Tom Snyder was already a TV pop icon when I joined WNBC as program director in 1976. He was into his 4th year as host of "Tomorrow with Tom Snyder". His office was on the same floor as the radio studios and I would often see him when I left the office. We would exchange greetings and he would always say something like "Ah, you radio guys have it made", referring to my leaving at a time when he was just beginning his day in preparation for his late night show. I held in check my temptation to compare salaries, deciding not to get into a dialogue that I would inevitably lose to a master of put-downs. Not that Tom was like that to the radio staff. Far from it - he appeared to be just a regular guy. The trouble was he always had that stone-face on and you never knew when he was being serious...
Some years later, about 1979 or '80 when I was doing promotion for CBS International I took Nina Hagen over for a taping of "Tomorrow" and introduced the two. Now before I give you the rest of the story, if you're not familiar with Nina Hagen, she was a cross between Clarabelle the Clown and Marilyn Manson. I believe her hair was orange at the time although it could have been purple which she often liked wearing. On top of her outfit was an apron of aluminum foil. I guarantee you that Snyder had never met anyone looking like Nina Hagen who at the time had a version of Frank Sinatra's "My Way", her way. As stone-faced as ever Tom holds his hand out like an English baron and says "Pleased to meet you Miss Hagen". It was hard keeping a straight face but he didn't even crack a smile. Nina Hagen got bounced from the show that night because Johnny Rotten a.k.a. Johnny Lydon went over his allotted time. I found this video clip of Tom and Johnny Rotten from one of their classic encounters. This one from 1980: http://youtube.com/watch?v=_BZ2UoBZzEI ...
I remember going to Tom's website which he started a few years ago in which he revealed that he was battling lymphocytic leukemia which his doctors told him was "treatable". I sent him an e-mail wishing him well. I would go back to the website from time to time to read his personal musings which I enjoyed but sometime last summer he ended that website making me wonder how his health was. This morning I found out. Tom Snyder died yesterday from complications of leukemia at 71. "Happy Trails" Tom and thanks for entertaining us until the end...
10 Timeline Memories:
- 1956] Our motto is born: By order of Congress and approved by President Dwight D. Eisenhower, "In God We Trust" becomes our national motto...
- 1960] Pats win...Pats win...Pats win: In the 1st American Football League pre-season game, the Boston Patriots beat the Buffalo Bills 28-7...
- 1965] Medicaring: President Lyndon B. Johnson signs into law, the Social Security Act, establishing Medicare and Medicaid...
- 1970] De-Kleining: The Rolling Stones fire Allen Klein as their business manager...
- 1975] Poof: Former Teamster Union president Jimmy Hoffa disappears in suburban Detroit. Although presumed dead, his remains have never been found...
- 1990] The Boss is banished: Yankees principal owner George Steinbrenner is ordered by the Baseball Commissioner to resign for hiring a private detective (Howie Spira) to spy on outfielder Dave Winfield. Although banned for life, he is reinstated in 1993...
- 1998] "Happy Trails": Buffalo Bob Smith, Howdy Doody's daddy, dies of lung cancer at 80. I had a picture taken with Smith and Howdy when they visited CBS-FM shortly before his death and he looked like the picture of health. Here's a Colgate commercial done by Buffalo Bob and Howdy: http://youtube.com/watch?v=WWt7RJ3mWoY ..2003] Sun Records founder Sam Phillips who discovered Elvis Presley, dies of respiratory failure in Memphis at 80...
- 2000] Wedding Bells: Jennifer Aniston and Brad Pitt walk down the aisle. They will divorce in 2005...
- 2003] The last Beetle: In Mexico the last 'old style' Volkswagen Beetle rolls off the assembly line...
- 2006] Stopping the "Top": The world's oldest and longest running music show "Top of the Pops" is broadcast for the last time on BBC Two. The show had run for 42 years...
Music Memories:
- 1966] #1 on this date: "Yesterday...and Today" LP - Beatles...
- 1971] Released on this date: "Bangladesh" - George Harrison...
[To ensure accuracy of dates and content, multiple reference sources are used in each timeline]...
Commentary...
"Happy Trails" to legendary film director Ingmar Bergman who died last night at the age of 89. His daughter Eva Bergman said her father had passed away "peacefully". Bergman is considered to be one of the most influential film directors of the 20th century. Bergman was widely acclaimed for "The Seventh Seal" and "Fanny and Alexander" which won four Oscars, including 'Best Foreign Language Film' in 1982...Also "Happy Trails" to former major leaguer and coach Bill Robinson whose body was found in a Las Vegas hotel room where he was visiting the Dodgers' minor league team. Robinson was 64...
"Happy Birthday...happy birthday":
Jaime Pressley (30), Lisa Kudrow (44), Laurence Fishburne (46), Anita Hill (51), Delta Burke (51), California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger (60), Paul Anka (66) "Diana" is 50 years old this year: http://youtube.com/watch?v=fuTbB-d12A0 , Peter Bogdanovich (68) and Edd "Kookie" Byrnes (74)...
Timeline Countdown: All NFL training camps are now opened, 5 days until the Pro Football HOF inductions, 35 days until Labor Day and 38 days until the NFL opener...
