MIKE GRACIA

Howard Hughes in the Spruce Goose pilots seat.

Hugh Malcolm Downs (February 14, 1921 – July 1, 2020) 

Broadcaster, television host, news anchor, TV producer, author, game
show host, and music composer. A regular television presence from
the 1940s through the 1990s, he had several successful roles on
morning television, prime time television, and late night television.

Downs served as announcer/sidekick for Tonight Starring Jack Paar
from 1957 to 1962, co-host of the NBC News program Today from
1962 to 1971, host of the Concentration game show from 1958 to
1969, and anchor of the ABC News magazine 20/20 from 1978 to
1999. Downs died at his home in Scottsdale, Arizona.

Orson Bean  (Dallas Frederick Burrows)
(July 22, 1928 – February 7, 2020)

Orson Bean was a film, television, and stage actor, and a comedian, writer,
and producer. He appeared frequently on televised game shows from the
1960s through the 1980s and was a long-time panelist on the television
game show To Tell the Truth. He was a favorite of Johnny Carson,
appearing on The Tonight Show over 200 times. On February 7, 2020,
while walking near Venice Boulevard and Shell Avenue, in Venice, Los
Angeles, Bean was struck by two drivers, with the second vehicle striking
him fatally.

MIKE  GRACIA

On this day in 1947, Howard Hughes flew his "Spruce Goose," a
huge wooden airplane, for eight minutes in California. It was the
plane’s first and only flight. The "Spruce Goose," nicknamed
because of the white-gray color of the spruce used to build it,
never went into production.

Howard Robard Hughes Jr.
(December 24, 1905 – April 5, 1976)

CARLATA BRADLEY

On this day in 2001, President George W. Bush signs the renewal of
the U.S. Patriot Act after a long battle with Congress.

Pat Sajak (Patrick Leonard Sajdak) is 73 today. 

Sajak is a former weatherman and talk show host, best
known as the host of the syndicated television game
show Wheel of Fortune.

“Wheel of Fortune” hosts Pat Sajak and Vanna White.