This Day in History: Monday, September 6, 2021

Television
Live action children’s television series, “H.R. Pufnstuf,” created by Sid and Marty Krofft, debuted on NBC in 1969.  It ran for three seasons on Saturday morning…Musical “Cabaret” closed at Broadhurst Theater in New York City in 1969 after 1,166 performances…An estimated 2.5 billion people watched worldwide television coverage of Princess Diana’s funeral in 1997.

News
In 1997, an estimated 2.5 billion people across the world watched the funeral was held for Princess Diana. Included was a performance by Elton John.

Sports
An professional baseball player Cal Ripken, Jr. played in his 2,131st consecutive game, surpassing Lou Gehrig’s record, which had stood for more than 56 years.

Celebrity Birthdays:
Actress Swoosie Kurtz (“Call Me Kat”) is 76; comedian Jeff Foxworthy is 63; politician Chris Christie is 59; actress Rosie Perez is 57; “Luther” star Idris Elba is 49.

Did You Know?:
Swoosie Kurtz’s first regularly scheduled primetime series was NBC comedy “Love, Sydney,” which aired on NBC from 1981 to 1983 and featured Tony Randall as a gay man who takes in a single woman (Kurtz) and her young daughter (Kaleena Kiff). “Love, Sydney” was the first series historically to feature a gay character as the central lead.