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October 2, 1925 –Scottish inventor John Logie Baird successfully transmitted the first television picture with a greyscale image: the head of a ventriloquist’s dummy nicknamed Stooky Bill on this date. (“Stooky” being slang for someone who moves woodenly and a colloquial term for the plaster cast used to immobilize bone fractures.) Almost immediately, Logie BairdContinue reading “The first broadcast of a TV signal in England”

Happy 29th Anniversary Cara and Matt A date I can remember without a Facebook notification.

October 1, 1962 – The follow-up to I Love Lucy series (but not a sequel to the series,) The Lucy Show, premiered on CBS-TV on this date. Vivian Vance refused to agree to appear on this show unless she was allowed to wear nice clothing. The days of a frumpy best friend were over. ThisContinue reading “The Lucy Show premiered”

October 1, 1962 –Johnny Carson hosted his first Tonight Show with Joan Crawford as his guest, on this date. On his first show, Carson was introduced by Groucho Marx; Johnny’s first words, reacting to applause as he walked onstage for the first time: “Boy, you would think it was Vice President Nixon.” Although no footageContinue reading “The first time Carson hosted the Tonight Show”

October is the tenth month of the year and its name is therefore derived from Octo, the Latin word for eight (as the vegetables in V8 well knows.) October is often preceded by September and sometimes followed by November. There are 31 days in October, many of which are Wednesdays. (Wednesday is the fourth dayContinue reading “Plan accordingly.”

September 30, 1965 – Gerry Anderson’s supermarionation take on The Tracy family business, Thunderbirds premiered on this date in the UK. The five Tracy brothers were named after astronauts from the Mercury program: Scott Tracy after Scott Carpenter.Virgil Tracy after Gus Grissom whose real first name was Virgil.Alan Tracy after Alan Shepard.Gordon Tracy after GordonContinue reading “Thunderbirds are go! (fior the first time)”

September 30, 1960 – The first prime-time animated series aimed at adults, The Flintstones, premiered on ABC-TV on this date. Fred and Wilma Flintstone were the first animated married couple ever shown on American television in the same bed together. They have been mistaken as the first couple ever shown in bed together on anyContinue reading “The first time we all Yabba Dabba Do’ed”

September 30, 1995 –Mariah Carey’s megahit Fantasy went to No. 1 and stayed there for several months on this date. This was Mariah’s 9th #1 hit in the US. It was also only the second single to debut at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100. The first was You Are Not Alone by Michael Jackson.

September 29, 1960 – We were all welcomed into the Douglas household when My Three Sons, starring another of TV favorite alcoholic dads, Fred McMurray, premiered on ABC on this date. The show was originally going to be named The Fred MacMurray Show, but Fred MacMurray didn’t like the idea.

September 29, 1969 – Paramount Television’s anthology comedy series Love, American Style, first aired on ABC-TV on this date. This series had more direct and indirect spin-offs than any other American television series. The following series can trace their roots back to this show: Barefoot in the Park, Wait Till Your Father Gets Home, HappyContinue reading “Love American Style premiered”