Paul Layendecker’s “WAY BACK WHEN” for Friday, Sept. 30, 2022
TV tops today Way Back When…
1951 The Emmy-winning, Red Skelton Show debuted on NBC. It ran for 20 years and included many of Skelton’s own characters, including “Junior the Mean Widdle Kid”; the hick “Clem Kadiddlehopper” and “Freddie the Freeloader.”
1960 The stone-age cartoon “The Flintstones” debuted,. It was the first animated series on in prime time and the most financially successful network animated series for three decades. (Until unseated by The Simpsons)
1982 The TV show Cheers debuted on NBC. “Where Everybody Knows Your Name.” Cheers was almost cancelled during its first season where it ranked near the bottom in ratings, but eventually developed a following and became the #1 sitcom and one of the most popular sitcoms of all time.
Music History:
1955 James Dean died at age 27 in a car accident In California. He had recently filmed a public service announcement on the dangers of speeding stating, “The life you might save might be mine.”
1978 John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John were topping charts with “Summer Nights” from the film ‘Grease.’ It would be at #1 for seven weeks and became the second bestselling single of 1978, beaten by ‘Saturday Night Fever’.
Notable Birthdays today:
Actor Barry Williams aka Greg Brady 68
Actress Fran Dresher 65
Singer Johnny Mathis is 87
Credit to:
Thisdayinmusic.com and Thisdaytrivia.com
