Broadcast Pioneers

Marvin Kalb (1930-) is an American journalist who spent thirty years as an award-winning reporter for CBS News and NBC News. Kalb was the last newsman recruited by Edward R. Murrow to join CBS News, becoming part of the new generation of the "Murrow Boys." At NBC, he served as chief diplomatic correspondent and host of Meet the Press for two years in the mid-eighties. During Kalb's tenure at both networks, his brother Bernard Kalb worked alongside him. Kalb has authored or co-authored several nonfiction books, a few published by the Brookings Institution Press. His latest book, published in 2021, is "Assignment Russia." Kalb is the Edward R. Murrow Professor Emeritus at Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government and is currently a nonresident senior fellow with the Foreign Policy program at Brookings.

Parallel Siblings

The Brothers Morgan
From left to right, it is Ralph Morgan (1883-1956) and Frank Morgan (1890-1949). Both were involved in radio, stage, silent, and talkies. The more drama-oriented Ralph is notable for 1937's Anthony Adverse and numerous forgotten films. He had few if any comedic roles unlike his brother Frank, who is famously noted for his hesitantly flustered, comedic delivery. None more iconic than his role as the great and powerful Oz.

Two Good Reasons
From left is Rex Reason (1928-1915), best known for low-budget films, the classic This Island Earth (1955) being his signature role. He was on the  ABC series, Roaring Twenties. His brother, Rhodes Reason (1930-1914) was an actor in television, film, and stage. The ABC network cast him on the limited-run series, Bus Stop. Both were tall, handsome leading men with distinctive baritone voices, yet not well-known to the general public. 

That Golden Voice

 

Matt Monro (Terence Edward Parsons 1930-1985) was an English easy-listening singer known as "The Man with the Golden Voice." He performed internationally over his 30-year career and was one of the most underrated pop vocalists of the Sixties. Despite being a chain-smoker and battling alcoholism in the Sixties and Seventies, his effortless style and amazing breath control never wavered. Coupled with his perfect baritone with a vocal timbre (always pronounced TAM-ber) that remained consistent over his entire range. Monro had early success in the UK with several Top 10 hits, including, "Portrait of My Love", "My Kind of Girl", "Softly As I Leave You", "Walk Away" and "Yesterday." 

Always with a singing career on his mind, he took numerous odd jobs, famously as a singing bus driver for London Transport. But he struggled to gain any ground through the Fifties. By early 1961, Monro had won ITV's A Song for Britain with "My Kind of Girl". His follow-up hits included that song, plus "Softly as I Leave You" (1962) and the title song written by John Barry for the film, From Russia with Love (1963), used over the final credits as many movie patrons were probably exiting the theater. Monro sang the Oscar-winning title song for the 1966 film, Born Free, also by Barry, which became his signature song. Monro continued to tour until just before his death.

Note: Early in his career, Monro was somewhat pigeon-holed as the "British Sinatra," perhaps due to his satirical recording, "You Keep Me Swingin" in the syncopated Sinatra style for EMI producer, George Martin and Peter Sellers album, "Songs for Swingin' Sellers." The latter chose to use it as the opening track on the record rather than record his own version, realizing he couldn't improve on Monro's performance. Sinatra once said Monro had a fabulous voice and lavished praise on his impeccable diction.

Reel Character Series

 

Allison Hayes (Mary Jane Hayes 1930-1977) was an American film and television actress often cast either in good or bad women roles. The statuesque brunette was an obvious model candidate and competed in the Miss America pageant in 1949. Like many attractive actresses wanting to get at least a toe through the acting door, her "exposure" led her to Hollywood and Universal Pictures by 1954. She had a small role in the comedy, Francis Joins the WACS, then, via a contract dispute, signed with Columbia Pictures in 1955 with a more significant role in, Chicago Syndicate opposite Dennis O'Keefe. That same year, she was the fiancé of Rod Cameron in, Double Jeopardy She appeared in the 1956 films, Steel Jungle, and Mohawk. That same year she suffered a broken arm after a riding accident during the filming of Gunslinger. After recovering, she began appearing more on television.

In 1958, Hayes' most infamous role—being a blonde notwithstanding—was the female out for revenge in the first woman's lib film, The Attack of The 50 Foot Woman. That same year she was a Communist operative duped by secret agent, Gene Barry, in Hong Kong Confidential and teamed with Barry again for seven episodes of his television series, Bat Masterson. The following year she was the female lead in Counterplot opposite Forest Tucker. It was back to television for five appearances on Perry Mason from 1960-65. She continued her occasional movie bit parts in the 1963 comedy, Who's Been Sleeping in My Bed, and the Elvis Presley musical-comedy, Tickle Me, in 1965. She ended her career with two appearances on, Gomer Pyle: USMC, in 1967.

In spite of the low-budget projects and many secondary roles, she accounted for herself surprisingly well as a professional actress. By the 1970s, Hayes became terminally ill from lead poisoning and was later diagnosed with leukemia. She died at the age of forty-six.

Public Transportation for The Isolated

 

The Union Traction Company of Indiana (1897-1930) operated 410 miles of interurban trackage making it the largest interurban system in the state. Charles Henry, a prominent attorney and politician from Anderson, acquired the “mule car” streetcar system in Anderson in 1891. The interurban lines alleviated the isolation of rural Indiana, running first from Anderson to Alexandria, then to Indianapolis, Marion, Muncie, and Kokomo. The company also ran 44 miles of streetcar lines in Anderson, Elwood, Marion, and Muncie. The UTC was acquired by Indiana Railroad in 1930. They also purchased several other interurban lines creating a new system, running for an additional ten years. By the end of 1941, interurban service was abandoned.

Not All Smiles

 

On this date in 1930, the 2-act Broadway musical "Smiles" premiered in New York City and closed sixty-three performances later. Among the extensive cast on opening night were Fred Astaire and sister Adele as Bob and Dot Hastings, respectively. Swallowed up in the ensemble cast was Bob Hope. Produced by Florenz Ziegfeld, Jr. with music by Vincent Youmans, Ring Lardner provided some additional lyrics for the music numbers.

Beyond an Ingénue

 

Jacqueline Sue Browne (1930-2003) known professionally as either Kathie or Cathy Browne, began her career with an appearance in one episode of the film series Big Town, 1955. Her films were few but noticeable in her brief role in the movie, Murder by Contract, 1958, as a secretary and a for-hire party girl. The following year she did City of Fear. Both films starred Vince Edwards. The blonde-haired, blue-eyed actress was nearly typecast in ingénue parts, which kept her a very busy television actress in the Sixties and Seventies in numerous westerns, dramas, and comedies. Her first marriage was to actor, Sherwood Price, from 1953 to 1961. She appeared in four episodes of Perry Mason, 77 Sunset Strip, and Bonanza as the prospective bride of Pernell Roberts character. Star Trek fans will know her as Deela (above) in the episode, Wink of An Eye, 1966. She guest-starred with her second husband, Darren McGavin on his series, Kolchak: The Night Stalker, and in The Rockford Files for Pastoria Prime Pick, 1975, as a blackmailing mayor of a crooked town. Her last professional appearance before retiring was for a two-part episode of The Love Boat, 1980. Browne and McGavin's thirty-four-year marriage lasted until her death.