Today in History: Thursday, June 6, 2024

Television
“The Ed Sullivan Show,” which ran on CBS for 23 years, aired its final telecast in 1971…ABC newsmagazine “20/20” began in 1978.

HBO’s “Sex and the City,” based on the best-selling book by Candace Bushnell, opened in 1998. It aired for six seasons, spawned two theatricals (in 2008 and 2010), and was the subject of prequel “The Carrie Diaries” on The CW (which was telecast for two half-seasons from 2013 to 2014) and current “And Just Like That” on Max.

Also launched: docuseries “The Janice Dickinson Modeling Agency” on Oxygen in 2006; family sitcom “Tyler Perry’s House of Payne” on TBS in 2007; family drama “Switched at Birth” on ABC Family in 2011 and crime drama “Graceland” on USA Network in 2013…In 2007, Bob Barker taped his final telecast as host for “The Price Is Right,” which ended his 35 years on the show…Acclaimed drama “Pose” concluded its three season run on FX in 2021. Created by Ryan Murphy, Brad Falchuk and Steven Canals, the ensemble cast was led by Billy Porter.

Theater:
In 1931, George Gershwin and Ira Gershwin musical “Girl Crazy,“ starring Ginger Rogers and featuring debut of Ethel Merman, closed at the Alvin Theater, NYC, after 272 performances.

News:
Walter Chrysler founded automobile manufacturer Chrysler Corporation in 1925…In 1944: Led by U.S. General Dwight D. Eisenhower and Allied armada of ships, planes, and landing craft and some 156,000 troops began the invasion of northern France from England this day in 1944 — the famous “D-Day” of World War II.

Celebrity Birthdays:
Singer-songwriter Gary “U.S.” Bonds is 85; American Olympic gold medalist sprinter Tommie Smith is 80;actor Robert Englund (“A Nightmare on Elm Street”) is 77; playwright-actor Harvey Fierstein is 72; actress-comedian Sandra Bernhard is 69; Swedish tennis star Bjorn Borg is 68; actress Amanda Pays is 65; record producer and musician Jimmy Jam (The Time) and comedian Colin Quinn are also 65; actor Jason Isaacs (“Harry Potter” films) is 601; actor Max Casella (“Analyze This,” ″Doogie Howser, M.D.”) is 57;  actor Paul Giamatti (“Billions”) is also 57; singer Uncle Kracker is 50; actress Staci Keanan (“Step By Step,” ″My Two Dads”) is 49.

Did You Know?:
The original title of “The Ed Sullivan Show” was “Toast of the Town.” It became known as “The Ed Sullivan Show” on the eighth season premiere on Sept. 18, 1955. The series was canceled at the same time CBS rid its line-up of “The Beverly Hillbillies,” “Green Acres” and “Hee Haw” in the infamous “Rural Purge.”