➦In 1909...Elvis Presleys’ manager, the late Colonel Tom Parker was born in the Netherlands. Before managing Elvis, Parker handled the careers of Minnie Pearl, Eddy Arnold, Hank Snow and Tom Mix. Presley was convinced he wouldn’t have hit it as big without Parker’s guidance, and in the latter years was splitting the take with Parker 50/50. He died Jan 21 1997 after a stroke at age 87.
➦In 1916...news commentator & anchor Alex Dreier was born in Honolulu Hawaii.
He did radio commentaries for NBC from 1942-45 and 1951-56. As Chicago’s ‘man on the go’ he anchored first at WNBQ and then WBKB-TV’s top rated news in the late 50’s and 60. He later moved to California where he pursued a TV acting career and was a newscaster for KTTV.
He died March 11 2000 at age 83.
➦In 1933…the Kraft Music Hall debuted on NBC radio. It turned out to be one of radio’s longest-running hits. The first programs, designed to introduce Miracle Whip salad dressing, presented Paul Whiteman and his Orchestra. Singer Al Jolson became the host of the show in 1934, and Bing Crosby’s decade at the KMH helm began in 1936.
The Kraft Music Hall continued on NBC radio until 1949 and then on TV for many more years ; the first year as Milton Berle Starring in the Kraft Music Hall, later it was Perry Como‘s Kraft Music Hall for four seasons. From 1967 on, TV’s Kraft Music Hall featured a variety of guest hosts. Bring on the Velveeta and the Philadelphia brand cream cheese!
➦In 1949...entertainer Fred Allen ended his amazing radio career as host of his own show. Allen was attempting a transition to TV. Guest on his final show was his old pal, Jack Benny. Allen’s caustic wit didn’t play well on TV and he quickly found himself out of broadcasting, except for his many panel appearances on the original What’s My Line.
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| Alex Drier |
He did radio commentaries for NBC from 1942-45 and 1951-56. As Chicago’s ‘man on the go’ he anchored first at WNBQ and then WBKB-TV’s top rated news in the late 50’s and 60. He later moved to California where he pursued a TV acting career and was a newscaster for KTTV.
He died March 11 2000 at age 83.
➦In 1933…the Kraft Music Hall debuted on NBC radio. It turned out to be one of radio’s longest-running hits. The first programs, designed to introduce Miracle Whip salad dressing, presented Paul Whiteman and his Orchestra. Singer Al Jolson became the host of the show in 1934, and Bing Crosby’s decade at the KMH helm began in 1936.
The Kraft Music Hall continued on NBC radio until 1949 and then on TV for many more years ; the first year as Milton Berle Starring in the Kraft Music Hall, later it was Perry Como‘s Kraft Music Hall for four seasons. From 1967 on, TV’s Kraft Music Hall featured a variety of guest hosts. Bring on the Velveeta and the Philadelphia brand cream cheese!
➦In 1949...entertainer Fred Allen ended his amazing radio career as host of his own show. Allen was attempting a transition to TV. Guest on his final show was his old pal, Jack Benny. Allen’s caustic wit didn’t play well on TV and he quickly found himself out of broadcasting, except for his many panel appearances on the original What’s My Line.
➦In 1959…"Mad Daddy" Pete Myers broadcast his last
show on WHK-AM, Cleveland, Ohio.
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| Pete Myers 1959 |
In January 1958, Pete "Mad Daddy" Myers joined WJW-AM from WHKK 640 AM in Akron. His "Mad Daddy" persona later was
adapted by Ernie Anderson for his "Ghoulardi" character on sister
station WJW-TV in 1963. Myers' show was heard nightly from 8 pm to 12:30 am.
Myers had a brief but meteoric career at WJW, lasting only until May 13, 1958,
when he resigned to go to Metromedia's WHK which was establishing itself as the
new Top 40 powerhouse in Cleveland.
WJW enforced a 90-day noncompete clause, and "Mad
Daddy" could not be heard on WHK until August 10. To keep his name in
front of the public while he was off the air, Myers concocted a publicity stunt
on June 14, 1958, parachuting from a Piper Cub 2200 feet over Lake Erie, and
composing a poem on his way down.
He was fished out the waters shortly thereafter, and handed
out copies of the 45 record "Zorro" to hundreds of fans who greeted
him when he got to shore.
"Mad Daddy" reached the peak of his popularity at
WHK, hosting record hops and live after-midnight shows dressed in a Dracula
costume. In July 1959 he moved to WHK's sister station in New York, WNEW 1130
AM, where "Mad Daddy" was not well received. He played it straight as
Pete Myers there until 1963, when he moved to 1010 WINS and resumed the "Mad
Daddy Show." This show was syndicated to other stations until WINS changed
format to all-news in 1965.
As again just Pete Myers, he returned to WNEW once more.
Myers lived until October 4, 1968, when he took his own life in New York City.
➦In 1971…WNEW-FM in New York City became the first radio station to play Don McLean's "American Pie," aired in its 8-minute, 36-second entirety.
➦In 1977…Elvis Presley's final concert took place at Market Square Arena in Indianapolis. Before the show Elvis was presented with a plaque commemorating the 2 billionth Presley record to come out of RCA's pressing plant. He appeared pale, weak, and overweight, but the only thing out of the ordinary about this show was that Elvis inexplicably introduced almost everyone in his life while on stage. Some took this as "proof" that he knew his end was near. He died 51 days later.
➦In 1990...8 Radio stations in Kansas and Oklahoma boycott k d lang, due to her anti-meat ad.
LS Radio Inc., a Wichita-based company with seven stations in Kansas and one in Oklahoma, pulled k.d. lang's records Thursday. So did the Shepherd Group, which has three stations in Missouri and one in Montana.
The spot also irritated Larry Steckline, a Wichita broadcaster who owns five country stations in Kansas, the top beef state in the United States. Steckline, a farmer-rancher, said he had ''no problem with her being a vegetarian. . . . My problem is somebody with a name in this industry coming down hard on the number one industry in our state. That's not what I call ladylike.''
Great Empire Broadcasting Inc., another Kansas chain with 10 stations in five states, gathered listener reaction as it considered joining the boycott. Mike Oatman, Great Empire's chief executive officer and general manager of a station in Wichita, reported that 60 percent of the callers favored continuing to play k.d. lang's records and 40 percent favored banning them.
➦In 1971…WNEW-FM in New York City became the first radio station to play Don McLean's "American Pie," aired in its 8-minute, 36-second entirety.
➦In 1977…Elvis Presley's final concert took place at Market Square Arena in Indianapolis. Before the show Elvis was presented with a plaque commemorating the 2 billionth Presley record to come out of RCA's pressing plant. He appeared pale, weak, and overweight, but the only thing out of the ordinary about this show was that Elvis inexplicably introduced almost everyone in his life while on stage. Some took this as "proof" that he knew his end was near. He died 51 days later.
➦In 1990...8 Radio stations in Kansas and Oklahoma boycott k d lang, due to her anti-meat ad.
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| k d lang |
The spot also irritated Larry Steckline, a Wichita broadcaster who owns five country stations in Kansas, the top beef state in the United States. Steckline, a farmer-rancher, said he had ''no problem with her being a vegetarian. . . . My problem is somebody with a name in this industry coming down hard on the number one industry in our state. That's not what I call ladylike.''
Great Empire Broadcasting Inc., another Kansas chain with 10 stations in five states, gathered listener reaction as it considered joining the boycott. Mike Oatman, Great Empire's chief executive officer and general manager of a station in Wichita, reported that 60 percent of the callers favored continuing to play k.d. lang's records and 40 percent favored banning them.
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