| June 25 |
| 1926 -- venerable and beautiful June Lockhart is born in New York City. The only child of talented character actors Gene and Kathleen Lockhart (they played Bob Cratchit and his wife in the 1938 film version of 'A Christmas Carol' and June appeared, uncredited, as their daughter Belinda Cratchit) and, in turn, mother of actress Anne Lockhart, the still-active June has starred in 'Lassie' and 'Lost in Space' and guested on many others. Happy Birthday, June Lockhart! 1942 -- the radio quiz/comedy show 'It Pays to Be Ignorant' airs for the first time. It led to two television versions. Tom Howard hosted the first version, which aired in 1949 on CBS and 1951 on NBC. Comic actor Joe Flynn (Captain Binghamton on 'McHale's Navy') was the host of the last (syndicated) version, which, according to Wikipedia, aired for one year, from September, 1973, to September, 1974. The last two months of episodes aired posthumously for Joe; he drowned following a heart attack that July. 1951 -- CBS transmits the first commercial color broadcast, an hour-long special hosted by Arthur Godfrey. At that time, though, there were no color televisions among the public. 1955 -- After leaving Sid Caesar, Imogene Coca's venture as a solo act comes to a sudden end; 'The Imogene Coca Show' show ends after eight months on NBC. 1961 -- Pat Boone spends his last day ever at Number One; the melancholy 'Moody River' is his last chart-topper. 1970 -- 'Happy Days' debuts, but probably not the one you're thinking of. Four years before Richie, Ralph and Potsie take Milwaukee by storm, it's Bob and Ray, Jack Burns, Chuck McCann and others, and the happy days they're remembering are the '30s and '40s (it's not even ABC -- it's CBS). On tonight's premeire, Bob Eberly, Helen O'Connell and Buddy Rich are among the musical guests. The summer replacement series lasts two months. Louis Nye is the host. 1976 -- Linda Edna Cardellini is born in Redwood City, California. While she's just finished up a six-year run on 'ER' as Nurse Samantha Taggert, the 5'3" Cardellini got her first break as Sarah in the 1996 live-action Saturday-morning show 'Bone Chillers,' based on Betsy Haynes's books about Edgar Allen Poe High. No doubt it was good training for Linda when she portrayed crime-solving Thelma on the two big-screen live versions of 'Scooby Doo.' Jinkies! 1985 -- ABC's 'Monday Night Football' has a new lineup. With Dandy Don Meredith stepping down (Howard Cosell left controversially two years earlier), Frank Gifford and third-year man O.J. Simpson are joined by former brash Jets quarterback 'Broadway' Joe Namath. The lineup only lasts a year, though; both Juice and Joe are replaced the following season by Al Michaels as 'MNF' has a two-man booth for the only time in its 36-year run. (Okay, think about it; Frank Gifford, O.J. Simpson and Joe Namath. If you were to make a prediction on this date, which one would you have predicted would have the most scandal-free future?!) 1993 -- Bruce Springsteen is a surprise guest on the last 'Late Night with David Letterman.' |