April 24 Radio History

➦In 1947...One of Jack Webb's short-lived pre-Dragnet detective-adventure radio show Johnny Madero: Pier 23 debuted on the Mutual Broadcasting System.

➦In 1949…Dick Powell began a four-year run as "Richard Diamond, Private Detective" on NBC Radio. The radio series centered on a wisecracking, former police officer turned private detective. Episodes typically opened with a client visiting or calling cash-strapped Diamond's office and agreeing to his fee of $100 a day plus expenses, or Diamond taking on a case at the behest of his friend and former partner, Lt. Walter Levinson

In the late 1950s, Powell's company, Four Star Television, produced a TV version of the series starring David Janssen. His secretary, Sam, was shown only from the waist down to display her beautiful legs. Initially, those were the legs of budding actress Mary Tyler Moore, but later, the legs of other actresses were shown.



➦In 1953...Eric Bogosian was born in Woburn, Massachusetts. Bogosian is best known for his starring role in the movie, Talk Radio, a 1988 American drama film directed by Oliver Stone and starring Bogosian, Alec Baldwin, Ellen Greene, and Leslie Hope.

Portions of the film and play were based on the assassination of radio host Alan Berg in 1984 and the book Talked to Death: The Life and Murder of Alan Berg.  Berg was murdered while working for Denver's KOA 850 AM.

In the movie Barry Champlain, a Jewish radio personality in Dallas, Texas, is a host with a caustic sense of humor and a knack for condescending to his audience with his controversial political views.dio.

➦In 1954...Billboard magazine, the music industry trade publication, headlined a tsunami to come in the music biz. The headline read, “Teenagers Demand Music with a Beat — Spur Rhythm and Blues” … a sign of the entertainment revolution that was underway.

➦In 1959…After 24 years of Saturday nights on radio and nine years on television, the final installment of the musical countdown show "Your Hit Parade" was televised on NBC-TV.

The final Top Five: Elvis Presley, "I Need Your Love Tonight" (#5), Brook Benton, "It's Just A Matter Of Time" (#4), Ricky Nelson, "Never Be Anyone Else But You" (#3), Dodie Stevens, "Pink Shoe Laces" (#2), and the Fleetwoods at #1 with "Come Softly To Me."

➦In 1972…John Lennon's controversial single, "Woman Is the N#gger of the World" was released in the U.S. The song televised on 11 May, on The Dick Cavett Show. Many radio stations refused to broadcast the song.  The song reached #57 on the Billboard Hot 100, even though only two major radio stations – KDAY in Los Angeles and WCFL in Chicago – aired it.

Yoko Ono originally uttered the phrase during a magazine interview in 1967 and John explained that he was making a point that women deserved higher status in society.

Abbott & Costello

➦In 1974...William Alexander "Bud" Abbott died at age 78 from prostate cancer (Born - October 2, 1897). He was best known for his comedy double act, as straight man to Lou Costello.

Born into a show business family, Abbott worked in the box office of several theatres, before becoming a comedian/producer of burlesque shows on Broadway, where he allowed Costello to appear with him when his own partner was off ill. They formally teamed up in 1935. Their signature routine, "Who's on First?", was carried through to radio and then to their film debut One Night in the Tropics (1940) and Buck Privates (1941). The duo would go on to make 36 films. During World War II, they were among the most popular entertainers in the world, and sold $85 million in war bonds.

Abbott and Costello launched their own long-running radio show in 1942, and then a live TV show. But by 1955, they were felt to be over-exposed, their film contract was terminated, and the partnership split soon afterwards. Costello died in 1959.

Groucho Marx declared Abbott to be the best straight man in the comedy business.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY:

• Actress Shirley MacLaine (Downton Abbey, Shirley’s World, Battle of Mary Kay, Salem Witch Trials) is 86.
• Actress-singer-director Barbra Streisand (Ed Sullivan Show, TV Specials, Grammy/Academy Awards) is 78.
• Country singer Richard Sterban of the Oak Ridge Boys is 77.
• Drummer Doug Clifford (Creedence Clearwater Revival) is 75.
• Singer-keyboardist Rob Hyman of The Hooters is 70.
• Actor Eric Bogosian (Law & Order:CI, Love Monkey) is 67.
• Actor-comedian ‘Cedric the Entertainer’ Kyles (The Soul Man, Steve Harvey Show, The Proud Family) is 56.
• Actor Thad Luckinbill (The Young and the Restless) is 45.
• Country singer Rebecca Lynn Howard is 41.
• Singer Kelly Clarkson (The Voice, American Idol) is 38.
• Miss Alabama USA/TV personality Katherine Webb (ABC’s Splash) is 31.
• Country singer Carly Pearce is 30.