Thursday, November 06, 2014

Today in Television History, November 6




1965 - The Rolling Stones appeared on "Shindig!" This was a TV show that featured popular music and young people dancing. Other similar shows over the years included "Hullaballoo", "American Bandstand" with Dick Clark and "Soul Train" with Don Cornelius. This type of show was the subject of the John Waters film "Hairspray".

1967 - Phil Donahue began a TV talk show in Dayton, OH. The show, "Donahue," was on the air for 29 years. Many feel that Donahue's show was an important precursor to Oprah Winfrey's long running show. Phil Donahue is married to actress Marlo Thomas, whose father, Danny Thomas, founded the St. Jude's Children's Cancer Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee.

2001 - The FOX TV show "24" aired for the first time, starring Keifer Sutherland.

2004 - The Children's Museum of Pittsburgh re-opened. One of the main attractions was the expanded 'Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood.' The iconic children's show was taped at WQED-TV in Pittsburgh. Actor Michael Keaton was once a stagehand on the show. Mr. Rogers was earned degrees in music and theology. In an interview with CNN in his later years, Rogers stated, "I went into television because I hated it so, and I thought there's some way of using this fabulous instrument to nurture those who would watch and listen."


*Information from:

http://www.on-this-day.com/cgi-bin/otd/tvotd.pl

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fred_Rogers.