This Day in Humor with Mike Durrett


Born 1908: M.A. Bogue, trumpet player in the Kay Kyser band, was a household name in the 1940's as Ish Kabibble, known for his novelty bits and 11 movie appearances (1939's "That's Right You're Wrong", 1942's "My Favorite Spy"). IMDb reveals, "His 1989 autobiography explained the meaning behind his stage name. 'Ish Kabibble' derives from the Yiddish expression 'Ische ga bibble?' meaning, essentially, 'What, me worry?' -- the expression later appropriated by 'MAD Magazine' as a motto for its Ish Kabibble-like fictitious mascot, Alfred E. Neuman." Died 1994.

Born 1923: Jean Stapleton, actress and television icon as Edith Bunker in "All in the Family" (1971-79). She also appeared in the original Broadway productions of "Damn Yankees" (1955) and "Bells Are Ringing" (1956) and their film versions.

Born 1932: Richard Lester, landmark director of The Beatles' film debut, "A Hard Day's Night" (1964) and its follow-up, "Help" (1965). His other films include "The Knack and How To Get It" (1965), "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum" (1966), and "The Ritz" (1976).

1940: The Three Stooges two-reeler, "You Natzy Spy" was released. The tale of the Hitlerish dictator (Moe Howard) of Moronica beat Charlie Chaplin's "The Great Dictator" to the screen by nine months.

Born 1944: Shelley Fabares, child actress who made a successful transition through adult roles. Her credits include "The Donna Reed Show" (1958-63), "Coach" (1989-97), and co-starring opposite Elvis Presley in "Girl Happy" (1965), "Spinout" (1966), and "Clambake" (1967).

1944: Preston Sturges' dizzy comedy, "The Miracle of Morgan's Creek," opened in U.S. theatres. The Eddie Bracken-Betty Hutton vehicle had been on the Paramount shelf since 1942 due to issues involving Miss Trudy Kockenlocker's taboo sexual predicament.

Born 1946: Winner and still champion, Dolly Parton, queen of the breast joke. The singer was also a comic actress in movies such as "Nine to Five" (1980) and "The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas" (1982).

1953: "Lucy Goes to the Hospital" for the birth of Little Ricky, a TV event of such enormity it was seen by more than double the viewers of President Eisenhower's inauguration. Sixty-eight percent of all U.S. televisions were tuned to the "I Love Lucy" episode.

• Lucille Ball and "I Love Lucy" Links

Born 1953: Desi Arnaz Jr., ironically born the same night his mother, Lucille Ball, was giving birth to Little Ricky on TV. He later co-starred with her and his sister, Lucie Arnaz, on the sitcom "Here's Lucy" (1968-71).

Born 1955: Paul Rodriguez, stand-up comic and actor (2001's "Rat Race," "Crocodile Dundee in Los Angeles").

Born 1957: Katey Sagal, actress, forever Peggy 'Peg' Wanker Bundy of "Married ... With Children" (1987-97). Also, a regular on other TV series as Captain Turanga Leela in "Futurama" (1999-2003) and Cate Hennessy "8 Simple Rules for Dating My Teenage Daughter" (2002).

1967: Pop star Lesley Gore appeared as Catwoman's henchgirl, Pussycat, on TV's "Batman."

Born 1971: Shawn Wayans, comedian, starred in "family" TV projects, "In Living Color" (1990-93) and "The Wayans Bros." (1995-99), plus hit films, "Scary Movie" (2000) and "Scary Movie 2" (2002).

Copyright ©2003 Mike Durrett. All rights reserved.