23 October 1950. Al Jolson died (aged 64). In the 1920s and 30s he was known as “the world’s greatest entertainer”. His performing style, using black face make up, which perpetuated racial stereotypes, is now indefensible, though Jolson himself supported racial equality. pic.twitter.com/RLnAjApdJl

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

23 October 2012. BBC Ceefax, the first teletext service, ended, after 38 years of broadcasting, at 23:32:19 BST, as the digital switchover in the UK was finally completed. Ceefax had been the forerunner to the BBC’s Red Button service. pic.twitter.com/iaSX5aGqZx

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

24 October 1895. British actor, Jack Warner, was born in London. He’s best remembered as the experienced police constable, George Dixon, in the BBC series, Dixon of Dock Green, who solved crimes with common sense and human understanding. The series ran from 1955 to 1976. pic.twitter.com/15C8ROfljN

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

24 October 1923. TV presenter and reporter, Robin Day, was born in London. He presented Panorama, and chaired, Question Time (1979–1989). He was the BBC’s leading political interviewer, known for his abrasive interviewing style. pic.twitter.com/fiPaNLv0VS

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

24 October 1975. The last episode of the stop motion animated TV series, The Wombles, was broadcast on BBC1. The Wombles live under Wimbledon Common collecting and recycling rubbish. The series ran for 60 episodes.
pic.twitter.com/x1jKoNdQCz

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

24 October 1973. The first episode of the crime series, Kojak, with Telly Savalas in the leading role, as the New York City Police Department Detective Lieutenant, Theodore "Theo" Kojak. It ran for 118 episodes , over 5 series, until 18 March 1978. pic.twitter.com/bGoRsDoXXl

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

#RIP #OTD in 1991 US Army Air Forces veteran, screenwriter, futurist, Star Trek creator, Gene Roddenberry died; heart attack; Santa Monica CA, aged 70. A portion of cremated remains launched into orbit in 2007, in 2009 a portion launched into deep space https://t.co/L6uuVxp65T pic.twitter.com/rbB0L8l7Ya

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

#RIP #OTD in 1994 actor (Kiss of the Spider Woman, Tequila Sunrise, The Addams Family) Raul Julia died from complications of a stroke at North Shore University Hospital in Manhasset, Long Island, aged 54. Buxeda Memorial Park, Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico https://t.co/L6uuVxp65T pic.twitter.com/vRYXp3QsvO

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

#RIP #OTD in 2015 Irish born actress (Miracle on 34th Street, Rio Grande, The Quiet Man, The Wings of Eagles, McLintock!, Big Jake), Maureen O'Hara died in her sleep at her home in Boise, Idaho aged 95. Arlington National @ArlingtonNatl https://t.co/L6uuVxp65T pic.twitter.com/cBYfaEMCah

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

Richard Roundtree, who brought ‘Shaft’ to the big screen, dies at 81 https://t.co/94g7dXq6Os

— Post Obituaries (@postobits) October 25, 2023

#RIP #OTD in 1993 actor (House of Wax, The Fly, House on Haunted Hill, The Abominable Dr. Phibes, Theatre of Blood, House of Usher) Vincent Price died from lung cancer at home in Los Angeles, aged 82. Cremated remains scattered off Point Dume in Malibu https://t.co/1prMX7bIpJ pic.twitter.com/sFbdoLetDv

— RIP The Final Footprint (@RIPTFF) October 25, 2023

#RIP #OTD in 2002, actor (This Sporting Life, Camelot, A Man Called Horse, Unforgiven), singer ("MacArthur Park") Richard Harris died; Hodgkin’s disease at University College Hospital in Fitzrovia, London, aged 72. Cremated remains scattered in the Bahamas https://t.co/1prMX7bIpJ pic.twitter.com/nqYk03sEZN

— RIP The Final Footprint (@RIPTFF) October 25, 2023

#RIP #OTD in 2013 actress (The Bob Newhart Show, Full House, The Simpsons), comedian, Marcia Wallace died in Los Angeles from breast cancer complications aged 70. Cremated remains scattered in the Pacific https://t.co/1prMX7bIpJ pic.twitter.com/hvvdkmOxhF

— RIP The Final Footprint (@RIPTFF) October 25, 2023

26 October 1942. Leading British actor, Bob Hoskins, was born in Bury St Edmunds. He rose to major fame in the classic Dennis Potter BBC TV drama series, Pennies From Heaven, before starring in many films such as The Long Good Friday, Mona Lisa, and Who Framed Roger Rabbit? pic.twitter.com/pCD0eG2YK5

— Prof. Frank McDonough (@FXMC1957) October 26, 2023

#RIP #OTD in 1952, singer-songwriter, comedian, radio performer, stage and film actress (Gone with the Wind), Academy Award winner, Hattie McDaniel died in Woodland Hills, California from breast cancer, aged 57. Angelus Rosedale Cemetery in Los Angeles https://t.co/d1vMEJjWmn pic.twitter.com/dVW0oiO4p2

— RIP The Final Footprint (@RIPTFF) October 26, 2023

#Today in 1984, The Terminator was released: one of the most iconic pieces of pop culture ever created.

It led to a franchise consisting of several sequels, a television series, comic books, novels and video games.pic.twitter.com/tvtCADT8rp

— Massimo (@Rainmaker1973) October 26, 2023

27 October 1939. John Cleese was born in Weston-super-Mare. He co-founded Monty Python, the comedy group responsible for the cult sketch show Monty Python’s Flying Circus and its subsequent offshoot films. He also co-wrote and starred in the classic BBC sitcom Fawlty Towers. pic.twitter.com/FBlDeOziQK

— Prof. Frank McDonough (@FXMC1957) October 27, 2023

27 October 1988. Legendary comedy actor, Charles Hawtrey, died (aged 73). He was best known as a regular participant in the “Carry On” films series. Regardless of the historical setting, Hawtrey wore his trademark round metal-rimmed glasses. pic.twitter.com/MubIwaSesB

— Prof. Frank McDonough (@FXMC1957) October 27, 2023

28 October 1938. Leading former BBC TV presenter, David Dimbleby, was born in Surrey. He’s best known as the presenter of BBC1’s Question Time series. He has also anchored the BBC TV coverage of every general election from 1979 to 2017, and the 2016 EU Referendum. pic.twitter.com/i8ZeTvQ64E

— Prof. Frank McDonough (@FXMC1957) October 28, 2023