1955: First Broadcast of ‘The $64,000 Question’
Now known as the iconic game show that it was, The $64,000 Question had trouble getting sponsors when the show was pitched to CBS. The creator of the program, Louis G. Cowan (who created the radio show Quiz Kids and TV game show, Stop the Music found that some advertisers though that the show sounded too glamourous for their company. However, Revlon signed on when it debuted on this day.
The show was hosted by actor Hal March and while the first contestant didn’t make it to the top prize, she did win a Cadillac convertible. Not too shabby.
The show ran through November 2, 1958. It was later revived in 1976 as The $128,000 Question which aired in syndication. Another revival of the show was pitched to ABC in 1999 but was abandoned for a new American version of Who Wants to be a Millionaire? instead. After Millionaire’s success, another version was pitched to CBS to be called The $1,064,000 Question to be hosted by Greg Gumbel, but that never materialized.
1993: Prince
Prince changes his name to an unpronounceable glyph that looked like an Egyptian musical note.
1969: Cash
ABC and “the man in black” debut the first episode of The Johnny Cash Show.
2024: Van Dyke
Dick Van Dyke becomes the oldest person to win a Daytime Emmy Award for his work on Days of Our Lives.
1975: ‘Thank God I’m a County Boy’ Becomes #1 Song
Country singer John Denver recorded and released about 300 songs of which he composed about two thirds of them, but on this day in 1975, one of his biggest songs, “Thank God I’m a Country Boy” became a #1 hit. It was part of a string of other #1 hits including “Sunshine on My Shoulders.” “Annie’s Song,” and “I’m Sorry” from three No.1 albums: John Denver’s Greatest Hits, Back Home Again and Windsong. (Image: Wikimedia)
Movies Released
- 1985: The Goonies
- 1991: Don’t Tell Mom the Babysitter’s Dead
- 1996: The Rock
- 1997: Face/Off
- 2002: Divine Secrets of the YaYa Sisterhood
- 2013: The Purge
- 2019: Dark Phoenix
- 2019: Late Night
- 2019: I Am Mother
- 2019: The Secret Life of Pets 2
TV Series Debuts
- 1955: The $64,000 Question
- 2002: Kim Possible
- 2012: Saving Hope
- 2014: Power
Famous Birthdays
- 1917: Dean Martin (singer)
- 1940: Tom Jones (singer)
- 1952: Liam Neeson (actor)
- 1958: Prince (singer)
- 1974: Bear Grylls (adventurer)
- 1978: Bill Hader (actor)
- 1988: Michael Cera (actor)
Leave a comment