| June 13 |
| 1910 -- Mary Wickes is born Mary Isabelle Wickenhauser in St. Louis. The first part of her career is marked by stage work and the latter by some much-enjoyed film work (both 'Sister Acts' with Whoopi Goldberg, 'Postcards from the Edge,' 'Little Women' with Wynona Ryder), but the lengthy middle of this gangly comedienne's long career was filled with notable work on television. Remember the man-hungry Miss Cathcart on 'Dennis the Menace?' The wise-cracking housekeeper to Tom Bosley's 'Father Dowling?' Or the oft-repeated one-timer as Lucy Ricardo's disciplined ballet teacher on 'I Love Lucy?' ('Ah one, ah two, ah three, ah four, ah five, ah six, ah seveneight!') There were also countless guest appearances with the likes of Bob Hope, Red Skelton, Jack Benny and many more. In real life a good friend of Lucille Ball, the 5'10" Mary succumbed to a series of health problems on October 22, 1995, at the age of 85. Her final professional role, that as the voice of a gargoyle in Disney's animated 'The Hunchback of Notre Dame,' was released posthumously the following year. In 1913, announcer/host/producer Ralph Edwards (below) was born in Merino Colorado. He is best remembered as radio's host for the audience particpation show Truth or Consequences, which he created in 1940, and the TV host of This Is Your Life. In his early years in radio he was announcer on as many as 45 shows a week. In his later years he was one of TV's most prolific producers. He died of congestive heart failure Nov 16, 2005 at age 92. In 1926, actor/comedian Paul Lynde was born in Mt. Vernon, Ohio. Best remembered as the hilarious center square on Hollywood Squares, his other TV credits include The Perry Como Show, Bewitched, The Dean Martin Show, Donny & Marie, & The Paul Lynde Show. Cardiac arrest due to extreme substance abuse led to his death Jan 10, 1982 at age 55. 1944 -- the wire recorder, a precursor of magnetic tape recorders, is patented by Marvin Camras. 1964 -- the Rolling Stones appear on ABC's 'Hollywood Palace,' hosted by Dean Martin. In 1979, child actress Darla Hood, feaured in the Our Gang comedies (1935-41) which in the '50's became TV staples under the title "The Little Rascals," contracted acute hepatitis while undergoing minor surgery & died at age 47. 1981 -- Tom Snyder interviews serial killer Charles Manson on NBC's late, late 'Tomorrow.' 1986 -- The King of Swing, bandleader and clarinetist Benny Goodman, dies at the age of 77. We mention this because it gives you another reason to play 'Stompin' at the Savoy' and 'Sing, Sing, Sing' without getting yelled at by the boss. 1987, one of the finest American actresses Geraldine Page, suffered a heart attack & died at age 62. Although best known for her stage mastery, she won one Oscar & two Emmies, the latter for a pair of Truman Capote televised dramas in the 60's, A Christmas Memory & The Thanksgiving Visitor. In 1989, actress Fran Allison, who was Aunt Fanny on radio's Breakfast Club, and the human member of the TV kids trio known as Kukla, Fran and Ollie, dies at age 81. 2004 -- tal, announcer Danny Dark (below), the voice of NBC Television for a number of years, the announcer who said "Sorry Charlie" in the StarKist Tuna commercials, and the voice of Superman in the 'Super Friends' TV cartoons, died at age 63. Actor Richard Thomas (Waltons, Just Cause) is 57. Comedian Tim Allen (Home Improvement) is 55. Actresses Ashley and Mary-Kate Olsen (Full House, So Little Time) are 22. |