From The Archives^TM of The History Channel®
January 5

Today is "Color Newsreel" Day!

Roll the film...

On this day in 1948, Warner Brothers-Pathe showed the very first color newsreel, as pictures of the Tournament of Roses Parade and the Rose Bowl football classic were seen by theatre audiences. Movie news... boy, what a concept! Next thing you know, somebody will have the great idea to put commercials immediately before the feature film! What? They really DO that now? See? What did we tell ya! Time marches on!

1885 - The Long Island Railroad Company was the first to offer piggy-back rail service. It transported farm wagons on trains. Moved all those potatoes pretty fast! Where did all of Long Island's (NY) potato farms go when they were replaced by houses, houses, houses? Anyone know?

1903 - The general public could use the Pacific cable for the very first time. No tellin' what they used it for. "Hey, lemme borrow a piece of that Pacific cable stuff," many along the West Coast were heard to mutter.

1914 - Here's news from the labor front: Ford Motor Company proudly announced this day that there would be a new daily minimum wage of $5 and a shortened eight hour work day. Hmmm. We're going to the higher ups here to have a little chat right now...

1925 - The first female governor in the U.S. took office in Wyoming this day. A tip of the ten-gallon hat, please, to Mrs. Nellie Taylor Ross who was sworn in during special ceremonies.

1933 - What is now a symbol of the great American West, the Golden Gate Bridge, spanning the deep channel at the entrance to San Francisco Bay, with the Bay on one side and the Pacific Ocean on the other, went under construction this day. It would be called an engineering marvel when completed. And, for now, pedestrians can still walk its entire length. Few person-made things are as beautiful as the Golden Gate shrouded in deep fog, with its twin towers peering out of the fog bank. Quite a sight!

1934 - Both the National and American Leagues in baseball decided on a uniform size ball to be used. It was the first time in 33 years that both leagues used the same size ball.

1935 - We proudly remind you that Phil Spitalny's All-Girl Orchestra was featured on CBS Radio this day on the program, "The Hour of Charm". That's the problem with radio these days... no creativity in its program titles. "And now, ladies and gentlemen, The Hour of Charm, starring, Howard Stern, along with Phil Spitalny and his All-Girl Orchestra!" Outrageous? Sure, but what isn't these days!

1940 - The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) got its very first demonstration of FM radio this day. The new medium, free of interference, static, and noise in thunderstorms, was developed by Major E.H. Armstrong. The first FM transmitter was put in operation in 1941. What did it broadcast? Talk, of course. Well, not 'talk' per se... but lots of talking. Then FM badly injured AM by playing better sounding rock music and AM (and Howard Stern) now does all the talking.

1941 - Decca Record #23210 which he was recorded on this day in 1941. It was "Chica Chica Boom Chic" by the lovely Carmen Miranda. She sang the song in the film, "That Night in Rio".

1944 - The London "Daily Mail" was the first transoceanic newspaper ever published. Paperboys and girls on the other side of the ocean sure have great throwing arms, don't they?

1955 - A tune used in a "Studio One" production became the #1 song on the pop music charts this day. Joan Weber's song, "Let Me Go, Lover", rode the hit parade as the most popular record in the land for four weeks straight. Before being aired on television, the song had only been heard on a limited basis. In fact, the title was even different. It used to be known as "Let Me Go, Devil". Romantics those TV people...

1961 - "Hello... I'm Mr. Ed!" "A horse is a horse, of course of course"... you know the lyrics. "Mr. Ed", the talking horse, debuted for what would be a six-year run. The show starred Alan Young as Ed's owner, Wilbur Post. Wilbur's wife, Carol, was played by Connie Hines. Good old neighbor Roger Addison was Larry Keating. The voice of Mr. Ed was... no, not Alan Young... rather, Allan 'Rocky' Lane... of course, of course. "I am Mr. Ed.!" If you put your ear next to the monitor screen, you might hear the song. Some conditions will vary, of course. Void where prohibited.

1970 - The community of Pine Valley became known, nationally, when "All My Children" premiered on ABC-TV on this date.

1972 - John Denver received a gold record for the album, "Aerie", this day.

1979 - John Travolta probably remembers that the soundtrack LP of "Saturday Night Fever" reached $25 million in sales today.

1984 - The group, The Police, planned a farewell concert on March 2 in Australia, to allow band members to go their separate ways, after nine years together. How come Australia? Did they want to make sure that no one got an unfair start?

1987 - When the Midshipmen beat East Carolina 91-66, this night, David Robinson became the first player in Naval Academy history to score more than 2,000 points. Today. Mr. Robinson is a major star of the NBA.

Birthday Board: January 5

1779 - Stephen Decatur (naval officer: "...our country right or wrong")

1919 - Erica Morini (violinist)

1913 - Jean-Pierre Aumont (actor)

1923 - Sam Phillips (record executive: Sun Records: The [Memphis] Million Dollar Quartet: Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins, Charlie Rich)

1926 - Buddy Young (football)

1928 - Fred Glover (hockey coach)

1928 - Walter 'Fritz' Mondale (U.S. Senator, Vice President [1977-81) Democratic presidential nominee [1984])

1931 - Alvin Ailey (choreographer: Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater: 79 ballets in repertoire - establishing a place for blacks in modern dance)

1932 - Chuck Noll (NFL football coach w/most Super Bowl wins: Pittsburgh Steelers, Super Bowls: IX, X, XIII, XIV)

1935 - Earl Battey (baseball)

1938 - Lindsay Crosby (entertainer)

1942 - Wayne Rutledge (hockey)

1945 - Jimmy Page (musician: group: Led Zeppelin: Stairway to Heaven)

1946 - Diane Keaton (Hall) (Academy Award-winning actress: Annie Hall [1977], Sleeper, Hair, Love and Death)

1947 - Mercury (Eugene) Morris (football: running back: Miami Dolphins: Super Bowls VI, VII, VIII)

1951 - Don Gullett (baseball)

1953 - Pamela Sue Martin (actress: The Poseidon Adventure, Dynasty, The Nancy Drew Mysteries)

Chart Toppers: January 5
1955
- Let Me Go, Lover - Joan Weber

Count Your Blessings - Eddie Fisher

The Naughty Lady of Shady Lane - The Ames Brothers

This Ole House - Rosemary Clooney

1964
- There! I've Said It Again - Bobby Vinton

Louie Louie - The Kingsmen

Since I Fell for You - Lenny Welch

I'm Leaving It up to You - Dale and Grace

1973
- Me and Mrs. Jones - Billy Paul

Superstition - Stevie Wonder

You're So Vain - Carly Simon

She's Got to be a Saint - Ray Price

1982
- Physical - Olivia Newton-John

Waiting for a Girl Like You - Foreigner

Young Turks - Rod Stewart

Love in the First Degree - Alabama