September 17th, 1965

60 YEARS AGO TODAY:

This has been a big week for television premiers ...

9/17/65 – “Hogan’s Heroes” debuts on CBS

 

Also on 9/17, actor Kyle Chandler is born  (he has LONG been one of Frannie’s favorites)

 

September 16th, 1965

60 YEARS AGO TODAY:

9/16/65 – “The Dean Martin Show” premiers on NBC-TV.  It is an immediate ratings success and will run for ten seasons.

 

Started as a new feature on the last season of his weekly program, Dean would act as Roastmaster of a Celebrity Roast.  Each week, a different celebrity would be "roasted" by their peers.  A panel of celebs would take part in poking good-natured fun at one of their own.  

On the final season of the weekly series, they managed to "honor" everyone from Hugh Hefner, Ronald Regan, Bette Davis, Wilt Chamberlain and Truman Capote to Johnny Carson, Barry Goldwater, Don Rickles (finally getting a dose of his own medicine), Jack Benny and Redd Foxx.

Then, after his regular series ended, the show evolved into a series of television specials, airing as The Dean Martin Celebrity Roasts ... 54 television specials in all airing over the next ten years!!!  

And even though Red Buttons "never got a dinner," some pretty big names were saluted and given the spotlight treatment over the years, including Bob Hope, Lucille Ball, Muhammad Ali, Frank Sinatra, Michael Landon, George Burns and even Dean Martin himself.  (You'll still find these airing as holiday marathons on some of the cable channels!)

And who can forget this classic bit from his original program ...

September 15th, 1965

60 YEARS AGO TODAY:

9/15/65 – “I Spy” starring Robert Culp and Bill Cosby, premiers on NBC TV

Also on 9/15, cult favorite “Lost In Space” premiers on CBS

 

 

Also on 9/15, The Ford Motor Company became the first automaker to offer an 8-track tape player as an option for their entire line of vehicles on sale in the US. At the time, tapes were initially only available at auto parts stores, as home 8-track equipment was still a year away.

Also on 9/15, Frankie Avalon makes a guest appearance on “The Patty Duke Show” in an episode called “A Foggy Day In Brooklyn Heights.”  The plot has Frankie's car breaking down in front of Patty's house, so he asks if he can use their telephone. Once Patty realizes who it is, she is determined to spend some time with the famous singer.

You can watch the entire episode here:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8u2GA3EYaUo