August 3: This Day in TV History

[Stanislav]

Just a few random TV related events that happened on August 3. Discuss or comment as you please……

1913: Writer/editor Mel Tonkin (Your Show of Shows, All in the Family, Archie Bunker’s Place, Love Sidney) is born (as Shmuel Tolchinsky) in Ukraine.

1941: TV hostess/domestic maven/convicted felon Martha Stewart is born (as Martha Helen Kostyra) in Nutley, New Jersey.

1951: Actor Jay North (Dennis the Menace, Maya) is born in Hollywood. California. Finding acting jobs few and far between after being typecast as ”Dennis,” North would later abandon acting, join the Navy, convert to Mormonism, and even work as a prison security guard in Florida. DYK: He provided the voice of the teenage Bamm-Bamm Rubble on The Pebbles and Bamm-Bamm Show.

1983: Actress Carolyn Jones (The Addams Family) dies in West Hollywood, California, aged 53.

1993: Gayle Gardner becomes the first woman to do television play-by-play for a Major League Baseball game, calling a Colorado Rockies vs. Cincinnati Reds contest on KWGN-TV in Denver.

2001: Actor Christopher Hewitt (Mr. Belvedere) dies of complications from diabetes in Los Angeles, aged 79.

(Just a little featurette I hope to do as time permits…..don’t expect it every single day. It’s an entirely random selection based on a quick Net search, and is not meant to be comprehensive. So, don’t post nasty messages about “you forgot THIS” or “how could you not mention THAT?” Do so, and I’ll just take my keyboard and go home…..)

 

[RicoGregg]

Jay North was also employed as a radio talk show host at KAVR in Apple Valley, Ca. during the 80s.

Much like the real Dennis Ketcham (Yes, there was a real Dennis), Jay North has had a horrible time shaking the image of Dennis The Menace. Perhaps the worst thing that could have happened to his acting career was actually getting the part. He's had to "live" with Dennis every day since. He had to make numerous in-person appearances in his Dennis costume, and that had to be grating after awhile.

Typecasting is always hardest on child actors. Ask Adam Rich (Eight is Enough) or Lauren Chapin (Father Knows Best) about that.

The Olsen Twins have been lucky, but if you ask me, they'll still never live down Full House. The movie parts they've had since then are enough to make one diabetic. They may be rich, but they'll never be taken seriously as actresses.

 

[landtuna]

Typecasting is always hardest on child actors. Ask Adam Rich (Eight is Enough) or Lauren Chapin (Father Knows Best) about that.

Several years ago I found an autobiography by Lauren Chapin. It was absolutely one of the worst horror stories I've ever read about anyone in film or TV. It should be required reading for any parent pushing their kids into acting.

It will change your opinion of Father Knows Best forever.

 

[firepoint525]

Jay North was also employed as a radio talk show host at KAVR in Apple Valley, Ca. during the 80s.

Much like the real Dennis Ketcham (Yes, there was a real Dennis), Jay North has had a horrible time shaking the image of Dennis The Menace. Perhaps the worst thing that could have happened to his acting career was actually getting the part. He's had to "live" with Dennis every day since. He had to make numerous in-person appearances in his Dennis costume, and that had to be grating after awhile.

Typecasting is always hardest on child actors. Ask Adam Rich (Eight is Enough) or Lauren Chapin (Father Knows Best) about that.

The Olsen Twins have been lucky, but if you ask me, they'll still never live down Full House. The movie parts they've had since then are enough to make one diabetic. They may be rich, but they'll never be taken seriously as actresses.

And maybe they shouldn't be allowed to!! :

Part of the Olsen twins' problem is that they are almost never seen separately! They may not be Siamese twins joined at the hip, but you'd never know it from the way they almost always make joint appearances! I think one of them (not sure which one) may be turning into a "goth chick," but otherwise, it is almost impossible to tell them apart! :

 

[bpatrick]

I believe Jay North was the voice of Terry, the American
kid who helped Princess Dawn in her quest for the key that
would end the Curse of Gloom on "Here Comes The Grump"
(NBC, 1969-71). I do recall that Rip Taylor was the voice of
the Grump, who sounded a bit like Yosemite Sam (Friz Freleng
created both characters), and that critics savaged the show as
being a ripoff of "Yellow Submarine." Princess Dawn was voiced
by someone named Stefanianna Christopherson, and I seem to
recall in the '70s she shortened it to Stephanie Christopher, but
don't quote me on that. (Around the same time, Cheryl Stoppelmoor
was doing a voice on "Josie And The Pussycats"--we know her better
as Cheryl Ladd, and Tim Matthieson, the voice of "Jonny Quest," shortened
his last name to Matheson.)

 

[wbhist]

I believe Jay North was the voice of Terry, the American kid who helped Princess Dawn in her quest for the key that would end the Curse of Gloom on "Here Comes The Grump" (NBC, 1969-71). I do recall that Rip Taylor was the voice of the Grump, who sounded a bit like Yosemite Sam (Friz Freleng created both characters), and that critics savaged the show as being a ripoff of "Yellow Submarine." Princess Dawn was voiced by someone named Stefanianna Christopherson, and I seem to recall in the '70s she shortened it to Stephanie Christopher, but don't quote me on that.

Ms. Christopherson was also the voice of "Daphne" in the first season of Scooby-Doo, Where Are You! before Heather North (then appearing on Days of our Lives) assumed voice duties for the danger-prone redhead. But back to Ms. Christopherson: I saw a few '70's TV credits on which she was credited as Indira Dirks. If this answers your question.

 

[Smittian]

1970 Hurricane Celia slams into Corpus Christi,TX with 160 MPH winds knocking all 3 TV stations (KIII,KRIS,KZTV) off the air for several weeks. KIII was the first to return to broadcasting, showing nothing but old movies because of the inability to recieve the ABC Network signal (pre-satellite days)

 

[Stanislav]

1970 Hurricane Celia slams into Corpus Christi,TX with 160 MPH winds knocking all 3 TV stations (KIII,KRIS,KZTV) off the air for several weeks. KIII was the first to return to broadcasting, showing nothing but old movies because of the inability to recieve the ABC Network signal (pre-satellite days)

Meaning, I am supposing, that the AT&T Long Lines (coaxial feed) was down due to the storm. I wonder if they considered trying to set up some sort of temporary off-air pickup to get ABC from Houston or San Antonio or somewhere. (Although, given their coastal location and the frequent tropo activity in the Gulf, I imagine any attempt at an off-air pickup would be frequently plagued with CCI...)

 

[ricksegers]

Let's not forget Jay North's other show...Maya..He played an American teen in India I believe searching for his father. He and his Indian companion Raji traveled on Maya the elephant.

Rick

 

[mleach]

Typecasting is always hardest on child actors. Ask Adam Rich (Eight is Enough) or Lauren Chapin (Father Knows Best) about that.

Several years ago I found an autobiography by Lauren Chapin. It was absolutely one of the worst horror stories I've ever read about anyone in film or TV. It should be required reading for any parent pushing their kids into acting.

It will change your opinion of Father Knows Best forever.

I totally agree about Chapin !!!

However there are some child stars who I have a hard time feeling sorry about. The late Dana Plato is a good example. Conrad Bain who played the father on the show, I remember watching an interview with him not long after Plato's death. One day Dana Plato came on the set and said she was going to get married and have a child. Bain, the producers and NBC all gave Plato a warning.. that if she would get pregnant, she will be off the show. Plato got knocked up anyway despite those warnings and ended up off the show and by getting fired from your first show..it just makes it that much tougher finding another one. Had Dana Plato only listened........

Interesting thing about many of those past child stars..... there have been a few times where the star of a show actually told the child actors to "line something else in life and don't plan on staying in the biz". Vivian Vance in 1962 told the parents of the kids who appeared on the Lucy Show..actually she begged them that one they leave that show...get out of show business. After those kids were dropped by Lucy in 1965, that more/less actually happened.
I believe the late Nell Carter pretty much did the same with the girls who appeared on Gimmie A Break as well.

 

[Tim from Springfield IL]

August 3, 2009 is the 60th anniversary of the creation of a sports organization that has also impacted TV history throughout the years:

1949: The National Basketball Association (NBA) was created with the merger of the Basketball Association of America (BAA) and the National Basketball League (NBL). The first NBA season in 1949-50 contained 17 franchises (with their original division lineup based on order of finish that season):

Central Division
Rochester Royals
Minneapolis Lakers (of George Mikan fame--first NBA champion)
Chicago Stags (folded in 1950--the NBA wouldn't return to the Windy City until Da' Bulls were founded in 1966).
Fort Wayne Pistons (now Detroit)
St. Louis Bombers

Eastern Division
Syracuse Nationals
New York Knick[erbocker]s
Washington Capitols
Philadelphia Warriors
Baltimore Bullets
Boston Celtics (despite a 22-46 finish in '49-50, they would go on to win 17 championships)

Western Division
Indianapolis Olympians
Anderson Packers (Anderson, IN)
Tri-Cities Blackhawks (Davenport, IA/Rock Island-Moline, IL--best referred to today as the Quad Cities with Bettendorf, IA).
Sheboygan Red Skins (WI)
Waterloo Hawks (Waterloo, IA)
Denver Nuggets (worst team in the NBA's inaugural season at 11-51--the original Nuggets folded after this one losing season. The current Nuggets were founded in 1968).

The number of NBA franchises were reduced to 11 for 1950-51.

Which brings up another question: Did any existing TV stations (or any of the networks) carry any NBA games in its inaugural season, 1949-50?

 

[Corky Marlowe]

Chicago Stags (folded in 1950--the NBA wouldn't return to the Windy City until Da' Bulls were founded in 1966).

If I'm not mistaken, the team now known as the Washington Wizards started in Chicago in the 61-62 season. They were first called the Chicago Packers, then the Chicago Zephyrs, and then in '63 or '64 moved to Baltimore and were the Baltimore Bullets till the mid-late '70s.

 

[radioman148]

Chicago Stags (folded in 1950--the NBA wouldn't return to the Windy City until Da' Bulls were founded in 1966).

If I'm not mistaken, the team now known as the Washington Wizards started in Chicago in the 61-62 season. They were first called the Chicago Packers, then the Chicago Zephyrs, and then in '63 or '64 moved to Baltimore and were the Baltimore Bullets till the mid-late '70s.

You are not mistaken as I went to many Chicago Packer/Zephyrs games in the early 60s.

 

[Tim L]

Chicago Stags (folded in 1950--the NBA wouldn't return to the Windy City until Da' Bulls were founded in 1966).

If I'm not mistaken, the team now known as the Washington Wizards started in Chicago in the 61-62 season. They were first called the Chicago Packers, then the Chicago Zephyrs, and then in '63 or '64 moved to Baltimore and were the Baltimore Bullets till the mid-late '70s.

You are not mistaken as I went to many Chicago Packer/Zephyrs games in the early 60s.

You mean YOU were the one?..Just kidding..I wonder why that team never made it..

 

[Tim from Springfield IL]

Chicago Stags (folded in 1950--the NBA wouldn't return to the Windy City until Da' Bulls were founded in 1966).

If I'm not mistaken, the team now known as the Washington Wizards started in Chicago in the 61-62 season. They were first called the Chicago Packers, then the Chicago Zephyrs, and then in '63 or '64 moved to Baltimore and were the Baltimore Bullets till the mid-late '70s.

You are not mistaken as I went to many Chicago Packer/Zephyrs games in the early 60s.

You mean YOU were the one?..Just kidding..I wonder why that team never made it..

With apologies for slightly straying from the subject, but being reminded about the NBA's Chicago Packers/Zephyrs from 1961-63 brings to mind two Chicago sports history anomalies: two of the city's former sports teams had team names that corresponded with the names of their arch-rivals in different sports: the NFL's former Chicago Cardinals (and the NL's legendary Cubs/Cards rivalry, but the football Cardinals IIRC were generally the South Side's--and Mayor Daley's--NFL team. They did join their baseball counterparts in St. Louis in 1960, but never matched the success of the baseball Redbirds before moving to Arizona in 1988); and the forementioned Chicago Packers from the NBA (as opposed to the NFL's Bears/Green Bay Packers rivalry). IMO I find it hard to imagine any die-hard Chicago Bears fan wanting to root for any team called the "Packers" regardless of the sport played, and likewise the football Chicago Cardinals if one was a Cub fan (but with the old gridiron Birds' presence on the South Side, they were generally the White Sox fans' choice of NFL team before leaving for St. Louis).

 

[radioman148]

Chicago Stags (folded in 1950--the NBA wouldn't return to the Windy City until Da' Bulls were founded in 1966).

If I'm not mistaken, the team now known as the Washington Wizards started in Chicago in the 61-62 season. They were first called the Chicago Packers, then the Chicago Zephyrs, and then in '63 or '64 moved to Baltimore and were the Baltimore Bullets till the mid-late '70s.

You are not mistaken as I went to many Chicago Packer/Zephyrs games in the early 60s.

The Chicago Cardinals did play in Comiskey Park so they were considered a south side team.
You mean YOU were the one?..Just kidding..I wonder why that team never made it..

With apologies for slightly straying from the subject, but being reminded about the NBA's Chicago Packers/Zephyrs from 1961-63 brings to mind two Chicago sports history anomalies: two of the city's former sports teams had team names that corresponded with the names of their arch-rivals in different sports: the NFL's former Chicago Cardinals (and the NL's legendary Cubs/Cards rivalry, but the football Cardinals IIRC were generally the South Side's--and Mayor Daley's--NFL team. They did join their baseball counterparts in St. Louis in 1960, but never matched the success of the baseball Redbirds before moving to Arizona in 1988); and the forementioned Chicago Packers from the NBA (as opposed to the NFL's Bears/Green Bay Packers rivalry). IMO I find it hard to imagine any die-hard Chicago Bears fan wanting to root for any team called the "Packers" regardless of the sport played, and likewise the football Chicago Cardinals if one was a Cub fan (but with the old gridiron Birds' presence on the South Side, they were generally the White Sox fans' choice of NFL team before leaving for St. Louis).

The Chicago Cardinals did play in Comiskey Park.

 

[radioman148]

Chicago Stags (folded in 1950--the NBA wouldn't return to the Windy City until Da' Bulls were founded in 1966).

If I'm not mistaken, the team now known as the Washington Wizards started in Chicago in the 61-62 season. They were first called the Chicago Packers, then the Chicago Zephyrs, and then in '63 or '64 moved to Baltimore and were the Baltimore Bullets till the mid-late '70s.

You are not mistaken as I went to many Chicago Packer/Zephyrs games in the early 60s.

You mean YOU were the one?..Just kidding..I wonder why that team never made it..

Chicago just wasn't ready for the NBA yet. The Packers/Zephyrs played in the old Chicago Colosium and the Amphitheatre, neither place good for basketball. Even the early years of the Bulls attendance was sparse. Chicago was more of a hockey town in those days.

 

[mleach]

Central Division
Rochester Royals
Minneapolis Lakers (of George Mikan fame--first NBA champion)
Chicago Stags (folded in 1950--the NBA wouldn't return to the Windy City until Da' Bulls were founded in 1966).
Fort Wayne Pistons (now Detroit)
St. Louis Bombers

Eastern Division
Syracuse Nationals
New York Knick[erbocker]s
Washington Capitols
Philadelphia Warriors
Baltimore Bullets
Boston Celtics (despite a 22-46 finish in '49-50, they would go on to win 17 championships)

Western Division
Indianapolis Olympians
Anderson Packers (Anderson, IN)
Tri-Cities Blackhawks (Davenport, IA/Rock Island-Moline, IL--best referred to today as the Quad Cities with Bettendorf, IA).
Sheboygan Red Skins (WI)
Waterloo Hawks (Waterloo, IA)
Denver Nuggets (worst team in the NBA's inaugural season at 11-51--the original Nuggets folded after this one losing season. The current Nuggets were founded in 1968).

Interesting who had a major league team back in those days. Syracuse? Fort Wayne? Quad Cities? Waterloo? Can you imagine if one of these places would even attempt to try to land a major league team in any soprt in this day and age? I can hear the laughter right now.

I have always been curious as to why some metro areas seem to be "unacceptable" to one sport but OK with others or even those cities where even though the demographics and population says "we can support it", the attitude from the general public is otherwise. For example about 10 years agoI remember watching a news report from Buffalo's WGRZ that made the claim that Major League Baseball said that the MLB & Buffalo was "a perfect match" and how Buffalo can support major league baseball YET the same report said that MLB considered Indianapolis "toosmall and unacceptable for baseball". Ah..isn't Indianapolis a BIGGER market than Buffalo? True, WGRZ is a BUFFALO station and of course the station I am sure wanted to get their community excited but still....

Then some years back when the old Charlotte Hornets were forced to leave their city, at first they were looking at moving to the Norfolk/Virginia Beach area. I can remember at the time hearing ESPN making a claim that the idea of any major league team in SW Virginia despite being 200+ miles from DC was "stupid". A few weeks later the Hornets expressed interest in Louisville..same thing...NBA+Lousiville equals DUMB !! Yet the same people felt it was "great" and a "good idea" that the Hornets had moved to New Orleans even though that market even before Katrina was smaller than Norfolk and really not that much bigger than Louisville...strange how some people could "accept" New Orleans but for one reason or another couldn't with Louisville or Norfolk.

On the flip side of this is Las Vegas. No shortage of finding people saying how they believe that city "needs" a team..yet it seems major league sports has always had this "funny feeling" about the idea of putting a team there.

 

[easttxtv]

It's still weird to me about Oklahoma City having a pro team, and yet L.A. has had no NFL for how long now?

I almost had to laugh about some of those sites on that early NBA list.

On the flip side of this is Las Vegas. No shortage of finding people saying how they believe thatcity "needs" a team..yet it seems major league sports has always had this "funny feeling" about the idea of putting a team there.

Could it be about gambling/betting? It is one of the few places (other than race tracks for horse racing) that allows betting on sports (mostly football that I ever hear about).

 

[mleach]

On the flip side of this is Las Vegas. No shortage of finding people saying how they believe thatcity "needs" a team..yet it seems major league sports has always had this "funny feeling" about the idea of putting a team there.

Could it be about gambling/betting? It is one of the few places (other than race tracks for horse racing) that allows betting on sports (mostly football that I ever hear about).

Chances are that may be the reason why as to a lack of a pro-sports team in Las Vegas. But then again I can see why some people are sooooo wanting a team there...thinking that by having a pro-sports team in Las Vegas will give people the idea that Vegas is a lot more than just casinos and Wayne Newton..but it reality, Las Vegas is a city. Similar to Virginia Beach, despite having a population of close to half a million people ( in the city alone )..many many people still refers to Virginia Beach as this "little seaside community"..I myself have even seen CNN and Fox News doing that over the years and yes that drives many folks who live there, and have to put up with Virginia Beaches' horrible traffic jams well..well nuts ;D

On a similar note, I can remember when Memphis and Nashville had got their major sports teams. I think it was ESPN who had said at the time that many people in those cities were actually excited about having thier cities being the home of a major league sports team because many of them expected those high end retailers like Saks Fifth Ave. and Neiman-Marcus would be "on the way" only because of those teams.

Ah as of yet..neither chain has a location in either Nashville or Memphis...though I did see on Wikipedia that Nashville is getting a Nordstrom.