Aug 7, 1948

Spade Cooley hosts the first installment of his long-running TV show on Los Angeles station KTLA. It goes under several names over its run but is best known as "The Spade Cooley Show." The theme song: "Shame On You"

Aug 31, 1948

Spade and Ella Mae Cooley have a son, Donnell Cooley Jr., at St. John's Hospital in Santa Monica, California

Sep 1, 1948

Actor Robert Mitchum is one of four people arrested for marijuana use at a home in the Hollywood Hills. Mitchum fears it will end his career, but he goes on to take part in many more movies as well as a country hit: "Little Old Wine Drinker Me"

Sep 17, 1948

Tex Ritter has a second son, John Ritter, in Burbank, California. John goes on to become a significant actor, with roles in "Three's Company," "Sling Blade" and "The Waltons," among other titles

Sep 23, 1948

President Harry Truman appears at Los Angeles' Gilmore Stadium during his bid for re-election. Spade Cooley is on hand to entertain, alongside Hollywood figures Lucille Ball, Desi Arnaz, Humphrey Bogart, Lauren Bacall and Ronald Reagan

Oct 11, 1948

Tommy Duncan, former vocalist for The Texas Playboys, debuts his new band, The All-Stars, at Los Angeles' 97th Street Corral. The group includes ex-Playboys Noel Boggs, Joe Holley, Ocie Stockard, Millard Kelso, Jimmy Wyble and Cameron Hill

Nov 13, 1948

Harry Nolan, the father of The Sons Of The Pioneers' Bob Nolan, dies of coronary sclerosis in California

Nov 21, 1948

Keyboard player Lonnie Jordan is born in San Diego. He joins the Los Angeles funk band War in the 1970s, co-writing "Low Rider," which also makes him a co-writer on the Thomas Rhett country single "Vacation"

Nov 24, 1948

Gene Autry, Jo Stafford, Roy Rogers and Dale Evans are among the celebrities who populate the Santa Claus Lane parade on Hollywood Boulevard and Sunset Boulevard in Los Angeles. Also along: Dinah Shore, Hopalong Cassidy and Bob Hope

Dec 12, 1948

The original McDonald's opens in San Bernardino, California, becoming a ubiquitous American burger chain. Referencing the company's Happy Meal, Tim McGraw's 2005 hit "Do You Want Fries With That" takes place at one of its drive-throughs