May 1951 in Film & Television History

Events in Film & TV

Out of This World

May 5 Cole Porter's musical "Out of This World" an adaptation of Titus Plautus's mythological comedy Amphitryon, starring George Gaynes, closes at New Century Theater, NYC, after 157 performances

May 14 Ernie Kovacs Show, TV Variety debut on NBC

Film & TV History

May 23 Peter Ustinov's "Love of Four Colonels" premieres in London

Radio Premiere

May 28 Radio programme "Crazy People" (later titled The Goon Show) premieres on the BBC, created by Spike Milligan

May 28 The Jerry Colonna Show debuts on ABC-TV

Birthdays in Film & TV

May 4 (Sigmund) "Jackie" Jackson, American pop singer and songwriter (Jackson 5 - "ABC"; "I Want You Back"), born in Gary, Indiana
May 7 Robert Hegyes, American actor (Underground Aces; Welcome Back, Kotter - "Juan Epstein"), born in Perth Amboy, New Jersey (d. 2012)
May 8 Deborah Harmon, American actress (Ted Knight Show; M*A*S*H; Just the 10 of Us), born in Chicago, Illinois
May 9 Alley Mills, actress (Norma Arnold-Wonder Years), born in Chicago, Illinois
May 13 Selina Scott, English TV newscaster (West 57th), born in Scarborough, England
May 14 Season Hubley [Susan], American actress (Vice Squad, Hardcore), born in NYC, New York
May 18 Denny Dillon, American comedian (SNL, Dream On), born in Cleveland, Ohio
May 18 James Stephens, American actor (Paper Chase, Devil's Island), born in Mount Kisco, New York
May 20 William Cullen Bryant, actor (Hell Squad)
May 21 Al Franken, US politician (Senate-D-Minnesota 2009-18) comedian, writer, actor (SNL, 1975-80; 1985-90), born in NYC, New York
May 23 Don Warrington [Donald Williams], Trinidadian-born British actor (Rising Damp), born in Trinidad
May 25 Bob Gale, American screenwriter (Back to the Future), born in University City, Missouri
May 30 Stephen Tobolowsky, Tx, actor (Single White Female, Thelma & Louise)