Synopsis: Thrust Into Television

Many movie character actors found steady work and arguably more exposure with the advent of television. 

BARTLETT ROBINSON (1912-1986) 

Robinson was an American actor who performed on radio, stage, film, and television for five decades. The mustachioed Robinson and his recognizable voice were often cast in mostly serious roles of authority, such as military officers, wealthy ranchers, sheriffs, corporate executives, doctors, and judges, whether in Westerns, dramas, or playing the straight man in comedies.

Chameleon Actress

Virginia Gregg (1916-1986) was an American actress known for her many roles in radio dramas, television series, and as a voice artist. Gregg made more than forty-five films from 1947 to 1981 in supporting roles or bit parts. Not exactly Lana Turner in the looks department, with Gregg's great vocal work in radio she could illicit the same attractiveness and in turn, shame Turner's acting ability.

As a prolific radio actress, Gregg could handle a wide range of characters from a sultry temptress to a deranged business owner. Listeners would hear her regularly on such programs as Dragnet, Gunsmoke, The Jack Benny Program, CBS Radio Mystery Theatre, and Mutual Radio Theater, to name a few. A distinction was her role as Miss Wong, Hey Boy's girlfriend, in Have Gun–Will Travel, starring John Dehner as Paladin, and in Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar, as the title character's girlfriend.

The chameleon actress whom many could not associate a name with, Gregg was certainly the most visible on television for over twenty years in supporting or bit roles from any vocation. She could be an angry old bitty, a revenge-filled wife, or not above committing murder. Among her notable series were 77 Sunset Strip, Bonanza, Perry Mason, Maverick, Wanted Dead or Alive, Alfred Hitchcock Presents, The Twilight Zone, Bewitched, The Waltons, and The Rockford Files. But she is probably best remembered for her many appearances in Dragnet, starting with the 1954 film. Jack Webb hired her many times to play any number of characters, but usually someone sarcastic or comedic. In the 1970s, she continued in Webb's creations, Adam-12 and Emergency!. 

Note: Before Gregg's radio career launched, she played the double bass in the late 1930s with the Pasadena Symphony and Pops. She was a member of the Singing Strings group heard initially on KHJ in Los Angeles and later on CBS and Mutual. 

The Stratojet Sunset

 

After being returned to flyable condition, B-47E Stratojet serial number 52-166, made the very last flight of the type on this day in 1986. It was flown by Major General John D. Moore and Lieutenant Colonel Dale E. Wolfe, U.S. Air Force, from the Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake in Southern California to Castle Air Force Base and placed on static display. The Boeing developed B-47 was built by the Douglas Aircraft Company at Air Force Plant No. 3, Tulsa, Oklahoma, in 1952. 52-166 had not been flown in twenty years, having sat in the Mojave Desert serving as a radar target. Because 52-166 had not been through a complete overhaul prior to the ferry flight, it was decided to leave the landing gear extended in case an emergency landing might be needed.

Ozark Air Lines

Founded in 1943, Ozark Air Lines operated flights between Springfield and St. Louis, Missouri for about two years until the Civil Aeronautics Board ceased their operations. By 1950, Ozark was granted a certificate to operate unactivated routes using Douglas DC-3s from St. Louis to Chicago, Tulsa and Memphis. In 1955 the airline had 13 DC-3s flying to 35 cities between Sioux City, Indianapolis, Wichita, and Nashville. By 1960, turboprop Fairchild F-27s were introduced along with piston-engine Martin 4-0-4s in 1964. By 1967 the 4-0-4s and F-27s were replaced with newer Fairchild Hiller FH-227s. The last DC-3 flight was in 1968, making the regional airline an all-turbine operator. Ozark's first jets, Douglas DC-9-10s, were introduced in 1966.

Ozark Air Line's main hub and headquarters were St. Louis Lambert International Airport from 1950-86. Ozark was then purchased by Trans World Airlines and by 2001, itself merged into American Airlines.