| June 6 |
1955 -- Bill Haley & the Comets hit #1 with 'Rock Around the Clock,' which was later used as the first theme song for 'Happy Days.' 1975 -- actor and game show host Larry Blyden, who starred in 'Joe and Mabel' and 'Harry's Girls' as well as emceed 'The Movie Game' and the syndicated version of 'What's My Line,' died in a car accident in Morocco while searching for antiquities. Blyden's best success, though, was on Broadway, including a revival of 'A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum,' for which he won a Tony Award. Born Ivan Lawrence Blieden, Larry was 49 at the time of his death. 1978 -- TV newsmagazine 20/20 debuts. Harold Hayes and Robert Hughes, the original hosts, were replaced after the first show with Hugh Downs, who was later joined by Barbara Walters. 1991 -- In Las Vegas, Dana Plato receives a six year suspended sentence for robbing a video store. 1992 -- The 700th episode of 'Soul Train' airs. 1994 -- commanding actor Barry Sullivan, who guested on more than 100 television shows, dies of respiratory problems. In film, his resume' included roles in 'Earthquake,' 'Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid' and 'Tell Them Willie Boy Is Here.' He was 81 at the time of his death. |