What happened in the world of entertainment on September 16? A British group released a single that flopped (the first time around); an American group recorded a single (that should have done better); six classic television shows premiered; a celebrated actor, a 70s rock star, and a 60s folk legend all passed.

she-loves-you-swan-cover
1963 –The Beatles released She Loves You in the U.S. on the Swan Label.
The single failed to generate much interest in the U.S. until it was re-released in 1964 on Capitol Records following the success of I Want To Hold Your Hand.

outer-limits
1963 – Remember this?
“There is nothing wrong with your television set. Do not attempt to adjust the picture. We are controlling transmission. We will control the horizontal. We will control the vertical.”
The Outer Limits premiered on ABC. Although it is often cited as a “cult classic,” the series lasted just 16 months before low ratings brought it to an end.


1964 – Shindig! premiered on ABC.
The musical variety show ran for 15 months and focused on popular rock and roll acts.
The first show featured Sam Cooke, the Everly Brothers and the Righteous Brothers.


1965 – The Dean Martin Show debuted on NBC. The weekly variety show continued on the network for nine years.

1965 – The Byrds recorded Set You Free This Time.
The song, written by vocalist Gene Clark, was first released on the group’s Turn! Turn! Turn! album and later issued as a single but only reached #63 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Bob-Newhart-Show
1972 – The Bob Newhart Show premiered on CBS.
Newhart played Robert Hartley, a Chicago psychologist, for six seasons.


1972 – Bridget Loves Bernie premiered on CBS.
The series was regarded as controversial at the time since the premise featured the marriage between a wealthy Irish Catholic teacher and a Jewish cab driver.
Even though it was ranked 5th among all shows that season, CBS executives decided to cancel the show after one season in response to hate mail from viewers who objected to the inter-religious marriage depicted on the series.
It was the highest-rated television program ever to be canceled after only one season.


1977 – Musician Marc Bolan died in an automobile accident.
Bolan, lead singer, guitarist and songwriter with T. Rex – Bang A Gong (Get It On) – was a passenger in the car. He never learned to drive as he feared he would die in a car accident.

frasier
1993 – Frasier, a spin-off of the long-running mega-hit sitcom Cheers, made its debut on NBC.
The series lasted 11 years.


2002 – Actor James Gregory died of natural causes at the age of 90.
Gregory was well known for playing the character of Inspector Frank Luger in the television sitcom Barney Miller.
Among his films, Gregory earned particular notice for his performance in the 1962 political thriller The Manchurian Candidate, starring Frank Sinatra and Laurence Harvey.


2009 – Folk singer Mary Travers, legendary folk singer as part of Peter, Paul & Mary, died at 72 from complications arising from chemotherapy treatments for leukemia.
The legendary trio recorded Blowin’ In The Wind, Lemon Tree, Puff The Magic Dragon, Leaving On A Jet Plane and many, many others.

Compiled by Ray Lemire ©2005-2020 RayLemire.com / Streamingoldies.com. All Rights Reserved.