| June 16 |
| 1907-- talented Jack Albertson, one of eight actors to win a Tony, Emmy and Oscar, is born in Malden, Massachusetts. The former vaudevillian will have many notable roles, such as the bed-bound grandpa in 'Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory,' as Shelley Winters's husband in 'The Poseidon Adventure' and of course as 'The Man' (that's where the Emmy comes in; he won the Tony and the Oscar for 'The Subject Was Roses') in 'Chico and the Man.' Jack wasn't the only well-known actor in the family, though; his sister Mabel (Howard Sprague's mother on 'The Andy Griffith Show,' Darrin Stephens's mother on 'Bewitched') also had a lengthy career in television. Mabel, who was six years older, died September 28, 1982, of Alzheimer's. Jack had died less than a year before, on November 25, 1981, of colon cancer. He was 74 years old. 1943 -- Joan Van Ark, whose name translates as 'Joan of Ark' in Dutch, is born in New York City. Much-remembered as Valene Ewing, sister-in-law of J.R. (but who didn't shoot him) and wife of Gary on both 'Dallas' and 'Knott's Landing,' Joan has a varied list of television credits. I'll always remember her in 1972 film 'Frogs,' with Sam Elliott and Ray Milland. How impressed was I? Impressed enough that as a 12-year-old I'd have fought my way through an island of frogs to rescue her! . . . Okay, so in print that doesn't look so impressive, but as a 12 year old . . . 1947 -- 'The Walter Compton News' begins on the Dumont Network. In August it becomes the first network newscast by virtue of being seen simultaneously in New York City. (For an excellent history of the underfunded Dumont Network, check out Clarke Ingram's fascinating dumonthistory.tv. Warning: be prepared to spend hours of fact-filled fun perusing its files!) 1953 -- Mary Martin and Ethel Merman headline a 50th anniversary tv salute to the Ford Motor Company. 1959 -- a nude George Reeves, remembered by television fans as Superman (although he also bore a striking resemblance to mild-mannered reporter Clark Kent) is found dead in his home of a gunshot wound. Although officially ruled a suicide, questions remain to this day (for instance, why did the three members of a drunken party elsewhere in the house, including his wife, wait an hour after hearing the shot before calling police?). For a surprisingly even-handed, close to the facts account of the different theories, check out the film Hollywoodland. (A number of books and websites also are dedicated to the subject. Answers.com has a nice summary.) After a grim subject, here's a fun piece of trivia: which Superman was taller, George Reeves or Christopher Reeve? Answer: The 6'4" Christopher Reeve by four inches. (Despite the disparity, both were able to leap tall buildings in a single bound.) George Reeve, who also portrayed a suitor of Scarlett O'Hara in 'Gone With the Wind,' was 45 when he died. 1960 -- classic Alfred Hitchcock chiller 'Psycho' has its world premiere in New York City. Along with the director himself, the film features such television mainstays as Vera Miles (Lila, Marion's sister), Simon Oakland (the psychiatrist), John McIntire (sheriff), John Anderson (the car dealer, California Charley) and Martin Balsam (the private detective, Arbogast, whose spiraling staircase death could induce vertigo. Notice the Hitchcock tie-in there?). 1961 -- Dave Garroway is fired as host of 'The Today Show.' After his dismissal, Dave is sued by former co-host J. Fred Muggs (or, more specifically, his handlers), with the allegation that Dave had damaged J. Fred's career by claiming he once bit him. Garroway's lawyers countered that Muggs had indeed bitten Dave on the face while they were live on the air. By now, of course, you've remembered that J. Fred Muggs is a chimpanzee . . . 1976 -- summer variety series 'The Jacksons' begins a 4-week run on CBS. 1978 -- 'Grease,' starring John Travolta & Olivia Newton-John, opens in North American theatres. 1996 -- Melvin Allen Israel, voice of the Yankees from 1939 - 1964 and again from 1975 - 1984, dies at the age of 83. He was elected to the broadcasters' wing of the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1978. 2003 -- Based loosely on the Stephen King novel, 'The Dead Zone' debuts. |