That's Entertainment!

The most played song on American radio during the twentieth century was You've Lost That Loving Feeling which was written by Barry Mann, Phil Spector, and Cynthia Weil. Although recorded by different artists, the song is the only one in history to be played over 8 million times on the radio. That amounts to about 45 years if the song was played back to back! Three songs were played 7 million times: Never My Love, Yesterday, and Stand By Me (in that order).

Did You KNOW?

Janis Joplin's will called for a party for 200 people at her favorite pub
in San Alselmo, California at a cost of $2,500.00!

Back in 1956 recording artist Johnny Mathis was forced to make the decision between trying out for the United States Olympic team (his specialty was track) or recording his first album for Columbia Records. He chose the latter and went on to become the eighth biggest selling album artist of all time. His 1958 album, Johnny’s Greatest Hits, was the first Greatest Hits album ever marketed, spending three weeks at #1 and 490 consecutive weeks on Billboard’s Pop Album chart (that’s almost 9 ½ years!).

Actress Cheryl Ladd started her career as the singing voice of the character Melody on the 1970's cartoon Josie and the Pussycats.

"Weird" Al Yankovic received a Bachelor's degree in Architecture in 1981. He also served as valedictorian of his high school at age 16.

The Carpenters signature song, We've Only Just Begun, was originally part of a television commercial for a California bank. The music played in the background of a scene in which a newlywed couple had, of course, just begun their lives together. Richard Carpenter saw the commercial and sculpted it into the classic song that we know today.

Here's some trivia for you:

During 33 seasons on the air, Mr. Roger's trolley traveled more than 100 miles on
its track.

The phrase "Often a bridesmaid but never a bride" actually comes from an advertisement for Listerine mouthwash. The text was written by Milton Feasley and first appeared in 1925. The advertisement was so successful that it ran for more than ten years.

The oldest business in the United States of America is the cymbal company Zildjian which was founded in Constantinople
in 1623.

In most advertisements, including newspapers, the time displayed on a watch is 10:10.

The characters Bert and Ernie on Sesame Street were named after Bert the cop and Ernie the taxi driver in Frank Capra's "Its A Wonderful Life."

The airplane Buddy Holly died in was the "American Pie." (Thus the name of the Don McLean song.)

What trivia fact about Mel Blanc (voice of Bugs Bunny) is most ironic?-- He was allergic to carrots.

What separates "60 Minutes," on CBS, from every other TV show?-- No theme song/music.

Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, and Jim Morrison were all 27 years old when they died.

The phrase
"Often a bridesmaid but never a bride" actually comes from an advertisement for Listerine mouthwash. The text was written by Milton Feasley and first appeared
in 1925. The advertisement was so successful that it ran for more than
ten years.

Never give up!

"With your voice, nobody is going to let you broadcast." Don Hewitt/ producer of 60 Minutes to an unknown Barbara Walters.

"You are stiff and unappealing! You ain't got it kid." Columbia producer Jerry Tokovsky to Harrison Ford.

"You have a chip tooth and your Adam's apple sticks out too far...and you talk too slow. Find another job." Universal Pictures producer to Clint Eastwood.

"The girl doesn't have a special perception or feeling which will lift that book above the curiosity level." Publisher talking about the yet unpublished, Diary of Anne Frank.

"The bands OK, but I'd get rid of the singer with the tire-tread lips." BBC radio producer to the Rolling Stones and their lead singer, Mike Jagger.

"His ears are too big and he looks like an ape." Darryl F. Zanuck on first seeing Clark Gable.

These acts had a Billboard Top 40 hit whose title included the name of a different recording act, which that other act had at least one Top 40 hit at the same exact time.
Some examples (not a complete list):

1964: The song We Love You Beatles by the Carefrees was on the charts while The Beatles had seven songs of their own in the Top 40.
1984-85: Rick Springfield had the minor hit Bruce while Bruce Springsteen was charting himself with Born in the U.S.A.
1987: Both the ABC song When Smokey Sings and Smokey Robinson's song One Heartbeat were in the Top 10 at the same time.
1992: Weird Al had the hit Smells Like Nirvana at the same time that Nirvana had the hit Come As You Are.

Source: Chart Beat Chat, Billboard Online, April 28, 2000

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