Entertainment History
On August 5, 1957, "American Bandstand" with host Dick Clark debuted on
ABC. The first act to appear was The Chordettes, who later had a hit
with the song "Lollipop. In 1962, Marilyn Monroe was found dead in the
bedroom of her Los Angeles home. Her death was ruled a "probable
suicide" caused by an overdose of sleeping pills. She was 36. In 1966,
The Beatles released their "Revolver" album in Britain. It was released
in the U.S. four days later. In 1967, Pink Floyd's first album, "The
Piper At The Gates Of Dawn," was released in the U.K. In 1975, Stevie
Wonder announced he had re-signed with Motown Records for $13 million.
The contract wasn't actually signed until the following April. In 1984,
actor Richard Burton died at a hospital in Geneva, Switzerland. He was
58. In 1990, Janet Jackson collapsed backstage during a concert in St.
Louis after performing three songs. In 1994, Bill Cosby was ordered to
pay damages of 20 cents for assaulting a photographer, who had sued
Cosby for $2 million. In 2000, actor Alec Guinness died in southern
England at the age of 86. Today's Birthdays: Actress Loni Anderson is
71. Actress Erica Slezak ("One Life To Live") is 70. Singer Rick
Derringer is 69. Singer Samantha Sang is 63. Guitarist Eddie Ojeda of
Twisted Sister is 61. Actress Maureen McCormick ("The Brady Bunch") is
60. Guitarist Pat Smear (Foo Fighters) is 57. Actress Tawny Kitaen
(kih-TAYN') is 55. Country fiddler Mark O'Connor is 55. Actor Mark
Strong ("The Imitation Game") is 53. Actor Jonathan Silverman ("The
Single Guy") is 50. Country singer Terri Clark is 48. Cellist Eicca
Toppinen (EYE'-kah TAH'-pihn-nehn) of Apocalyptica is 41. Drummer Will
Sellers of Old Dominion is 38. Actor Jesse Williams ("Grey's Anatomy")
is 36. Actor Albert Tsai ("Dr. Ken") is 12.
