Entertainment

On Oct. 17, 1957, the movie “Jailhouse Rock,” starring Elvis Presley, premiered in Memphis.

In 1960, Dion and the Belmonts broke up.

In 1966, “Hollywood Squares” premiered on NBC.

In 1967, the musical “Hair” made its premiere off-Broadway.

In 1968, Jose Feliciano released his controversial rendition of the national anthem. He had originally performed it before a 1968 World Series game and was booed.

In 1969, the American Federation of Musicians allowed The Kinks to tour the U.S. It had banned the Kinks from playing in the U.S. after the band appeared without permission on “Hullabaloo” in 1966.

In 1978, Frankie Valli hit No. 1 with the title song from the movie “Grease.”

In 1979, Fleetwood Mac’s double album “Tusk” was released. It took two years to record and cost more than $1 million to produce. The album was only moderately successful when it came to sales.

In 1990, The Judds announced they would no longer perform together because Naomi Judd had chronic hepatitis. Wynonna continued as a solo act.

In 1991, singer Tennessee Ernie Ford died in Reston, Virginia, at the age of 72. He’s probably best known for taking “Sixteen Tons” to the top of the pop and country charts in 1955.

Today’s Birthdays: Singer Gary Puckett of Gary Puckett and the Union Gap is 82. Actor Michael McKean is 77. Actor George Wendt is 76. Singer-comedian Bill Hudson of The Hudson Brothers is 75. Country singer Alan Jackson is 66. Actor Grant Shaud (“Murphy Brown”) is 64. Animator Mike Judge (“King of the Hill,” ″Beavis and Butthead”) is 62. Singer Rene’ Dif (Aqua) is 57. Reggae singer Ziggy Marley is 56. Actor Wood Harris (“Empire,” “The Wire”) is 55. Singer Wyclef Jean (zhahn) of The Fugees is 55. Singer Chris Kirkpatrick of ’N Sync is 53. Rapper Eminem is 52. Actor Sharon Leal (“Boston Public,” “Why Did I Get Married?”) is 52. Actor Matthew Macfadyen (“Deadpool and Wolverine,” “Succession”) is 50. Actor Felicity Jones (“The Theory of Everything”) is 41. Actor Chris Lowell (“The Help,” ″Private Practice”) is 40. Actor Dee Jay Daniels (“The Hughleys,” ″In The House”) is 36.

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On Oct. 16, 1957, “You Send Me” by Sam Cooke was released. It was his first million-seller.

In 1967, Joan Baez and about 120 other anti-draft demonstrators were arrested for blocking the entrance to a military center in Oakland, California. They were jailed for 10 days.

In 1968, the New Yardbirds played their first concert at a club in London. They later changed their name to Led Zeppelin.

In 1969, Leonard Chess died of a heart attack. He founded Chess Records with his brother Phil in the early 1950s.

In 1972, the members of Creedence Clearwater Revival announced they were breaking up.

In 1976, Stevie Wonder’s album “Songs In The Key Of Life” was released.

In 1992, singer Sinead O’Connor was booed off the stage at a Madison Square Garden show honoring Bob Dylan’s 30 years of music. The crowd was still reacting to O’Connor’s appearance on Saturday Night Live” two weeks earlier, when she had torn up a picture of the pope.

In 2003, Simon and Garfunkel reunited for their first concert tour in two decades, in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania.

In 2007, Ellen DeGeneres opened her talk show in tears because she had adopted a dog and then given it to her hairdresser’s daughters. The dog had been taken away by the adoption agency and DeGeneres felt bad for the girls.

Today’s Birthdays: Actor-producer Tony Anthony (“The Stranger” movies) is 87. Actor Barry Corbin (“Yellowstone,” ″Northern Exposure”) is 84. Bassist C.F. Turner of Bachman-Turner Overdrive is 81. Guitarist Bob Weir of the Grateful Dead is 77. Producer-director David Zucker (“The Naked Gun,” “Airplane!”) is 77. Actor Martha Smith (“Animal House,” ″Scarecrow and Mrs. King”) is 72. Actor Andy Kindler (“Bob’s Burgers,” “Everybody Loves Raymond”) is 68. Actor-director Tim Robbins is 66. Guitarist Gary Kemp (Spandau Ballet) is 65. Singer Bob Mould (Husker Du) is 64. Actor Randy Vasquez (“JAG”) is 63. Bassist Flea of the Red Hot Chili Peppers is 62. Actor Christian Stolte (“Chicago Fire”) is 62. Actor Terri J. Vaughn (“All of Us,” ″The Steve Harvey Show”) is 55. Singer Wendy Wilson of Wilson Phillips is 55. Rapper B-Rock of B-Rock and the Bizz is 53. Singer Chad Gray of Mudvayne is 53. Actor Paul Sparks (“Boardwalk Empire”) is 53. Actor Kellie Martin (“Christy,” ″Life Goes On”) is 49. Singer-songwriter John Mayer is 47. Actor Jeremy Jackson (“Baywatch”) is 44. Actor Caterina Scorsone (“Grey’s Anatomy”) is 44. Actor Brea Grant (“Heroes”) is 43. Actor Kyler Pettis (“Days of Our Lives”) is 32.

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On Oct. 14, 1954, director Cecil B. DeMille started filming “The Ten Commandments” in Egypt. The movie featured a cast of more than 25,000.

In 1955, Bill Haley and his Comets, at the height of their fame with “Rock Around the Clock,” played a concert in Lubbock, Texas. The opening act was an unknown singer named Buddy Holly.

In 1964, Rolling Stones drummer Charlie Watts secretly married Shirley Ann Arnold.

In 1971, John Fogerty was sued for allegedly plagiarizing Little Richard’s “Good Golly Miss Molly” for Creedence Clearwater Revival’s “Travelin’ Band.” The suit was eventually dropped.

In 1972, singer Joe Cocker was arrested in a drug raid after a concert in Adelaide, Australia. Cocker could have been fined and jailed for two years, but police instead ordered him to leave the country within four hours.

Also in 1972, Michael Jackson hit number one with his first solo hit, with “Ben.”

In 1977, singer Bing Crosby died near Madrid, Spain, at age 74.

In 1990, conductor-composer Leonard Bernstein (BURN’-styn) died in New York of lung failure. He was 72. Besides “West Side Story,” Bernstein’s Broadway successes included “On the Town,” ″Wonderful Town” and “Candide.”

In 1996, Madonna gave birth to Lourdes Maria, her first child.

In 1998, “polka king” Frankie Yankovic died at his home in New Port Richey, Florida, a week after suffering a fall. He was 83.

In 2000, singer Drew Lachey of 98 Degrees married Lea Dellecave in Cincinnati.

In 2009, a man waiting in line for an autograph from singer Leona Lewis in London jumped out of line and punched her in the head. He was immediately arrested.

Today’s Birthdays: Director Carroll Ballard (“The Black Stallion”) is 87. Country singer Melba Montgomery is 87. Singer Cliff Richard is 84. Singer Justin Hayward of the Moody Blues is 78. Actor Greg Evigan (“My Two Dads,” ″B.J. and the Bear”) is 71. Singer Thomas Dolby is 66. Actor Lori Petty (“A League of Their Own”) is 61. Actor Steve Coogan (“Night at the Museum” movies) is 59. Singer Karyn White is 59. Actor Edward Kerr (“Pretty Little Liars,” “Snoops”) is 58. Actor Jon Seda (“Chicago P.D.,” ″Homicide: Life On The Street”) is 54. Bassist Doug Virden (Sons of the Desert) is 54. Country singer Natalie Maines of The Chicks is 50. Singer Shaznay Lewis of All Saints is 49. Actor Stephen Hill (2018’s “Magnum, P.I.”) is 48. Singer Usher is 46. TV personality Stacy Keibler (WWE) is 45. Actor Ben Whishaw (“Paddington”) is 44. Actor Skyler Shaye (“Bratz”) is 38. Comedian Jay Pharoah (“Saturday Night Live”) is 37. Actor Max Thieriot (“Fire Country,” “SEAL Team”) is 36.

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On Oct. 11, 1960, “The Bugs Bunny Show” made its debut on ABC.

In 1965, The Beatles released the single “Roll Over Beethoven” backed with “Misery.”

In 1969, bluesman Muddy Waters was seriously injured and three other people killed in a car crash near Chicago.

In 1975, “Saturday Night Live” made its debut on NBC.

In 1976, Kitty Wells and Paul Cohen were elected to the Country Music Hall of Fame.

Also in 1976, Jane Pauley replaced Barbara Walters on the “Today” show.

In 1982, Lefty Frizzell, Marty Robbins and Roy Horton were elected to the Country Music Hall of Fame.

In 1983, Lionel Richie released his “Can’t Slow Down” album.

In 1986, “The Church Lady” made her first appearance on “Saturday Night Live.”

In 1991, actor-comedian Redd Foxx died of a heart attack in Los Angeles at the age of 68.

In 2006, the sitcom “30 Rock” premiered on NBC.

In 2024, the movie “Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour” premiered in Los Angeles. It became the highest grossing concert film of all time.

Today’s Birthdays: Country singer Gene Watson is 81. Singer Daryl Hall of Hall and Oates is 78. Actor Catlin Adams (“The Jerk,” ″The Jazz Singer”) is 74. Country singer Paulette Carlson (Highway 101) is 73. MTV VJ Mark Goodman is 72. Actor David Morse (“St. Elsewhere”) is 71. Actor Stephen Spinella (“24″) is 68. Actor Joan Cusak is 62. Guitarist Scott Johnson of Gin Blossoms is 62. Actor-writer Michael J. Nelson (“Mystery Science Theater 3000”) is 60. Actor Sean Patrick Flanery is 59. Actor Lennie James (“The Walking Dead”) is 59. Musician Todd Snider is 58. Actor Artie Lange (“MADtv”) is 57. Actor Jane Krakowski (“30 Rock,” ″Ally McBeal”) is 56. Actor Andrea Navedo (“Jane the Virgin”) is 55. Rapper MC Lyte is 54. Actor Constance Zimmer (“UnREAL,” ″Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.”) is 54. Actor Darien Sills-Evans (“Superior Donuts,” “Treme”) is 50. Singer NeeNa Lee is 49. Actor Emily Deschanel (“Bones”) is 48. Actor Trevor Donovan (“90210″) is 46. Actor Michelle Trachtenberg (“Buffy the Vampire Slayer,” ″Inspector Gadget”) is 39. Rapper Cardi B is 32.

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On Oct. 10, 1935, the first black opera, “Porgy and Bess” by George Gershwin, opened in New York.

In 1962, the BBC banned Bobby (Boris) Pickett’s song “Monster Mash” because it deemed the record offensive.

In 1965, The Supremes made their first appearance on “The Ed Sullivan Show.”

In 1978, Steven Tyler and Joe Perry of Aerosmith were injured during a concert in Philadelphia when someone in the audience threw a cherry bomb onstage.

In 1979, the city of Los Angeles declared Fleetwood Mac Day as the group received its star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Also in 1979, the film “The Rose,” starring Bette Midler, premiered in Los Angeles.

In 1980, the film “Private Benjamin,” starring Goldie Hawn, was released.

Today’s Birthdays: Actor Peter Coyote is 83. Actor Charles Dance (“Game of Thrones”) is 78. Actor-dancer Ben Vereen is 78. Singer Cyril Neville of The Neville Brothers is 76. Actor Jessica Harper (“Pennies From Heaven,” ″My Favorite Year) is 75. Singer-guitarist Midge Ure of Ultravox is 71. Singer David Lee Roth (Van Halen) is 70. Country singer Tanya Tucker is 66. Actor Julia Sweeney (“Saturday Night Live”) is 65. Actor Bradley Whitford (“The West Wing”) is 65. Bassist Martin Kemp (Spandau Ballet) is 63. Guitarist Jim Glennie of James is 61. Drummer Mike Malinin of the Goo Goo Dolls is 57. Actor Manu Bennett (“Arrow”) is 55. Actor Joelle Carter (“Justified”) is 55. Actor Wendi McLendon-Covey (“The Goldbergs,” ″Reno 911!”) is 55. Actor Mario Lopez (“The X Factor,” ″Saved By The Bell”) is 51. Actor Jodi Lyn O’Keefe (“She’s All That,” ″Nash Bridges”) is 46. Singer Mya is 45. Actor Dan Stevens (“Downton Abbey”) is 42. Singer Lzzy Hale of Halestorm is 41. Singer Cherie is 40. Actor Rose McIver (“Ghosts,” “iZombie”) is 36. Actor Aimee Teegarden (“Friday Night Lights”) is 35.

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On Oct. 8, 1944, “Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet” made its debut on CBS radio, on the Nelsons’ ninth wedding anniversary.

In 1958, “Bat Masterson,” starring Gene Barry, debuted on NBC.

In 1966, Cream drummer Ginger Baker collapsed after performing a 20-minute drum solo in Sussex, England. Doctors diagnosed him as having acute exhaustion and the flu.

In 1968, singer Cass Elliot made her solo debut at Caesar’s Palace in Las Vegas. However, she had tonsillitis, and her band had not rehearsed enough. She ended up canceling the two-week engagement after opening night.

In 1980, singer Bob Marley collapsed during a concert in Pittsburgh. He was flown to a hospital in New York. Marley never performed again; he died in 1981.

In 1988, the comedy “Empty Nest” premiered on NBC. The show was a spinoff of “The Golden Girls” and starred Richard Mulligan.

In 1990, Tennessee Ernie Ford was elected to the Country Music Hall of Fame.

Also in 1990, singer Eddie Vedder arrived in Seattle to audition for a band that would become Pearl Jam.

In 1992, the U.S. Postal Service announced a commemorative stamp booklet that included rock legends Bill Haley, Buddy Holly, Elvis Presley and Ritchie Valens, plus R&B stars Clyde McPhatter, Otis Redding and Dinah Washington.

In 1999, Michael Jackson’s wife, Debbie Rowe, filed for divorce, citing irreconcilable differences. They were married in 1996.

In 2003, Arnold Schwarzenegger was elected governor of California.

Today’s Birthdays: Actor Paul Hogan is 85. Singer Fred Cash of The Impressions is 84. Actor-comedian Chevy Chase is 81. Author R.L. Stine (“Goosebumps”) is 81. Country singer Susan Raye is 80. TV personality Sarah Purcell (“Real People”) is 76. Singer Airrion Love of The Stylistics is 75. Actor Sigourney Weaver is 75. Singer Robert “Kool” Bell of Kool and the Gang is 74. Singer-guitarist Ricky Lee Phelps (Brothers Phelps, Kentucky Headhunters) is 71. Actor Michael Dudikoff (“American Ninja”) is 70. Comedian Darrell Hammond (“Saturday Night Live”) is 69. Actor Stephanie Zimbalist (“Remington Steele”) is 68. Actor Kim Wayans (“In The House,” ″In Living Color”) is 63. Singer Steve Perry of Cherry Poppin’ Daddies is 61. Actor Ian Hart (TV’s “Dirt”) is 60. Singer CeCe Winans is 60. Bassist C.J. Ramone of The Ramones is 59. Actor Karyn Parsons (“The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air”) is 58. Singer Teddy Riley is 58. Actor Emily Procter (“The West Wing,” “CSI: Miami”) is 56. Actor Dylan Neal (“Blood Ties,” ″Sabrina, The Teenage Witch”) is 55. Actor-screenwriter Matt Damon is 54. Actor Martin Henderson (“Virgin River,” “Grey’s Anatomy”) is 50. Actor Kristanna Loken (“The L Word,” “Burn Notice”) is 45. Singer Byron Reeder of Mista is 45. Singer Noelle Scaggs of Fitz and the Tantrums is 45. Actor Nick Cannon is 44. Actor J.R. Ramirez (TV’s “Manifest”) is 44. Singer-songwriter Bruno Mars is 39. Actor Angus T. Jones (“Two and a Half Men”) is 31. Actor Molly Quinn (“Castle”) is 31. Actor Bella Thorne (TV’s “Shake It Up,” film “Midnight Sun”) is 27.

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