The texting shorthand term “smh” (“shakes my head”) didn’t exist in 1955 because texting didn’t exist in 1955.

But surely “smh” was invented for things like this: Today in 1955, CBS talent scout Arthur Godfrey made a signing decision between Elvis Presley and Pat Boone.

Godfrey chose Boone.

The number one British single today in 1963:

Today in 1968, the BBC’s “Top of the Pops” showed the promotional film for the Beatles’ “Lady Madonna.”

Well, the audio is from “Lady Madonna.” The video was from a different song:

The number one single today in 1973:

Today in 1985, Dead or Alive was kicked off the British TV show “The Tube” because they admitted they were incapable of playing, well, alive.

The number one British album today in 1987 was “The Very Best of Hot Chocolate”:

The number one single today in 1998:

Birthdays start with Quincy Jones:

Walter Parazaider is the saxophone player (hey, that rhymes … I think) and one of the four original members of Chicago:

James O’Rourke played guitar for John Fred and His Playboy Band:

Two deaths of note today: Linda Jones in 1972 …

and Jerome Solon Felder, better known as songwriter Doc Pomus, in 1991:

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