October 12, 1960 - We're well aware of recent antics at the UN by Iran's Mahmoud Ahmadinejad & Venezuela's Hugo Chavez but 50 years ago today Russian leader Nikita Khrushchev may have thrown the most memorable tantrum of them all.
Oct. 15, 2004 - Expecting chummy camaraderie from their guest Jon Stewart of "The Daily Show", the hosts of CNN's "Crossfire", Tucker Carslon & Paul Begala, were taken aback when he berated them for being like an arm of the political parties rather than pinning them down for straight answers.
Oct 10, 1980 - Billie Thomas, who portrayed Buckwheat in "The Little Rascals" movies of the 1930s & 40s, died at the age of 49. 10 years later the ABC news show "20/20" did a story on Buckwheat thinking he was still alive but it turned out they found a man fraudulently claiming to be him. The producer was fired.
Oct. 7, 1959 - The movie "Pillow Talk", starring Doris Day & Rock Hudson, premiered today. It would become the 2nd biggest grossing of the 1950's after "Ben Hur". Tony Randall & Thelma Ritter co-starred. The clip below is the rather risque (for audiences of the 50's) split-screen bathtub scene.
Oct. 6, 1961 - In the midst of the Cuban missle crisis President Kennedy today advised Americans to consider building bomb shelters in their backyards. And for school children not near home the video clip below provided advice on how to protect themselves. The narrator describes an atomic blast as "a bright flash, brighther the sun".
Oct. 4, 1986 - During an evening stroll along Park Ave. CBS anchorman Dan Rather was mugged by 2 assailants. One of them repeatedly shouted "Kenneth, what is the frequency?" In 1994 rock-alt band REM released their huge album "Monster" and one of its songs was titled "What's the Frequency Kenneth?"
Oct. 1, 1968 - The zombie horror classic "Night of the Living Dead" had its premiere in Pittsburgh, where it was filmed. Other popular movies that have been filmed in Pittsburgh include "The Deer Hunter" and "Flashdance". An unpopular movie filmed there was "The Fish That Ate Pittsburgh".
Sept. 29, 1989 - 72-year old Zsa Zsa Gabor was found guilty of assault after slapping a Beverly Hills traffic cop back in June. She was sentenced to 3 days in jail.
