22 December 1888. J. Arthur Rank, founder of the Rank Organisation, was born in Kingston upon Hull. By 1939, Rank owned the Pinewood and the Denham Film Studios. By 1941, Rank’s organisation also owned 251 British cinemas. The company went into decline in the post-1960 period. pic.twitter.com/oHrsUyUPzx

— Prof. Frank McDonough (@FXMC1957) December 22, 2023

22 December 1936. TV presenter and science historian, James Burk, was born in Derry, Northern Ireland. He led by BBC’s coverage of the Moon Landing, and presented the innovative documentary series, Connections, which included this amazing ending.
pic.twitter.com/MYOo5KAhXe

— Prof. Frank McDonough (@FXMC1957) December 22, 2023

22 December 1948. Radio DJ and TV presenter, Noel Edmonds, was born in Ilford, Essex. He presented a regular Radio 1 show and many TV shows, including: Top of the Pops, Multi-Coloured Swap Shop, Noel's House Party, Deal or No Deal, and The Late, Late Breakfast Show. pic.twitter.com/wyfIZDE1Kn

— Prof. Frank McDonough (@FXMC1957) December 22, 2023

22 December 1962. Acclaimed British actor, Ralph Fiennes, was born in Ipswich. He gave a chilling performance as the ruthless SS officer, Amon Göth, in Schindler’s List. Other films include The English Patient, The Constant Gardener, and Grand Budapest Hotel. pic.twitter.com/PZwNLmyKE1

— Prof. Frank McDonough (@FXMC1957) December 22, 2023

#RIP #OTD in 1995, actress (Gone with the Wind), Butterfly McQueen, died at the Augusta Regional Medical Center in Augusta, Georgia at the age of 84. Body donated to medical science https://t.co/unB2lSWvKs pic.twitter.com/2nGG3kU87p

— RIP The Final Footprint (@RIPTFF) December 22, 2023

22 December 2000. The final episode of TFI Friday, presented by Chris Evans and written by Danny Baker, was broadcast on Channel 4. It had run over 7 series and 190 episodes since 9 February 1996. pic.twitter.com/HaqBwNojbz

— Prof. Frank McDonough (@FXMC1957) December 22, 2023

23 December 1966. The last episode of the ITV pop show, Ready Steady Go, presented by the 60s style icon, Cathy McGowan, was broadcast. It had been on since 9 August 1963. Unlike Top of The Pops, it was not based on the weekly pop charts. pic.twitter.com/SeQ1vyDehu

— Prof. Frank McDonough (@FXMC1957) December 23, 2023

#RIP #OTD in 1982 actor, television producer, director, screenwriter (Dragnet, Sunset Boulevard, Pete Kelly's Blues) Jack Webb died; heart attack in West Hollywood, aged 62. Sheltering Hills Plot 1999, Forest Lawn, Hollywood Hills Cemetery in Los Angeles https://t.co/BnIHGQyXM0 pic.twitter.com/pGMxIUyObo

— RIP The Final Footprint (@RIPTFF) December 23, 2023

23 December 2006. Popular TV comedian, Charlie Drake, died (aged 81). His catchphrase was: “Hello, my darlings.” His heyday was in the 1960s when he had his own ITV variety show and starred in the ITV sitcom, The Worker. He had pop hits, notably, My Boomerang Won’t Come Back. pic.twitter.com/amYvzuW0I7

— Prof. Frank McDonough (@FXMC1957) December 23, 2023

24 December 1922. Hollywood legend, Ava Gardner, was born in Smithfield, North Carolina, USA. Her films include: The Killers, Mogambo, The Barefoot Contessa, and The Night of the Iguana. She was briefly married to Mickey Rooney and Frank Sinatra. pic.twitter.com/39kKVuoog5

— Prof. Frank McDonough (@FXMC1957) December 24, 2023

24 December 1963. Acclaimed comedian and comedy writer, Caroline Aherne, was born in London. She starred in Mrs Merton, The Fast Show, and The Royal Family for the BBC and was the original narrator of Gogglebox on Channel 4. pic.twitter.com/vdtFe7ORVi

— Prof. Frank McDonough (@FXMC1957) December 24, 2023

24 December 1974. The last episode of BBC sitcom, Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads?, was broadcast. It was the sequel to the 1960s sitcom, The Likely Lads. In the 2nd run, there were 26 episodes, plus a Christmas special.
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— Prof. Frank McDonough (@FXMC1957) December 24, 2023

#RIP #OTD in 1984, actor (Oceans 11, Good News, It Happened in Brooklyn, Little Women), member of the Rat Pack, Peter Lawford, died; cardiac arrest at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles aged 61. Westwood Village Memorial Park Cemetery, Los Angeles https://t.co/YtT2hH028K pic.twitter.com/KQqyKRrdcP

— RIP The Final Footprint (@RIPTFF) December 24, 2023

#RIP #OTD in 1997 actor (Rashomon, Seven Samurai, The Hidden Fortress, Throne of Blood, Yojimbo, Red Sun) Toshiro Mifune died in Mitaka, Tokyo, of multiple organ failure at the age of 77. Shunjuen Cemetery, Kawasaki-shi, Kanagawa, Japan https://t.co/YtT2hH028K pic.twitter.com/Q3qtrcUxLc

— RIP The Final Footprint (@RIPTFF) December 24, 2023

#RIP #OTD in 2012 US Army veteran, actor (The Sting, Dog Day Afternoon, True Confessions, Tootsie, The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, To Be or Not to Be) Charles Durning died at his home in Manhattan, aged 89. Arlington National Cemetery @ArlingtonNatl https://t.co/YtT2hH028K pic.twitter.com/ubqrCHMBLr

— RIP The Final Footprint (@RIPTFF) December 24, 2023

#RIP #OTD in 2012 actor (12 Angry Men, Cry Terror!, The Twilight Zone, The Odd Couple) Jack Klugman died in Woodland Hills, Los Angeles, of prostate cancer, aged 90. Cremated remains Westwood Memorial Park cemetery, Los Angeles https://t.co/YtT2hH028K pic.twitter.com/gqHQ90Zyow

— RIP The Final Footprint (@RIPTFF) December 24, 2023

25 December 1899. Humphrey Bogart was born in New York City, USA. In 1999, the American Film Institute (AFI), selected Bogart as the greatest male star of classic American cinema. Films include: Casablanca, Key Largo, The Maltese Falcon, The African Queen, and The Big Sleep. pic.twitter.com/QfeXAJoEzs

— Prof. Frank McDonough (@FXMC1957) December 25, 2023

25 April 1932. William (“Bill”) Roache was born in Nottingham. He’s played Ken Barlow in the ITV soap opera, Coronation Street, since the first episode on 9 December 1960. He’s listed in the Guinness World Records as the longest-serving TV star in a continuous role. pic.twitter.com/cvsIWhfyY1

— Prof. Frank McDonough (@FXMC1957) December 25, 2023

25 December 1946. Legendary comedian, WC Fields (William Claude Dukenfield), died (aged 66). In films, he excelled at playing a hard-drinking misanthrope. One of his best loved performances was as Mr. Micawber in the film of the Charles Dickens novel, David Copperfield. pic.twitter.com/KyqBxdrg9x

— Prof. Frank McDonough (@FXMC1957) December 25, 2023