This Day in Humor with Mike Durrett


1831: Charles Darwin took the exam for his Bachelor of Arts degree, one of the steps on his quest to become the father of The Darwin Awards.

• Urban Legends and The Darwin Awards Links

Born 1909: Ann Sothern, sassy actress, substituted for Jean Harlow in the comedy film "Maisie" (1939), which led to nine sequels. Turning to television, she had two hit series, "Private Secretary" (1953-57) and "The Ann Sothern Show" (1958-61). A failed 1965 sitcom made her a major showbiz trivia tidbit: Ann Sothern was the voice of "My Mother the Car." Died 2001.

1931: Charlie Chaplin completed principal photography on his masterpiece, "City Lights."

Born 1934: Bill Bixby, actor with a fine comic flair and two successful TV sitcoms, the goofy "My Favorite Martian" (1963-66) and the gentle "The Courtship of Eddie's Father" (1969-72). Died 1993.

1968: NBC-TV socked it to us with the premiere of "Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In," a five-year landmark series consisting mostly of comedy black-outs.

Copyright ©2003 Mike Durrett. All rights reserved.