Bee Gees - Billboard Hot 100 singles chart History ( 1966 - 1997 )

Billboard Hot 100 - Top 50 Singles (5/5/2012)

Kentucky Derby Flashback - 1992

20 years ago Lil E Tee ran away from the field coming down the home stretch to take the 118th running of the Kentucky Derby.

In a huge upset the bay colt held off challenges by favorite Arazi, Casual Lies and Dance Floor to win a slow race at 2:03:04.

Gunsmoke on Television

Gunsmoke debuted on CBS television on September 10th 1955 at 10pm on Saturday night.  It was not an immediate hit that season but came back the next season to finish tied for 7th place (I've Got a Secret).  The next season 1957-58 it was the #1 show in primetime with a 43.1 rating, well ahead of the Danny Thomas Show and leading several other westerns into the top ten prime time show list like #3 Tales of Wells Fargo, #4 Have Gun Will Travel, #6 The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp and at #8 The Restless Gun.  
This would be the first of 4 straight seasons that Gunsmoke was the #1 rated show on television.  A record that it held until All In the Family had 5 straight seasons at #1 (1971-1976).

What I am going to do to pay tribute to this feat by Gunsmoke I am going to post as many of the episodes from that first season it was #1 in the ratings (1957-58) as I can find.   First of all though I would like to show the episode from this week, April 26th of 1957, "Innocent Broad".

Kentucky Derby Flashback - 2002

Ten years ago on May 4 2002 the 128th running of the Kentucky Derby and the favorite at post time was War Emblem.

New York Times Bestseller List NonFiction April 22 2012

Here are the Top 10 books on the New York Times Bestseller Non Fiction List for the Week ending April 22 2012
(click on the titles and go to Amazon and purchase or read more about the book)

10 - Steve Jobs - Walter Isaacson    (24 weeks on list)
9  -  American Sniper - Chris Kyle   (14 weeks)
8  -  The Power of Habit - Charles Duhigg   (6 weeks)
7  -  Killing Lincoln - Bill O'Reilly and Martin Dugard  (28 weeks)
6  -  Wild - Cheryl Strayed   (3 weeks)
5  -  Mrs. Kennedy and Me - Clint Hill w/Lisa McCubbin  (Debut)
4  -  Imagine - Jonah Lehrer  (3 weeks)
3  -  Trickle Down Tyranny - Michael Savage  (Debut)
2  -  The Big Miss - Hank Haney   (2 weeks)
1  -  Drift - Rachel Maddow  
(2nd consecutive week at #1)

New York Times Bestseller List Fiction 4/22/2012

Here are the Top Ten Bestselling novels on the New York Times Hardcover Fiction list for the week ending April 22 2012
(click the titles and go to Amazon to purchase or read more about the book)

10 - Beastly Things - Donna Leon  (Debut)
9  -  Lover Reborn - J.R. Ward    (2 weeks on list)
(last weeks #1)
8  -  The Beginner's Goodbye - Anne Tyler   (Debut)
7  -  Stay Close - Harlan Coben  (3 weeks)
6  -  Betrayal - Danielle Steel     (Debut)
5  -  The Shoemaker's Wife - Adriana Trigiani   (Debut)
4  -  The Limpopo Academy of Private Detection - Alexander McCall Smith
(Debut)
3  -  Sacre' Bleu - Christopher Moore    (Debut)
2  -  Guilty Wives - James Patterson   (2 weeks)
1  -  The Lost Years - Mary Higgins Clark
(Debut)

The 19th Academy Awards and Jack Benny

Today with the assistance of Buck Benny's world class podcast we have the full radio broadcast of the Academy Awards held on March 13th 1947 with host Jack Benny.
Held at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, I believe this was the first year that clips were shown from the films nominated for Best Picture and clips for all the acting categories.
Now dont get your hopes for a laugh fest with Jack as host because he doesnt even get introduced until 1 hr 50 minutes into the show.  Now he does a great job and gets in quite a few jokes at his own expense about "The Horn Blows at Midnight" and "To Be or Not To Be", but he isnt the quick, rapid fire joke teller like Bob Hope the year before but he entertains as always.
The winner for 1946 was the classic "The Best Years of Our Lives", taking home 7 Awards out of 8 nominations.

1965 Billboard Top 10 Singles - 4/3/1965

9 Most Controversial Pulitzer Prize Winners of All Time

A very good article on the Pulitzer Prize,  thanks to Florine Church for the suggestion

Here is the Article : 9 Most Controversial Pulitzer Prize Winners of All Time

New York Times Bestseller List NonFiction 04/08/2012

Here are the top 10 books on the NY Times Bestseller list, Non Fiction for the week ending April 8th 2012

10 - Thinking, Fast and Slow - Daniel Kahneman  (22 weeks on list)
9  -  Some Assembly Required - Anne Lamott  (debut)
8  -  Quiet - Susan Cain   (9 weeks)
7  -  Wild - Cheryl Strayed   (debut)
6  -  Unbroken - Laura Hillenbrand   (71 weeks)
5  -  Steve Jobs - Walter Isaacson  (22 weeks)
4  -  Killing Lincoln - Bill O'Reilly and Martin Dugard   (26 weeks)
3  -  American Sniper - Chris Kyle  (12 weeks)
2  -  The Power of Habit - Charles Duhigg   (4 weeks)
1  -  Imagine - Jonah Lehrer 
(Debut)

New York Times Bestsellers for Fiction 4/8/2012

Here are the Top 10 novels on the NY Times Bestseller list in Fiction for the week ending April 8th 2012

10 - The Wolf Gift - Anne Rice   (6 weeks on list)
9  -  Fate of the Jedi : Apocalypse - Troy Denning  (2 weeks)
8  -  Defending Jacob - William Landay  (8 weeks(
7  -  Phanton - Ted Bell   (Debut)
6  -  Private Games - James Patterson   (6 weeks)
5  -  The Thief - Clive Cussler    (3 weeks)
4  -  Kill Shot - Vince Flynn   (7 weeks)
3  -  Force of Nature - C.J. Box   (Debut)
2  -  Lone Wolf - Jodi Picoult  (4 weeks)
1  - Stay Close - Harlan Coben  
(Debut)

Flashback Record World Country Chart Top 50 3/10/1979

1989 Billboard Top 10 Singles - 4/1/1989 - 23 years ago this week

Hogan's Heroes

Our episode of classic television once again brings us to Hogan's Heroes.   Today our episode is from October 3rd 1969 "The Well".

New York Times Bestseller List (Fiction) 04/01/2012

Here are the Top Ten novels on the NY Times Bestseller list for the week ending April 1st 2012

10 - The Wolf Gift - Anne Rice   (5 weeks on list)
9  -  The Expats - Chris Pavone   (2 weeks)
8  -  A Dance With Dragons - George RR Martin   (33 weeks)
7  -  Victims - Jonathan Kellerman  (3 weeks)
6  -  Defending Jacob - William Landay  (7 weeks)
5  -  Private Games - James Patterson   (5 weeks)
4  -  Kill Shot -  Vince Flynn   (6 weeks)
3  -  The Thief - Clive Cussler  (2 weeks and #1 last week)
2  -  Fate of the Jedi : Apocalypse - Troy Denning  (Debut)
1  -  Lone Wolf - Jodi Picoult  (3 weeks)

Billboard Top 100 singles of 1982 ( No.25 - No.1 )

Gunsmoke - Murder Warrant

Here we have another look at how the radio version of Gunsmoke led the way for the tv version.

From season 2 on the radio and from season 4 on tv here is the episode "Murder Warrant"
written by John Meston.

Thanks to Bob Camardella and his great podcast Boxcars711 for the radio broadcast.

Originally aired on CBS Radio April 24th 1954


Aired on CBS television April 18th 1959

Billboard Hot 100 - Top 50 Singles (3/24/2012)

The Andy Griffith Show

From Season 2 episode 20 "Barney and the Choir"

just remember you will be singing "Juanita" in your head for the next 12 hours  hahahahaha

New York Times Bestseller List (Non Fiction) 03/18/2012

Here are the Top Ten books on the New York Times Non Fiction Bestseller List for the week ending March 18th 2012

10 - Quiet - Susan Cain      (6 weeks on list)
9  -  Bringing Up Bebe - Pamela Druckerman     (4 weeks)
8  -  Ameritopia - Mark Levin     (7 weeks)
7  -  Unbroken - Laura Hillenbrand   (68 weeks)
6  -  Indivisible - James Robison and Jay Richards  (2 weeks)
5  -  Becoming China's Bitch - Peter D Kiernan  (Debut)
4  -  The Power of Habit - Charles Duhigg  (Debut)
3  -  Steve Jobs - Walter Isaascson   (19 weeks)
2  -  Killing Lincoln - Bill O'Reilly and Martin Dugard   (23 weeks)
1  -  American Sniper - Chris Kyle
(9 weeks on list)

New York Times Bestseller List (Fiction) 03/18/2012

Here are the Top Ten Novels on the NY Times Fiction Bestseller List for the week ending March 18th 2012

10 - 11/22/63 - Stephen King  (17 weeks on list)
9  -  Defending Jacob - William Landay (5 weeks)
8  -  A Perfect Blood - Kim Harrison  (2 weeks)
7  -  Cinnamon Roll Murder - Joanne Fluke  (Debut)
6  -  The Wolf Gift - Anne Rice  (3 weeks)
5  -  Private Games - James Patterson  (3 weeks)
4  -  Celebrity in Death - J.D. Robb (2 weeks)
(Last week's #1)
3  -  Kill Shot - Vince Flynn   (4 weeks)
2  -  Victims - Jonathan Kellerman  (Debut)
1  -  Lone Wolf - Jodi Picoult 
(DEBUT)

3/17/2012 Billboard Top 10 Singles

Top Cashbox Singles February 10, 1979 Top 40

Billboard Top Ten Singles March 8th 1975

37 years ago this week

2012 Kentucky Derby

We are just under 2 months away from the 138th running of the Kentucky Derby on May 5th 2012.

Here is one of the early favorites, Hansen.  Here he wins the 2012 Gotham Stakes on Saturday March 3rd.

The 8th Annual Academy Awards

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer’s Mutiny On The Bounty (produced by Irving Thalberg and Albert Lewin) was voted Outstanding Production, or today it would Best Picture or 1935.
Today in 1936 the 8th Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Academy Awards ceremony was held at the Biltmore Hotel, Los Angeles.
 Director/producer/writer/actor Frank Capra hosted the ceremony honoring the films of 1935, which saw Victor McLaglen take the Best Actor prize for The Informer (John Ford won for directing this one). Best Actress was Bette Davis in Dangerous. In case you are wondering, they didn’t start handing out those Supporting Actor/Actress awards until 1937. The Best Music/Song award winners were Harry Warren (music) and Al Dubin (lyrics) for the song Lullaby of Broadway from Gold Diggers of 1935. An Oscar for Short Subject/Cartoon was awarded  Walt Disney for his cartoon, Three Orphan Kittens

Funeral for President Theodore Roosevelt

I am completely fascinated by funerals, graveyards and really the whole after life process from the funeral home to the grave.  I don't know why but I do and I am really fascinated by the funeral of any President of the US.
Here is rare silent film footage from the funeral of my favorite President Theodore Roosevelt.
From January 8th 1919

New York Times Bestseller List (Fiction) 03/04/2012

Here are the top 10 book on the New York Times Bestseller List (Fiction) for the week ending March 4th 2012

10 - Catch Me - Lisa Gardner  (2 weeks on list)
9  -  Home Front - Kristin Hannah  (3 weeks)
8  -  Private: #1 Suspect - James Patterson  (7 weeks)
7  -  Death Comes To Pemberley - P.D. James  (11 weeks)
6  -  11/22/63 - Stephen King   (15 weeks)
5  -  Defending Jacob - William Landay  (3 weeks)
4  -  I've Got Your Number - Sophie Kinsella  (Debut)
3  -  The Wolf Gift - Anne Rice  (Debut)
2  -  Kill Shot - Vince Flynn  (2 weeks) ( Last Weeks #1)
1  -  Private Games - James Patterson 
(Debut)

1979 Billboard Top 10 Singles - 2/24/1979

Billboard Top 10 Singles March 3rd 2012

Here are the Top Ten Singles on The Billboard Hot 100 for the Week ending March 3rd 2012.


for a list of the Top 20 singles and Albums check out my music blog Stax of Wax.

New York Times Bestseller List (Non Fiction) 02/26/2012

Here are the Top Ten books on the New York Times Non Fiction Bestseller List for the Week ending February 26th 2012

10 - Unbroken - Laura Hillenbrand  (65 weeks on list)
9  -  Behind the Beautiful Flowers - Katherine Boo  (Debut)
8  -  Bringing Up Bebe - Pamela Druckerman  (Debut)
7  -  Once Upon a Secret - Mimi Alford  (Debut)
6  -  Quiet - Susan Cain   (3 weeks)
5  -  Killing Lincoln - Bill O'Reilly and Martin Dugard  (20 weeks)
4  -  Steve Jobs - Walter Isaacson  (16 weeks)
3  -  American Sniper - Chris Kyle  (6 weeks)
2  -  Hilarity Ensues - Tucker Max (Debut)
1  -  Ameritopia - Mark Levin   (4 weeks)
(3rd non consecutive week at #1)

New York Times Bestseller List 02/26/2012

Here are the Top Ten novels on the New York Times Bestseller List for Fiction for the week ending February 26th 2012

10 - Left For Dead - J.A. Jance  (Debut)
9  -  The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest - Stieg Larsson  (78 weeks on list)
8  -  Taken - Robert Crais   (3 weeks)
7  -  Home Front - Kristin Hannah   (2 weeks & last week #1)
6  -  Death Comes To Pemberley - P.D. James  (10 weeks)
5  -  11/22/1963 - Stephen King   (14 weeks)
4  -  Private: #1 Suspect - James Patterson  (6 weeks)
3  -  Defending Jacob - William Landay  (2 weeks)
2  -  Catch Me - Lisa Gardner  (Debut)
1  -  Kill Shot - Vince Flynn
(Debut)

The Story of Gunsmoke Followup

In yesterday's posting of the 6 part series "The Story of Gunsmoke" (courtesy of Buck Benny's Podcast) they had the episode of "Marshall Proudfoot" which aired July 20th 1958 on CBS radio season 6.

The TV version of the episode also called "Marshall Proudfoot", but instead of Chester's father coming to visit it was his uncle but otherwise the script stay pretty close to the radio version.  This aired January 10th 1959, season 4.

The Story of Gunsmoke

Thanks to Buck Benny and in celebration of its 60th anniversary, here in 6 parts is a retrospective of Gunsmoke the radio version. This was done in the early 70s and contains interviews with William Conrad (Matt Dillon), Parley Baer (Chester), John Meston and Norman McDonnell (the creators,writers and producers) and Georgia Ellis (Miss Kitty).

This is a great show with a lot of behind the scenes stories and even discusses the beginning of the television version.

Official UK Singles Chart Top 50 - Week ending 25th February 2012

America's Top 10 February 26, 1984 Casey Kasem

New York Times Bestseller List 02/19/2012 Fiction

Here are the Top Ten novels on the NY Times Bestseller List for Fiction.  
This is for the week ending February 19th 2012

10 - The Litigators - John Grisham (15 weeks on list)
9  -  Raylan - Elmore Leonard  (3 weeks)
8  -  Believing the Lie - Elizabeth George  (4 weeks)
7  -  The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest - Stieg Larsson  (77 weeks)
6  -  11/22/63 - Stephen King  (13 weeks)
5  -  Death Comes to Pemberley - P.D. James  (9 weeks)
4  -  Defending Jacob - William Landay  (Debut)
3  -  Taken - Robert Crais  (2 weeks) (last week's #1)
2  -  Private: #1 Suspect - James Patterson  (5 weeks)
1  -  Home Front - Kristin Hannah
(DEBUT)

Happy Birthday Jack Benny

Today would have been the 39th birthday of Jack Benny (wink wink).  To celebrate we have The Lucky Strike Program starring Jack Benny from 02/16/1947.


Jack celebrates his birthday with Ronald and Benita Coleman, who are fantastic as always and special guest Isaac Stern.

2/11/2012 Billboard Top 10 Singles - Adele's 2nd week atop Hot 100 !

Gunsmoke - Chester's Hanging

Time for another Gunsmoke on Radio and Gunsmoke on TV comparison.   Tonight's episode is Chester's Hanging which originally aired on radio Feb 12 1955 (Season 3) and then was made into a tv episode which aired May 17th 1958 (Season 3) on CBS television.


Here is the radio episode




The TV version

1987 Billboard Top 10 Singles - 2/7/1987 ~ 25 years ago today ~

New York Times Bestseller List NonFiction 02/05/2012

Here are the Top 10 books on the NY Times Bestseller list for the week ending Feb 5th 2012

10 - Catherine the Great - Robert K Massie  (10 weeks on list)
9  -  Elizabeth the Queen - Sally Bedell Smith  (2 weeks)
8  -  Obamas - Jodi Kantor (2 weeks)
7  -  Thinking, Fast and Slow - Daniel Kahneman (13 weeks)
6  -  Unbroken - Laura Hillenbrand (62 weeks)
5  -  Through My Eyes - Tim Tebow (20 weeks)
4  -  Killing Lincoln - Bill O'Reilly and Martin Dugard  (17 weeks)
3  -  Steve Jobs - Walter Isaacson (13 weeks)
2  -  American Sniper - Chris Kyle (3 weeks)
1  -  Ameritopia - Mark R Levin 
(DEBUT)

Bonanza - Walter and the Outlaws

From Season 5, the season's final episode "Walter and The Outlaws".  Aired on NBC May 24th 1964
Bonanza aired on Sunday nights 9-10pm and was the #2 show for the 1963-64 season.  It was sandwiched in the ratings by CBS' Wednesday 9-10pm power house combo of the Beverly Hillbillies at #1 and the Dick Van Dyke Show at #3.

In this episode the dog Walter is the same dog from the first episode of the 1964-65 season of the Andy Griffith Show "Barney's Bloodhound".  He was named "Blue" in that episode.

This episode is probably the best example of just how fun and funny Bonanza could be and how everyone on the show interacted so good to make it a hilarious episode.

2/4/2012 Billboard Top 10 Singles

Billboard Country Singles May 1, 1982 Top 50

The Golden Age of Radio - X-Minus One

Our Show for today is from the science fiction series of the mid 1950s, X Minus One. 

"A Gun for Dinosaur" written by L.Sprague de Camp in 1956.   This episode aired March 7th 1956 and was adapted for radio by Ernest Kinoy.

Classic Television - The Andy Griffith Show

One of my very favorite tv shows of all time is The Andy Griffith Show (B&W).  I could watch this show everyday and never get old.

Here is a great episode from Season 5.  Episode 7 "Man in the Middle".  Originally aired on CBS TV November 2nd 1964

Billboard Top 100 singles of 1964 ( No.25 - No.1 ) - Billboard Year End ...

In Case You Missed It

The Cadillac hearse that carried the body of President John F Kennedy to Air Force One following his assassination in Dallas TX in 1963 was sold at a Scottsdale AZ auction for $160,000.

Click here for the full story at CNN

New York Times Bestseller List 01/22/2012 Non Fiction

Here are the Top Ten Books on the New York Times Bestseller Non Fiction List for the week ending January 22nd 2012

10 - In the Garden of the Beasts - Erik Larson   (31 weeks)

9  -  Boomerang - Michael Lewis   (14 weeks)

8  -  Heaven is for Real - Todd Burpo  (6 weeks)

7  -  Through My Eyes - Tim Tebow   (18 weeks)

6  -  Catherine The Great - Robert K Massie    (8 weeks)

5  -  Unbroken - Laura Hillenbrand   (60 weeks)

4  -  Thinking, Fast and Slow - Daniel Kahneman   (11 weeks)

3  -  Killing Lincoln - Bill O'Reilly and Martin Dugard    (15 weeks)

2  -  American Sniper - Chris Kyle w/Scott McEwen and Jim DeFelice  (DEBUT)

1 -   Steve Jobs - Walter Isaacson  (11 weeks)

(11 consecutive weeks at #1)

New York Times Bestseller List 01/22/2012

Here are the Top 10 Books on the NY Times Fiction bestseller list for the week ending January 22nd 2012

10 - Kill Alex Cross - James Patterson   (8 weeks on list)
9  -  The Best of Me - Nicholas Sparks   (13 weeks)
8  -  The Litigators - John Grisham    (11 weeks)
7  -  The Girl Who Kicked The Hornet's Nest - Stieg Larsson   (73 weeks)
6  -  Locked On -  Tom Clancy   (4 weeks)
5  -  77 Shadow Street - Dean Koontz   (2 weeks) (#1 last week)
4  -  11/22/63 - Stephen King   (9 weeks)
3  -  Death Comes To Pemberley - P.D. James   (5 weeks)
2  -  Love in a Nutshell - Janet Evanovich and Dorien Kelly  (DEBUT)
1  -  Private : #1 Suspect - James Patterson and Maxine Paetro
(DEBUT)

Billboard Top 100 singles of 1987 ( No.25 - No.1 )

Billboard All-Time Top 100 Songs ( 1958 - 2008 ) - 50th Anniversary

Grammy Flashback

With the Grammy Awards coming up on Feb 12 2012 I thought I would do some looks back at past Grammy Award winners.  
Tonight we start with the 1961 Grammy Awards and the Album of the Year and New Artist of the Year winner, Bob Newhart.
The Album of the Year was "The Button-Down Mind of Bob Newhart"  


This was the debut album for Mr. Newhart  and was recorded live at The Tidelands Club in Houston, TX.
He spent 14 non consecutive weeks at the top of the Billboard album chart.  This was the first comedy record to be named Album of the Year and the only time a comedian has been awarded the Best New Artist Grammy.
Bob Newhart wanted to title the album "The Most Celebrated New Comedian Since Attila" but the Warner Brothers executives didnt care for that and created "The Button-Down Mind of Bob Newhart", but allowed his original title to stay as the subtitle.

here is the entire album for your enjoyment.

New York Times Bestseller List Fiction 1/14/2012

Here are the Top 10 books on the NY Times Bestseller list for the week ending January 14th 2012

10 - Explosive Eighteen - Janet Evanovich (6 weeks on list)
9  -  The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest - Steig Larsson (72 weeks)
8  -  Red Mist - Patricia Cornwell  (4 weeks)
7  -  The Best of Me - Nicholas Sparks  (12 weeks)
6  -  The Litigators - John Grisham  (10 weeks)
5  -  Kill Alex Cross - James Patterson (7 weeks)
4  -  Locked On - Tom Clancy  (3 weeks)
3  -  Death Comes To Pemberley - P.D. James  (4 weeks)
2  -  11/22/1963  -  Stephen King (8 weeks)
1  -  77 Shadow Street - Dean Koontz 
(DEBUT)
A 19th century tycoon's mansion has been turned into luxury apartments, but it remains in the grip of evil forces.