Singer, actress, and dancer Helen O’Connell Joined the Jimmy Dorsey 
band and in 1939 had her best selling records in the early 1940s with 
“Green Eyes”, “Amapola”, “Tangerine” and “Yours”. She retired from 
show business upon her first marriage in 1943. When the marriage  
ended in 1951, she resumed her career, making some successful 
records and regular appearances on television. Helen was one of the  
first "girls" on NBC’s The Today show, and at one point she had her 
own NBC program called Here’s Hollywood, conducting interviews with 
celebrities, often in their own homes. O’Connell co-hosted the Miss  
USA and Miss Universe pageants with Bob Barker (below) from 1972 
to 1980.

 

Bob Barker and Helen O’Connell

1943

Joan Collins is a actress, author, and columnist best known for the role
of  Alexis Colby in the long running ABC television series Dynasty
(1981-1989, as well as being a favorite of Star Trek fans for her
appearance as Edith Keller in the 1967 episode “The City on the
Edge of Forever”.

Joan Collins in Dynasty

Laurence  Olivier, was an English actor, director, and producer. He was
one of the most famous and revered actors of the 20th century.

1939

1940

Jack Benny did his last live network radio broadcast after a run of 23 years. The
show debuted on May 2, 1932 and was aired over the NBC, Blue network. Jack then 
devoted his time fully to TV.

Radio show cast (left to right) Eddie Anderson, who played Rochester, Dennis Day, Phil Harris, Mary Livingstone, Jack Benny, Don Wilson, and Mel Blanc.