Week of July 25, 1984

President Reagan first promises, then hedges that he will not raise taxes next

year if re-elected.

Reversing an earlier decision, the House passes and sends to President Reagan

a bill to allow student religious meetings in public schools.

In South Carolina - An Amtrak train carrying 360 passengers rams a pickup truck

at a crossing with no warning lights, killing a woman in the truck and injuring her

husband. It was Amtrak’s fifth fatal accident in 22 days.

American, Venezuelan and Netherland Antilles security agents storm a hijacked

Venezuelan jetliner killing the tow hijackers and rescuing the 79 people held

hostage on board.

The Soviets call for an international conference on the Middle East at which the

United States, the Soviet Union, Israel and its Arab neighbors and the Palestine

Liberation Organization would take part.

President Reagan flies to Los Angeles to open

the 1984 Summer Olympics, urging the athletes

to do their best for themselves, their families,

their country and “For the Gipper.”

Summer Olympics in Los Angeles - Ticket sales

are picking up. Bruce Hayes of Dallas gets a gold

medal for swimming.

The 10 photos of Vanessa Williams that will

appear in Penthouse’s September issue were only a small percentage of what

was offered to the magazine by photographer Tom Chiapel, but Penthouse says

it has no plans to publish the remaining photos.

Trend - A record $17.8 billion in home mortgages were issued last month.

Passing - George Gallup - creator of the famous Gallup Poll (82).

Passing - conductor Fred Waring, “the man who taught America to sing” during

68 years of concerts and workshops. He was 84.

Passing - Willie Mae “Big Mama” Thornton (57)

Week of July 25, 1984

Passing - Rev. C.L. Franklin, civil rights activist and father to singer Aretha

Franklin (69).

Appearing on the “Today Show” last week, Hugh Hefner, who publishes Playboy

magazine, implied that competitor Bob Guccione had displayed something less

than “a moral set of values” in running the nude Penthouse-Vanessa Williams

pictures that cost her the Miss America crown.

More Vanessa - She and her replacement, Suzette Charles appear on the

“Today Show” this week, but not together.

Kellogg’s pulls this limited edition Corn Flakes box featuring Miss USA Vanessa

Williams.

Music news -

Annette Funicello is back recording, but this time - she’s country. Look for “The

Annette Funicello Country Album” on Starview Records. Annette says that back

in Utica during her childhood, her parents listened to Country and Western

music, which was and still is big in upstate New York.

Week of July 25, 1984

The FCC raises the number of radio and television stations that a company may

own from a total of 14 radio stations and 7 TV stations to a new ceiling of 24

radio stations and 12 TV stations.

Television news - Beaver Cleaver and the gang are back in “Still the Beaver”

being produced by Disney for the Disney Channel. Wally is now an attorney and

Beaver is an accountant like his father. Also returning - Eddie Haskell and

Barbara Billingsley.

Looks like WTTW (channel 11) in Chicago, that city’s PBS station, will become

the nation’s first fulltime stereo television station. Look for it next month. Plans

are to begin with such full stereo music programming as “Great Performances,”

“Soundstage” and country music specials, then add dance and drama.

Rising star - Deborah Norville is named co-anchor of WMAQ-

TV’s (Channel 5) 4:30pm weekday newscast. She replaces

Linda Yu who has moved to rival WLS-TV. Hired as an anchor-

reporter in January 1982, She’s been anchoring weekend

newscasts at the station.

Jim McKay hosts ABC-TV’s coverage of the 1984 summer

Olympics.

Interesting - “Jeopardy” - which has been seen on-and-off

daytime television since the mid-1960’s is coming back -

this time a night time version is being readied for

syndication. The show will be produced by Merv Griffin

Enterprises which recently sent around a pilot and

Jeopardy’s new host, Alex Trebek to talk about it. The new

Jeopardy will be more splashy and supped-up - a different

look and feel then its predecessors. Look for brighter

flashing lights and high-tech TV monitors among other

things.

Mimi Kuzyk and Robert Hirschfeld are added to NBC’s “Hill Street Blues” roster,

bringing the total to 17 regulars who will appear on the series this fall.

Changes on “Newhart” this fall - goodbye to Steven Kampermann and hello to

Peter Scolari.

The Phil Donahue Show is moving from Chicago to New York.