| June 30 |
1937 -- Tony Musante, one of the few stars to walk away from a hit series and not suffer for it (nee Shelley Long, David Caruso and others), is born in Bridgeport, Connecticut. Cutting his teeth on the stage, the intense Musante began taking his talents to wider audiences with such edgy films as 'The Incident' in 1967 and Frank Sinatra's gritty 'The Detective' the following year. Subsequent years saw him portray Eric Roberts's uncle in 'The Pope of Greenwich Village' ('Dey cut off my t'umb, Manny, 'dey cut off my t'umb!') and 2007's 'We Own the Night.' But it was television that saw him locked behind bars as Nino Schibetta on HBO's 'Oz' and working the streets as real-life honest cop Frank Toma (who usually had a cameo -- in a different disguise -- each week) in ABC's edgy 'Toma' with Susan Strasberg as wife Patty. At the beginning of the series, though, Tony signed a contract that committed him to a second season only if the number of scheduled episodes were cut back to ten, or to six 90-minute 'Movie of the Week-type' episodes. Reportedly, producers signed the unusual contract believing Tony would change his mind if the show was a hit. It was, Tony didn't, and 'Toma' was history. Tony is still active today on screens both big and small. 1948 -- scientists from Bell Telephone Laboratories demonstrate the transistor, their new invention that will eventually replace the vacuum tube. John Bardeen, Walter H. Brattain and William Shockley receive the Nobel Prize for their work. Later, they change their names to Manny, Moe and Jack and revolutionize the automobile after-care industry as the Pep Boys. (Okay, I made that last part up.) 1952 -- 'The Guiding Light' debuts on CBS . Already a radio mainstay for 15 years, the story of the Bauer family and fellow Springfield residents will end its run this summer, 2009, after an incredible run of 72 years. 1973 -- 'The Burns and Schreiber Comedy Hour,' starring Jack Burns & Avery Schreiber, debuts as a summer show on ABC. For an incredibly detailed history of Jack (and his teaming with Avery), check out this fascinating website. 1974 -- The Hues Corporation hits Number One with 'Rock the Boat.' It stays there for one week and is then succeeded, ironically, by George McCrae's 'Rock Your Baby.' 1978 -- Martin Mull hosts and Jethro Tull, Robert Palmer, and Flo & Eddie sing on 'Midnight Special.' 1983 -- comedienne Mary Livingstone dies of heart disease in LA. Mary, born Sadye Marks in Seattle, outlived her beloved husband Jack Benny by nine years. Mary was 77 at the time of her death. 1988 -- cop spoof 'Sledge Hammer!' airs for the final time on ABC. Tracking the (incompetent) footsteps of Detective Frank Drebbin from six years earlier, David Rasche's Sledge actually had a better run, airing 41 episodes compared to only six for 'Police Squad!' Ultimately, though, Leslie Nielsen has the last whoopee cushion as Drebbin went on to star in three lucrative 'Naked Gun!' movies. 1995 -- Gale Gordon passes away of cancer. The mustachioed Gordon, born Charles Aldrich, Jr., in New York City, was forever linked with Lucille Ball, with whom he co-starred in all of her post-Desi Arnaz series. Gale and Bea Benaderet (Kate, 'Petticoat Junction'), who co-starred with Lucy on her 'My Favorite Husband' radio series, reportedly were offered the roles of landlords Fred and Ethel Mertz but both were unable to due to prior commitments. Gale's death occurred just six weeks after that of his wife; they were married for 57 years. Gale was 89 years old. |