William Conrad (John William Cann Jr.)
(September 27, 1920 – February 11, 1994)

Conrad’s career spanned five decades in radio, film. and television as
a writer, actor, producer and director. He created the role of Marshall
Matt Dillon for the popular CBS radio series Gunsmoke (1952-1961)
and narrated the TV adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle (1959-1964)
and The Fugitive (1963-1967).

Conrad found stardom as a detective in the CBS- TV series Cannon
(1971-1976), and in the crime drama Jake and the Fatman on CBS
from 1987 to 1992.

Ralston-Purina obtained his permission to produce a Tom Mix radio series
on NBC called Tom Mix Ralston Straight Shooters which, but for one year
during World War II, was popular throughout most of the 1930s until June
of 1950. Mix, a western film star, never appeared on these broadcasts,
and was instead played by radio actors like Joe "Curley" Bradley (above) 
who portrayed Mix from 1944 until 1950. Others in the supporting cast 
included George Gobel, Harold Peary and Willard Waterman. 

The Ralston company,  sponsor of the show, asked
listeners to send in for a series of 12 special Ralston-
Tom Mix Comic books available only by writing the
Ralston Company by mail.

Thomas Edwin "Tom" Mix was "the King of Cowboys"
when John Wayne was a youngster.

The 90-minute weekly Western television series was broadcast
on NBC from 1962–1971. Third longest running behind Bonanza
and Gunsmoke.

James Drury turned 78 in April

Bonanza is a western television series that ran on the NBC network from Saturday,
September 12, 1959 to Tuesday, January 16, 1973. Lasting 14 seasons and 430 episodes. It ranks as the second longest running western series, behind Gunsmoke,
and still continues to air in syndication,

Three days after signing with Colonel Tom Parker, Elvis Presley began
filming his first movie, The Reno Brothers, later renamed Love Me Tender,
shortly after his double sided hit, "Don’t Be Cruel" / "Hound Dog", reached
number one.

Elvis with a prop knife on the set during the filming of ‘Love Me Tender’

Elvis Presley signs an autograph on the set of his first movie