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May 22, 1859 Sir Arthur Conan Doyle was born

On this day in 1859, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle was born.

May 21: Happy Birthday, Fats Waller

Today marks the 1904 birth of Thomas "Fats" Waller , one of the great jazz pianists of the mid-20th century. The Harlem native began playing at rent parties, raising some cash for the hosts. He broke into the music business writing novelty songs, and started recording with Victor Records in 1926. Waller played the organ in addition to piano, and also laid down the vocals on his solo songs. His technique was considerable--he was an innovator in the difficult realm of stride piano, which requires fast alternation on the bass end of the keyboard, with the right hand augmenting the basic melody. He hosted a radio show called " Fats Waller 's Rhythm Club" from 1932-34. Waller's virtuosity and his smooth, comic patter made him a very popular entertainer in Depression-era America . Happy Birthday, Fats!

May 17, 1942 The Whistler made its radio debut

On this day in 1942, The Whistler made its radio debut.

May 16, 1904 Clifton Fadiman was born

On this day in 1904, Clifton Fadiman was born.

May 14, 1910 Paul Sutton was born

On this day in 1910, Paul Sutton was born.

May 5, 1912 Bret Morrison was born

On this day in 1912, Bret Morrison was born.

May 3, 1932 Jack Benny Program made its radio debut

On this day in 1932, Jack Benny Program made its radio debut.

April 30, 1908 Eve Arden was born

On this day in 1908, Eve Arden was born.

April 28, 1878 Lionel Barrymore was born

On this day in 1878, Lionel Barrymore was born.

April 24, 1955 X-Minus One made its radio debut

On this day in 1955, X-Minus One made its debut.

April 17, 1935 Lights Out made its radio debut

On this day in 1935, Lights Out made its radio debut.

April 16, 1935 Fibber McGee & Molly made its radio debut

On this day in 1935, Fibber McGee & Molly made its radio debut.

April 15, 1917 Hans Conried was born

On this day in 1917, Hans Conried was born.

April 10, 1943 Falcon made its radio debut

On this day in 1943, Falcon made its debut.

April 8, 1943 The Adventures of Nero Wolfe made its radio debut

On this day in 1943, The Adventures of Nero Wolfe made its radio debut.

April 4, 1906 Bea Benaderet was born

On this day in 1906, Bea Benaderet was born.

April 3, 1924 Doris Day was born

On this day in 1924, Doris Day was born.

March 28, 1912 Frank Lovejoy was born

On this day in 1912, Frank Lovejoy was born. As Randy Stone, he was your favorite newspaperman on trail of crime and corruption in Night Beat .

March 28: Happy Birthday, Frank Lovejoy

March 28: Happy Birthday, Frank Lovejoy We can't know if Frank Lovejoy was voted "Most Likely To Be The Blue Beetle " by his high school class, but it seems possible. The steely-eyed, square-jawed actor exuded intensity and a detective's predatory determination. If we were alive, he'd be celebrating his one hundred and first birthday. Lovejoy's voice was one of the most recognized in the business, for Blue Beetle and several other shows.  Blue Beetle  hit the airwaves in May of 1940. Lovejoy gave voice to the title character, a superhero (whose alter-ego's name was Dan Garrett) with the strength of ten men. He carried a beetle pendant and left it around town to alert evil-doers he was on to them. Lovejoy held down this gig only for a Summer, and then future episodes went uncredited as to the voice. Frank Lovejoy is also well-known for his parts in Box 13 , Nightbeat , Dragnet , and This Is Your FBI . When they needed a stern cop or investiga

March 26, 1907 Philip Rapp was born

On this day in 1907, Philip Rapp was born.

March 25, 1892 Andy Clyde was born

On this day in 1892, Andy Clyde was born.

March 20, 1922 Jack Kruschen was born

On this day in 1922, Jack Kruschen was born.

March 7, 1952 William Boyd, best known for playing Hopalong Cassidy, was born

On this day in 1952, William Boyd was born.

March 16, 1916 Mercedes McCambridge was born

On this day in 1916, Mercedes McCambridge was born.

March 11, 1903 Lawrence Welk was born

On this day in 1903, Lawrence Welk was born.

March 7, 1916 Virginia Gregg was born

On this day in 1916, Virginia Gregg was born.

February 19, 1922 Ed Wynn became the first vaudeville star to sign a radio contract

On this day in 1922, Ed Wynn became the first vaudeville star to sign a radio contract.

February 18, 1949 Johnny Dollar made its radio debut

On this day in 1949, Johnny Dollar made its debut.

February 17, 1903 Edgar Bergen was born

On this day in 1903 Edgar Bergen was born.

March 16, 1916 Mercedes McCambridge was born

On this day in 1916 Mercedes McCambridge was born.

February 14, 1894 Jack Benny was born

On this day in 1984, Jack Benny was born.

February 13, 1943 Superman made its radio debut

On this day in 1943, Superman made its radio debut.

February 11, 1949 Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar made its radio debut

On this day in 1949, Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar made its radio debut.

February 10, 1893 Jimmy Durante was born

On this day in 1893, Jimmy Durante was born.

February 9, 1891 Ronald Colman was born

On this day in 1891, Ronald Colman was born.

February 7, 1883 Bennett Kilpack (known to radio fans as "Mr. Keen, Tracer of Lost Persons") was born

On this day in 1883, Bennett Kilpack (known to radio fans as " Mr. Keen, Tracer of Lost Persons ") was born

February 4, 1939 Challenge of the Yukon (aka Sgt. Preston of the Yukon) made its radio debut

On this day in 1939, Challenge of the Yukon (aka Sgt. Preston of the Yukon) made its radio debut.

February 2, 1958 Frontier Gentleman made its radio debut

On this day in 1958, Frontier Gentleman made its radio debut.

January 25: Jack Benny Marries Sadye Marks

January 25: Jack Benny Marries Sadye Marks Sadye Marks looked beautiful in her wedding dress. At least Jack thought she did. Jack was crazy about her, and would marry her on January 25, 1927. Sadye Marks would change her name. If you know the Golden Age of Radio, you know her as Mary... Mary Livingstone . And Jack? Jack Benny , of course. Sadie was a cousin of the Marx brothers .

January 23, 1923 Florence Halop was born

On this day in 1923, Florence Halop was born.

January 22, 1946 Fat Man radio series made its debut

On this day in 1946, Fat Man radio series made its debut.

January 20, 1896 George Burns was born

On this day in 1896, George Burns was born.

January 15, 1906 William Bendix was born

On this day in 1906, William Bendix was born.

January 13, 1918 Steve Dunne was born

On this day in 1918, Steve Dunne was born.

January 10, 1883 Francis X. Bushman was born

On this day in 1883, Francis X. Bushman was born.

January 9, 1949 Screen Directors' Playhouse made its radio debut

On this day in 1949, Screen Directors' Playhouse made its radio debut.

January 8, 1926 George Burns & Gracie Allen were married

On this day in 1926, George Burns & Gracie Allen were married.

January 3, 1916 Happy Birthday Maxene Andrews

On this day in 1916, Maxene Andrews was born. Maxene was the middle sister (and soprano) of the musical mid-century act: The Andrews Sisters .

January 1, 1927: First Rose Bowl National Broadcast

January 1, 1927:  Graham McNamee presented the play by play on NBC for the Rose Bowl , broadcast for the first time on this day by a coast-to-coast network radio. NBC chose sports as their main program focus since they were the first network to broadcast the Rose Bowl across the country. Later on, several important sporting events were aired nationally by NBC, including the World Series, golf tournaments, and the Olympics in Los Angeles in 1932. McNamee was a pioneering broadcaster in American radio history. He broadcast many sporting events, including national and international competitions. He was not a sports expert, but he had an incredible affinity for conveying to audiences what he saw in great detail and with great enthusiasm.   Graham McNamee later broadcast the radio program Behind the Mike .