On October 8, 1944, "Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet" made its debut on CBS radio, on the Nelsons' ninth wedding anniversary.
In 1958, "Bat Masterson," starring Gene Barry, debuted on NBC.
In 1966, Cream drummer Ginger Baker collapsed after performing a 20-minute drum solo in Sussex, England. Doctors diagnosed him as having acute exhaustion and the flu.
In 1968, singer Cass Elliot made her solo debut at Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas. However, she was suffering with tonsillitis, and her band had not rehearsed enough. She ended up canceling the two-week engagement after opening night.
In 1980, singer Bob Marley collapsed during a concert in Pittsburgh. He was flown to a hospital in New York. Marley never performed again; he died in 1981.
In 1988, the comedy "Empty Nest" premiered on NBC. The show was a spinoff of "The Golden Girls" and starred Richard Mulligan.
In 1990, George Strait was named Entertainer of the Year at the Country Music Association Awards.
Also in 1990, Tennessee Ernie Ford was elected to the Country Music Hall of Fame.
In 1992, the U.S. Postal Service announced a commemorative stamp booklet that included rock legends Bill Haley, Buddy Holly, Elvis Presley and Ritchie Valens, plus R&B stars Clyde McPhatter, Otis Redding and Dinah Washington.
In 1999, Michael Jackson's wife, Debbie Rowe, filed for divorce, citing irreconcilable differences.
In 2003, Arnold Schwarzenegger was elected governor of California.
Today's Birthdays: Entertainment reporter Rona Barrett is 76. Actor Paul Hogan is 73. Singer Fred Cash of The Impressions is 72. Actor-comedian Chevy Chase is 69. Author R.L. Stine ("Goosebumps") is 69. Country singer Susan Raye is 68. TV personality Sarah Purcell ("Real People") is 64. Actress Sigourney Weaver is 63. Singer Robert "Kool" Bell of Kool and the Gang is 62. Singer-guitarist Ricky Lee Phelps (Brothers Phelps, Kentucky Headhunters) is 59. Actor Michael Dudikoff is 58. Comedian Darrell Hammond ("Saturday Night Live") is 57. Actress Stephanie Zimbalist is 56. Singer Steve Perry of Cherry Poppin' Daddies is 49. Actor Ian Hart ("Dirt") is 48. Singer CeCe Winans is 48. Bassist C.J. Ramone of The Ramones is 47. Actress Karyn Parsons ("The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air") is 46. Singer Teddy Riley is 46. Actress Emily Procter ("CSI: Miami") is 44. Actor-screenwriter Matt Damon is 42. Singer Byron Reeder of Mista is 33. Actor Nick Cannon ("The Nick Cannon Show," "Drumline") is 32. Singer-songwriter Bruno Mars is 27. Actor Angus T. Jones ("Two and a Half Men") is 19. Actress Molly Quinn is 19.
Copyright 2012. The Associated Press.
