer died in 1989, six years and four days after Arthur Godfrey. 1936 -- Legendary KDKA in Pittsburgh becomes the first 50,000 watt radio station. 1947 -- 'Sergeant Preston of The Yukon' airs on radio for the first time. Featuring Sgt. Preston's faithful dog Yukon King (who was raised by a wolf until the Sergeant found him as a puppy), the show stayed on radio until 1955 with Paul Sutton in the title role, then moved to television until 1958 with Dick Simmons in the frigid north. Each episode ended with Sgt. Preston hugging King and saying 'Well, King, it looks like this case is closed.' By the way, Sgt. Preston's horse was named Rex. 1955 -- 'Mr Peepers,' with Wally Cox, Tony Randall, Marion Lorne and Ernest Truex, airs for the last time on NBC. The show's tagline -- America's Favorite Science Teacher, Underdog and All-Around Nice Guy -- tipped us off to Wally's next big (animated) gig, that of Underdog. 1958 -- Game show 'Make Me Laugh' end its short run on ABC. A syndicated version was tried in 1979 but ended in February, 1980. Bobby Van, host of the second version, died of a brain tumor just five months later. 1960 -- yippy, I'm born! Other folks born this date include President George H. W. Bush, Jim Nabors, Vic Damon and Jennilee Harrison. 1965 -- Sonny & Cher make their first television appearance, singing 'I Got You Babe' on 'American Bandstand.' Interesting note: one of their running gags was that Cher towered over Sonny. Was that reall the case? Celebheights.com lists Sonny as 5'5" and Cher as 5'6," while imdb.com has Sonny as 5'6 1/2" and Cher as 5'8 1/2." Either way, it's safe to assume Cher got some help from her heels. Not from her dresses, mind you, but she really looked good in those dresses . . . 1965 -- Tex Ritter, father of John Ritter, makes his debut on the Grand Ol' Opry at the age of 56. 1980 -- Milburn Stone, forever identified as 'Doc' Galen Adams on 'Gunsmoke,' dies at the age of 75. With the exception of his recovery from a heart attack in 1971 (during which his character was out of town and Pat Hingle, as Dr. John Chapman, filled in for the six episodes), Milburn was with the series throughout its 20-year run. Note: although the show was set in Dodge City, Milburn Stone was the only member of the original cast who was actually born in Kansas. 1989 -- Speaking of doctors, 'Doctor Doctor,' starring Matt Frewer, debuts on CBS. Ma previously portrayed 'Max Headroom.' 2003 -- Oscar-winner Gregory Peck dies of complications from pneumonia in Los Angeles. His legendary films include 'The Yearling,' 'MacArthur' and, of course, his classic portrayal of dignified smalltown attorney Atticus Finch in 'To Kill a Mockingbird.' On television, made three telefilms and appeared as Abraham Lincoln in the miniseries 'The Blue and The Gray.' |