A big anniversary

WGN-TV Channel 9 is celebrating 60 years of broadcast excellence in Chicago with a new TV special at 8 tonight called "WGN at 60: Chicago's Very Own," a one-hour retrospective hosted by Jim Belushi.

The special will look back at some of WGN-TV's history-making broadcasts including the first Cubs night game at Wrigley Field on 8/8/88, the opening of Al Capone's vaults by Geraldo Rivera, the first co-anchored newscast in the country and other memorable firsts, including shows that garnered three Peabody Awards and numerous Emmys.

Viewers will see clips of WGN-TV favorites like Bozo the Clown's famed "Bozo's Circus," Ray Rayner's popular "Ray Rayner and His Friends," "Garfield Goose & Friends," "Ding Dong School," "Romper Room," "The Blue Fairy," "Barn Dance," "International Café" as well as wonderful clips from legendary sportscasters Jack Brickhouse and Harry Caray. Exclusive guest interviews include Phil Donahue, Joey D'Auria (second Bozo), Tom Skilling, Merri Dee, Jerry Lewis and Museum of Broadcast Communications' Founder/CEO/President Bruce DuMont.

WGN-TV viewers and employees also will reminisce and share their memories about the station. Additional footage, extended interviews, bloopers and seldom-seen clips also will be available on www.wgntv.com.

In case you're reading this after tonight's airing, there will be encore presentations of the special, now scheduled to run May 3 at 6 p.m. and July 5 at 6 p.m.

WGN-TV Channel 9 is now Chicago's CW network affiliate, programming a schedule of local news, sports and entertainment. Outside the Chicago area, Superstation WGN is carried on cable, telco and satellite throughout the United States. It is a Tribune Broadcasting station. For additional information, www.wgntv.com.

Still a gamble

Harrah's Hotel and Casino in Joliet is celebrating its 15th anniversary on May 18 with entertainer Kenny Rogers, forever connected with his song "The Gambler," performing a special concert at 6 p.m. at the historic Rialto Square Theatre.

Tickets are $45 and go on sale April 25 at the Rialto box office or by calling (815) 726-6600.

For more information, www.harrahsjoliet.com or www.rialtosquare.com.

celebBirthdays

Actress Nina Foch ("The Ten Commandments") is 84. Actress Elena Verdugo (Consuelo on "Marcus Welby, MD") is 82. Actor George Takei ("Star Trek") is 71. Singer Johnny Tillotson and writer/director Joe Camp ("Benji") are 69. Actor Ryan O'Neal is 67. Keyboardist Craig Frost of Grand Funk Railroad and actor Gregory Itzin ("24") are 60. Actress Jessica Lange is 59. Actress Veronica Cartwright ("The Birds" and "The Witches of Eastwick") is 58. Actor Clint Howard is 49. Baseball star Don Mattingly is 47. Actor Crispin Glover is 44. Actress Lara Jill Miller (Samantha Kanisky on "Gimme A Break") is 41. Actor William deVry (Storm Logan on "Bold and the Beautiful," great-grandson of Herman DeVry, founder of DeVry University) is 40. Country singer Wade Hayes is 39. Actress Carmen Electra is 36. Bassist-keyboardist Marty Crandall of The Shins is 33. Actor Joey

Lawrence ("Blossom," "Brotherly Love") is 32.