The Wizard of Oz first premiered at the Strand Theatre in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin
on August 12, 1939 and opened nationally on August 25, 1939. The film grossed approximately $3 million in its initial release which was not considered that much a
profit by MGM. The Wizard of Oz received positive reviews and won two Academy Awards, and was nominated for Best Picture of the Year (losing to Gone with the
Wind). The film was MGM’s most expensive production up to that time.
A routine called "Doughnut Dunkers" led to comedian Red Skelton’s first network
radio appearance on The Rudy Vallee Show on August 12, 1937. The program
had a talent show segment and those who were searching for stardom were eager
to be heard on it. The show received enough fan mail after Skelton’s performance
to invite him back two weeks after his initial appearance and again in November of
that year. On October 1, 1938, Skelton replaced Red Foley as the host of Avalon
Time on NBC. Skelton continued as the show’s host until late 1939, when he went
on to begin his MGM movie career.
Radio show host Rudy Vallee with a young talent constant
(August 12, 1929 – March 25, 2006)
Buck Owens (born Alvis Edgar Owens, Jr.) was a well known singer and guitarist
who had 21 No. 1 hits on the Billboard country music charts with his band, the
Buckaroos. They pioneered what came to be called the Bakersfield Sound, a
reference to the city Owens called home, Bakersfield, California. Owens is a
member of the Country Music Hall of Fame and the Nashville songwriters Hall
of Fame.
Buck Owens (left) and the Buckaroos
Buck’s guitar in the museum at Buck Owens’ Crystal Palace.
"Act Naturally” became Buck Owens and the Buckaroos’ first No. 1
hit in 1963.
As the result of a buildup of previous racial tension due to a combination
of events, a large-scale riot which lasted 6 days occurred on August 11,
1965 in the Watts neighborhood of Los Angeles, California. By the time
the riot subsided, 34 people had been killed, 1,032 injured, and 3,438
arrested. Overall, an estimated $40 million in damage was caused as
almost 1,000 buildings were damaged or destroyed. It would stand as
the most severe riot in Los Angeles history until the Los Angeles riots
of 1992.
