Today in History: Thursday, October 12, 2023

Television 
Police drama “The Plainclothesman” debuted on DuMont in 1949 and aired for five seasons…CBS sitcom “The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show” began its eight season run on CBS in 1950. Bea Benaderet (pre “Petticoat Junction”) portrayed Gracie’s friend and neighbor, Blanche Morton, while four actors (Hal March, John Brown, Fred Clark and Larry Keating) ultimately played Blanche’s husband Harry…The Howard Stern radio show premiered in Albany, New York in 1992…In 2007, three series premiered: bridal gown docuseries “Say Yes to the Dress” on TLC, kids’ comedy “Wizards of Waverly Place” starring Selena Gomez on Disney Channel, and short-lived drama “Women’s Murder Club” starring Angie Harmon on ABC.

Movies:
“Our Gang” film short “Bouncing Babies” was released in theaters in 1929. This marked the final appearances of Jean Darling and Harry Spear.

Music:
Pat Benatar released the single “Love Is A Battlefield” in 1983…Chaka Khan released the single “I Feel For You” in 1984. The song was written by Prince and featured Stevie Wonder on harmonica…George Harrison released single “Got My Mind Set On You” in 1987.

News:
Christopher Columbus landed in what is now known as the Bahamas in 1492 which he had believed was the continent of Asia…The infamous Columbus Day Storm stuck the U.S. Pacific Northwest with record wind velocities in 1962. Forty-six people died and at least $230 million in damages were reported… Andrew Lloyd Webber’s  musical “Jesus Christ Superstar” opened on Broadway in 1971…President Richard Nixon nominated Gerald Ford to replace Spiro Agnew as Vice President in 1973… George H. W. Bush announced he was running for President of the United States in 1987… singer John Denver passed away at the age of 53 when his piloted experimental aircraft had crashed in a test flight in 1997.

Sports:
Future Basketball Hall of Fame forward Magic Johnson made his debut for Los Angeles Lakers at the San Diego Clippers in 1979.

Celebrity Birthdays
Singer Sam Moore of Sam & Dave is 88; news anchor Chris Wallace is 76; actress-singer Susan Anton (“Cannonball Run II”) is 73; actor Carlos Barnard (“24”) is 61; Hugh Jackman (“X-Men”) is 55; Olympic figure skater Nancy Kerrigan is 54; “Growing Pains” star Kirk Cameron is 53; Olympic alpine ski racer Bode Miller is 46; actor Josh Hutcherson (“The Hunger Games”) is 31.

Did You Know?
When “I Love Lucy” ended its six-year run on CBS in the spring of 1957, CBS wanted to renew the “George Burns and Grace Allen Show.” Although Allen had grown tired of performing, Burns committed both of them for another year, which would be their eighth — and last — on television. Burns attempted a solo series in the fall of 1958 called “The George Burns Show” (with returnees Bea Benaderet, Larry Keating, Harry Von Zell and Ronnie Burns), but it only lasted one season.