S.D. native and longtime TV game show host Bob Barker.On this date, April 26, 2002, South Dakota native Bob Barker broke Nebraska native Johnny Carson's record for most continuous performances on the same network TV show, "The Price Is Right."  Come on down!

Source: http://www.cbs.com/daytime/price/about/bios/cast_bios_bbarker.shtml

On April 26, 2002 , Bob broke Johnny Carson’s record for continuous performances on the same network television show. Johnny retired from The Tonight Show after 29 years, seven months and 21 days ( 10/1/62 – 5/22/92). Bob bypassed that record in 2002 – and is still going strong!

S.D. filmmaker Oscar Micheaux. On Wednesday, March 21, 2001, black SD filmmaker Oscar Micheaux was recognized in a resolution by the Kansas Senate .

Source: http://www.shorock.com/arts/micheaux/biography.html

Rodeo star Casey Tibbs of Ft. Pierre.Rodeo star and film actor Casey Duane Tibbs was born March 5, 1929, 50 miles northwest of Fort Pierre.  Yee-Haw!

Source: http://www.caseytibbs.com/About.Casey.htm

TV and film actress Angela Aames of Pierre.On this date, February 27, 1956, Pierre TV and movie actress Angela Aames was born.

Source: http://www.findagrave.com/php/famous.php?page=state&FSstateid=44

Aames (Haugland), Angela    b. February 27, 1956  d. November 27, 1988
Actress. She appeared in films such as "Bachleor Party," "Basic Training," "Scarface" and "The Lost Empire." She also made guest TV appearances on "Night Court," "Cheers" and "BJ and the Bear." She died of a heart failure, which, according to the coroner, was likely caused by a virus. (Bio by: Bigwoo)
Riverside Cemetery, Pierre, Hughes County, South Dakota, USA

 

On this date, two famous South Dakotans were born.

Rowena's Mamie Van Doren.On this date, February 6, 1933, Hollywood screen legend Mamie Van Doren (Jean Oleander) was born in Rowena, SD.  Source: http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0159253.html

I was going to have my extended interview with Mamie today but I had some pressing legal and consulting business I had to attend to.  I hope to get the interview up February 7th or 8th.
Webster's Tom Brokaw.

Also on this date, February 6, 1940, famed NBC News anchor, journalist and author Tom Brokaw was born in Webster, SD.  Source: http://www.infoplease.com/ipea/A0762083.html

Two completely non-related events on this date.

Dorothy Provine, S.D. actress born in Deadwood on Jan. 20, 1937.First, on this date, January 20, 1937, movie and TV actress Dorothy Provine was born in Deadwood.  Source: http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0158435.htmlhttp://www.datesinhistory.com/cgi-bin/bigphp.phtml?v1=jan20

It's hot! It's cold! It's both!Also on this date, January 20, 1943, in Lead, the temperature was 52 degrees F, while 1.5 miles away in Deadwood it was -16 degrees F. Source:

Another twofer. . .

Folk singer Shawn Colvin, born in V-town.On this date, January 10, 1958, folk singer Shawn Colvin was born in Vermillion.

Source: http://www.infoplease.com/ipea/A0763110.html

And on this date, January 10-11, 1975, occurred what some meteorologists consider as one of the worst blizzards in the state's history.

From NOAA:  http://www.crh.noaa.gov/fsd/archive/centuryfsd.htm

The blizzard of January 10-11, 1975 was widely considered to be the worst blizzard of the century in this area. There was only 7 inches of snow measured at Sioux Falls , but wind gusts were up to 70 mph, wind chills were down to 70 below zero, and visibilities were below a quarter mile at the airport for 24 straight hours. There were 8 deaths in South Dakota during the storm, but only 2 can be attributed directly to the storm. Two college students from Sioux Falls died from exposure when their car stalled 3 miles east of Sioux Falls . A 2000 foot high broadcast tower east of Sioux Falls collapsed due to the storm. Livestock loss was an estimated 10 to 15 thousand head.

Custer's bandmaster Felix Vinatieri.On this date, December 18, 1876, Yankton composer, musician, and band leader Felix Vinatieri's enlistment in the U.S. Army, and most notably, his role with Gen. George Custer's 7th Cavalry Band, ended.

Vinatieri led an extraordinary life.  He was born and educated in Italy, came to the United States, served with Custer, managed to miss the Battle of the Little Bighorn, and was a recognized expert in bands and band music.

Another famous Vinatieri from South Dakota, the New England Patriot's Adam Vinatieri, continues to do the name proud in a different field of endeavor.
Belichick's placekicker Adam Vinatieri.

As described by the USD Shrine to Music at http://www.usd.edu/smm/vinatieri.html:
 

Vinatieri enlists as Custer's Bandmaster...

"On May 7, 1873, the band rode out of Yankton for Abraham Lincoln.  On the lead horse was a proud Felix Vinatieri.  Following his arrival at the fort, Vinatieri travelled to St. Paul, Minnesota, to enlist for a three year period as Bandleader of the Seventh Cavalry."

 

Custer's massacre...

"On June 26, 1876, General Custer, along with 276 men, was massacred at the Little Big Horn.  The sixteen members of the band, who were mostly German, were spared, as Custer had left orders with band leader Vinatieri that the band was not to engage in battle, but to remain on the supply steamboat, Far West, moored on the Powder River.  [Subsequently], it served as a floating hospital with all of the band members assisting in placing [the wounded] on the boat.  They served as medics as the Far West turned around and headed back for the fort at Bismarck, making the nearly thousand mile journey in fifty-four hours."

Custer's fondness for music...

"Mrs. Anna Vinatieri, reminiscing about frontier Dakota Territory, often told her grandchildren of life at Fort Abraham Lincoln, and spoke of Custer's love for band music.  She told them how the General and his wife were especially fond of quadrilles.  Mrs. Custer, in writing about the expedition's return, described the travel-battered instruments of the Seventh Cavalry's band."

Vinatieri returns to Yankton...

"Vinatieri was discharged on December 18, 1876, at Fort Abraham Lincoln, with a notation for good conduct.  The family returned to Yankton where he had organized the Yankton band, serving as its director from 1868 to 1873 and 1886 to 1891."

Huron TV actress Cheryl LaddOn this date, December 7, 1951, actress Cheryl Ladd was born in Huron.

She is probably most famous for her role as Kris Munroe in the hit 70's series "Charlies' Angles" and replacing Farah Fawcett-Majors.  However, she has a busy and successful TV career.  She currently plays Jillian Deline in NBC's "Las Vegas."  In fact, she plays a prominent role in next week's episode:
South Dakota's favorite "Angel."

Las Vegas (8 p.m. on 41): A televised poker tour makes a stop at the Montecito, and Danny and Mike (Josh Duhamel, James Lesure) clash with the producers over checking the security footage for a possible cheater. Jillian’s (Cheryl Ladd) decision to visit an old flame has Ed (James Caan) steaming. The stakes rise in Sam’s (Vanessa Marcil) divorce negotiations with Casey (Dean Cain).

Source: http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/living/13314803.htm