Today in History: Thursday, May 2, 2024

Television and Radio
Jack Benny’s radio show premiered in 1932… cable network The Weather Channel launched in 1982…Diahann Carroll joined the cast of ABC prime time serial “Dynasty” in 1984. She was introduced as a mysterious woman who claimed to know everything about Alexis Carrington’s (Joan Collins) past. In subsequent episodes, it was revealed she’s Dominique Deveraux, the half-sister of Blake Carrington (John Forsythe). The character was the first prominently-featured role for a Black actress on an American prime time soap…ABC action/adventure “The Fall Guy,” starring Lee Majors, concluded in 1986 after five seasons. A movie adaptation, starring Ryan Gosling and Emily Blunt, is opening in theaters tomorrow… In 1995: Sharon Gless and Tyne Daly reunited once more for the CBS TV movie “Cagney & Lacey: Together Again.” Also on this day: On NBC sitcom “Wings“, Helen (Crystal Bernard) dreamt she was Marcia Brady and her siblings were portrayed by members of the cast of “The Brady Bunch Movie” (a surprise box office hit film that spring)…Phil Donahue taped the final edition of his syndicated daytime talk show, “Donahue,” in 1996, which aired for 29 years…In 2010, Conan O’Brien made his first television appearance since exiting NBC’s “The Tonight Show.“ He did an interview with Steve Kroft on CBS’ “60 Minutes.“…”The Loud House” premiered on Nickelodeon in 2016. The animated series about the middle child (and lone boy) in a large family of eleven children was recently renewed for a seventh season.

Movies
The filming of “Jaws” began in Martha’s Vineyard in 1974. Seventy eight days after opening, “Jaws” overtook “The Godfather” as the highest-grossing film at the North American box office, moving past that picture’s earnings of $86 million. It became the first film to earn $100 million in U.S. theatrical rentals.

Sports
Lou Gehrig’s playing streak ended with 2,130 consecutive games played since May 25, 1925.

Periodicals
The magazine “Good Housekeeping” was first published in 1885.

Celebrity Birthdays
“The Good Fight” star Christine Baranski is 72; designer Donatella Versace is 69; Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson is 52; soccer player David Beckham is 49; “Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt” star Ellie Kemper is 44.

Did You Know?:
Lee Majors got his big break when he was chosen over 400 actors, including Burt Reynolds, for the role of Heath Barkley on ABC western “The Big Valley.” It aired from 1965 to 1969 and also featured another newcomer, Linda Evans.