AM Prep-Entertainment History: MON JUNE 30th

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! ENTERTAINMENT HISTORY !

On June 30th, 1952, the radio program "Guiding Light" made its debut as a television soap Opera on CBS.

In 1975, singer Cher and rock star Gregg Allman got married. The marriage lasted ten days.

In 1976, police raided singer Neil Diamond's house. They didn't find enough marijuana for an arrest, but Diamond did give them copies of his new album, "Beautiful Noise." In 1977, Marvel Comics released a comic book based on the members of the rock band Kiss. The band members contributed some of their blood to the ink used in the books.

In 1978, Sid Vicious of the Sex Pistols released his version of "My Way." In 1981, Jerry Lee Lewis was hospitalized in Memphis because of a stomach ulcer. After two operations, doctors gave him less than a 50-50 chance of recovering. Within a few months, he was back on his feet.

In 1985, Yul Brynner performed for the last time as the King of Siam in "The King and I." He had done the show off and on for 34 years and more than 4,500 performances.

In 1992, actor Tom Hanks got a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. He showed up at the ceremony with some of his co-stars from the movie "A League Of Their Own." In 1994, Stone Gossard and Jeff Ament of Pearl Jam testified before a congressional hearing concerning rising concert ticket prices.

In 1995, country singer Garth Brooks was awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

In 2000, eight people were trampled and crushed to death and 43 injured at the Roskilde (ros-KIL'-deh) festival in Denmark. The crowd had surged toward the main stage where Pearl Jam was playing.

Today's Birthdays: Singer Lena Horne is 91. Actress Nancy Dussault (doo-SOH') is 72. Singer Glenn Shorrock of the Little River Band is 64. Jazz bassist Stanley Clarke is 57. Actor David Garrison ("Married...with Children") is 56. Guitarist Hal Lindes of Dire Straits is 55. Actor David Alan Grier is 53. Actor Vincent D'Onofrio (duh-NAH'-free-oh) is 49. Actress Deirdre Lovejoy ("The Wire") is 46. Bassist Tom Drummond of Better Than Ezra is 39.

Actress Monica Potter ("Boston Legal") is 37. Actress Lizzy Caplan ("Mean Girls") is 26. "American Idol" winner Fantasia Barrino is 24.

(Above for release Monday, June 30th) Copyright 2008, The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.) APNP 06-23-08 0948CDT | save this article / add to your favorites list