X Minus One was a half-hour science fiction radio drama series broadcast
from April 24, 1955 to January 9, 1958 in various timeslots on NBC.
(#3) May 8, 1955
The program opened with announcer Fred Collins delivering the countdown…
Fred Collins
Jim Jordan and Marian Driscoll
Fibber McGee and Molly is an radio comedy series which maintained
popularity over decades. It premiered on NBC in 1935 and continued
until the last episode in 1959. The stars of the program were real-life
husband and wife team James "Jim" Jordan and Marian Driscoll
.
From left: Guest star Douglas Fairbanks and show host Bob Hope.
Other guests included Dinah Shore, and the Mexico City Boys Choir
singing the Hallelujah Chorus.
It was Easter Sunday, April 9, 1950 and the national TV debut of Bob
Hope on NBC in a 90 minute variety extravaganza called The Star
Spangled Review. He had previously appeared on a 1947 West
Coast broadcast, but this was a Big Deal, his first national television
appearance.
The TV special, produced by Max Liebman who was also responsible
for Sid Caesar & Imogene Coca’s “Your Show of Shows” at the time.
The show was a ratings success and Hope agreed to become the host
on a regular basis. It was much like Hope’s radio show, a mixture of jokes,
skits, and musical quest stars. It was eventually renamed the Bob Hope
Special and aired as a staple on NBC until 1997.
1932
Mickey Rooney (Joseph Yule, Jr.) (September 23, 1920 – April 6, 2014)
According to reports,Rooney had been "in ill health for quite some time,"
and died Sunday. At the time of his death, he was working on a film called
The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.
1942
Arthur "Guitar Boogie" Smith (April 1, 1921 – April 3, 2014)
Smith, who is best known for writing the crossover instrumental hit,
"Dueling Banjos" – died of natural causes Thursday (April 3) at his
home in Charlotte, N.C.
