| May 15 |
| 1909 -- James Neville Mason was born in Yorkshire, England. While his distinctive voice and presence were part of such films as 'North By Northwest' and 'A Star Is Born,' he made his biggest television impression in 1979 with the mini-series 'Salem's Lot,' in which he played Stephen King's lead vampire Richard Straker. James Mason died of a heart attack in 1984 at the age of 75. 1933 -- radio soap opera 'Today's Children' aired for the first time. The impact on television was that Irna Phillips, who later created such long-running soaps 'As the World Turns,' 'Guiding Light' and 'Another World,' among others, played the starring role of 'Mother Moran.' By 1938, 'Today's Children' was the #1 radio soap. 1955 -- future 'Matt Houston' and avid outdoorsman Lee Horsley is born in Muleshoe, Texas. 1961 -- The Al Caiola Orchestra 2:02 version of the theme from 'Bonanaza' peaked at #19 on the pop charts. 1988 -- towering TV fixture Andrew Duggan, who starred in 'Bourbon Street Beat' and 'Lancer' and guested on countless TV series in the '50s, '60s and '70s, died of throat cancer at the age of 64. Interestingly, the 6'6'' Duggan, in a toupee', portrayed John Walton in 'The Homecoming' which was the pilot episode of 'The Waltons.' Patricia Neal portrayed Olivia and Edgar Bergen was the grandfather. Ellen Corby (the grandmother) and all of the child actors carried over into the series. Also of note: Andrew Duggan's voice narrated the 'Carousel of Progress' at Disney World. |