May 21: Happy Birthday, Raymond Burr

A happy birthday to legendary actor Raymond Burr, born this day in 1917. Radio fans know that he did a lot as an actor besides playing the famed role of Perry Mason. He was also Captain Lee Quince on the "adult Western" series Fort Laramie. Aided by excellent writers, Burr was able to get deep into the psychology of the cavalry leader. 

And let's not forget Dragnet. Burr played the Chief of Detective on Jack Webb's legendary series, making him an A-list radio star. He also appeared in Pat Novak For Hire.

Improbably, the actor who played so many masculine, no-nonsense characters would go on to become a great wine maker and owner of Raymond Burr vineyards.

February 13: Happy Birthday, Chuck Yeager

Chuck Yeager, the first pilot to break the sound barrier, was born on this day in 1905.  The pride of Hamlin, West Virginia, he enlisted in the Air Force and served in WWII.

Yeager made a few interesting radio appearances.  In 1951, he guested on The Bob Hope Show giving the host a ride in an airplane.

In 1953, The Hallmark Hall of Fame dramatized General Yeager's breaking of the sound barrier, with Raymond Burr, Lamont Johnson, and host Lionel Barrymore.  After the program proper, Yeager had a brief conversation with Barrymore.

Finally, he appeared in a brief clip on the series Eyes On the Skies, discussing the Ground Observer Corps.

One learns something new every day, right?  Happy birthday, Chuck Yeager.