Today in Broadcast History

Happy Birthday to Ryan Seacrest, Ricky Martin, Canadian Steve Smith (whom you know better as Red Green), and actor Mark Valley. The BBC aired radio’s first play, ‘The Truth About Father Christmas’; the ‘Voice of Firestone’ began its 27 years of light classical music on US Monday night radio; Dickens ‘A Christmas Carol’ starring Lionel Barrymore (pictured) began its long run each yuletide on the radio networks; a Midnight Mass was televised for the first time on NBC, beginning a nearly 70 year tradition thus far; and Perry Como made his TV debut as NBC televised his ‘Chesterfield Supper Club.’ Checking out on Christmas Eve over the decades were actors Jack Klugman, Charles Durning and Peter Lawford, CBS president Frank Stanton and producer James Komack. ALL the milestones for the date INSIDE.

It’s the day when Don McNeill of radio’s ‘Breakfast Club’ and James Gregory of TV’s ‘Barney Miller’ were born. As well it’s Happy Birthday to Harry Shearer, Susan Lucci, Patrick Watson and Eddie Vedder. The BBC began regular daily radio newscasts; NBC began programming its national radio network; the first complete opera (Hansel & Gretel) was televised on WRGB Schenectady; Swift Current got local TV service as CJFB signed on; the daytime soap ‘The Young and the Restless’ premiered on CBS-TV; and the ‘How the Grinch Stole Christmas’ cartoon was televised for the first time. Obits for Dec. 23 include Dragnet’s Jack Webb, Canadian jazzman Oscar Peterson, comic pianist Victor Borge and actor Charlie Ruggles. ALL the milestones for the date INSIDE.

It’s the birthdate of actors Ralph Fiennes and Hector Elizondo, Diane Sawyer of ABC News, the late announcer and game show host Gene Rayburn, and singer Jordin Sparks. Pioneer New York radio station WEAF aired the first ever broadcast of a boxing match; the first experimental TV signals were aired from the top of the Empire State Building, two decades before the TV era began; Monty Hall presided over his last ‘Let’s Make a Deal’ on ABC-TV; Archie Bunker became a grandfather on CBS-TV’s “All in The Family’; and Conan O’Brien and Jack Black (pictured) engaged in a guitar duel on TBS’ late night ‘Conan.’ Among the obits for Dec. 22nd are bigtime (old time) radio announcer Jimmy Wallington, legendary soap opera creator Irna Phillips, and the great Lone Ranger narrator/announcer Fred Foy. ALL the milestones for Dec. 22nd INSIDE.

Happy Birthday to Kiefer Sutherland, Ray Romano, Phil Donahue, Jane Fonda, Samuel L. Jackson and Andy Dick. Vancouver’s CKST 1040 was sold to Grand Slam Radio, setting the stage for an all-sports format; the CRTC licensed a new Kelowna FM’er, CILK to Nick Frost; Wilf Ray (pictured) landed a morning slot on CKMO 1410, beginning an incredible 63-year career in local radio; David Crosby guest starred on ABC-TV’s sitcom’Roseanne’; and Diana Ross sang with The Supremes one final time on CBS-TV’s ‘Ed Sullivan Show.” Signing off forever were actors Richard Long, William Lundigan, and Calgary’s Rod Cameron. ALL the milestones for Dec 21st INSIDE.

It’s the birthdate of Jonah Hill, Uri Geller, Irene Dunne, John Hillerman, Pamela Austin, and the late MP and CKWX (later CBC) Open Liner Judy Lamarsh. Radio Australia began shortwave transmission, identified by the cry of the Kookabura bird; Vancouver’s CKWX was approved for an FM sister station, C-JAZ (it is now JACK FM at 96.9); Kelowna’s CILK FM was approved for sale to Standard Radio (later Astral, now Bell); and NBC-TV experimented with no announcers on a Jets-Dolphins football telecast. It was not considered a success. Bowing out forever on Dec. 20th were Carl Sagan, Foster Brooks, Arnold Stang, Brittany Murphy, Steve Landesberg, and the first black anchor on a network (ABC) newscast, Max Robinson. ALL the milestones for the date INSIDE.

Happy Birthday to Cicely Tyson, Alyssa Milano, Elaine Joyce, Jennifer Beals, and illusionist Cris Angel. Pioneer Vancouver radio station CNRV was hooked up nationally via the CNR network; the BBC inaugurated shortwave radio service; New Westminster’s CKNW moved into new studios at 227 Columbia; the CBS-TV movie ‘The Homecoming’ first introduced America to ‘The Waltons’; and the musical special ‘The Carpenters: a Christmas Portrait’ aired in prime time on ABC-TV. Obits this date include Mike Clarke of ‘The Byrds’, Page Cavanaugh of ‘The Page Cavanaugh Trio,’ radio actor Les Tremayne and TV actress Hope Lange. ALL the milestones for Dec. 19th INSIDE.

Happy Birthday to Steven Spielberg, Leonard Maltin, Rachel Griffiths, Ron White, Christine Aguilera, and Katie Holmes. ‘To Tell the Truth’ debuted in prime time on CBS-TV; NBC aired the 50th episode of ‘The A Team;’ ‘Wonder Woman’ had its premiere on ABC-TV; the classic Christmas episode of ‘I Love Lucy’ aired for the first time in 30 years on CBS-TV; and ‘How the Grinch Stole Christmas’ was seen for the 1st time on CBS. Obits include Larry Lujack, Dave Abbott, Mavor Moore, Zsa Zsa Gabor (pictured), Mark Goodson and Chris Farley. ALL the milestones for Dec. 18th INSIDE.

Happy Birthday to Eugene Levy, Bill Pullman, Chris Mathews, Tommy Banks, and Art Neville of The Neville Bros.. ‘The Simpsons’ began their 28 year (so far) run on FOX; Edgar Bergen made his national debut with Charlie McCarthy, as pictured, on NBC radio; Moose Jaw’s only radio station got official ‘commercial’ status as CHAB, after 11 years in the experimental stage; Wayne & Shuster and Paul Anka were headliners on CBS-TV’s ‘Ed Sullivan Show’; and Tiny Tim & Miss Vicky were wed to much national acclaim on Johnny Carson’s ‘Tonight Show.’ Obits include Don Chevrier, Dana Andrews, Rex Allen Sr., performance artist Captain Beefheart and muckraker Jack Anderson. Details and ALL the Dec. 17th milestones INSIDE.

Happy Birthday to Steven Bochko, Lesley Stahl, JB Smoove, Jon Tenney and ABBA’s Benny Andersson. ‘One Day at a Time’ began its 9-year run on CBS-TV; the same network aired the 50th episode of ‘All in the Family’; Vancouver’s first TV station CBUT began transmitting from Mount Seymour; Jack Webb’s ‘Dragnet’ got a sneak preview on NBC-TV’s ‘Chesterfield Sound Off Time’; and Howard Stern did his last terrestrial broadcast before moving to Sirius Satellite Radio. Obits Dec. 16 include Dan Fogelberg, the West Wing’s John Spencer, Kojak’s Dan Frazer, Arthur Godfrey’s Haleloke, plus actresses Madlyn Rhue, and Nicolette Larson. ALL the milestones for the date INSIDE.

Happy Birthday to Tim Conway, Don Johnson, Michelle Dockery, Helen Slater, Dave Clark of the ‘Dave Clark Five’,and ventriloquist Jimmy Nelson. ‘Captain Midnight’ aired for the last time, after 10 years thrilling young radio audiences; ‘Davey Crockett Indian Fighter’ debuted on the Walt Disney Sunday night hour on ABC-TV; Elvis Presley sang for the last time on the Shreveport radio program that first gave him wide exposure, ‘Louisiana Hayride’; Joe Garagiola joined NBC-TV’s ‘Today Show’ as co-host and interviewer; and Melissa Etheridge made her national TV debut on Dave Letterman’s late night NBC show. Celebrities bowing out this date include Walt Disney (pictured), Jan Peerce, Fats Waller, Charles Laughton, Chill Wills, and televangelist Oral Roberts. ALL the milestones for Dec. 15th INSIDE.