Today in Broadcast History

It’s the day that gave us Burt Lancaster, David Schwimmer, Paul Ford, Jay Black, k.d. lang, and early West Coast newscaster Sam Hayes. The early radio soap opera Myrt & Marge (pictured) debuted on CBS; the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) was created; CFGP brought 100 watts of local radio service to Grande Prairie Alta, and years later on this date, CFCW signed on with 250 watts in Camrose. CBC-TV experimented unsuccessfully with a 9 pm newscast, Ted Danson’s ‘Becker’ debuted on CBS-TV, and NBC-TV aired the 100th episode of ‘Third Rock from the Sun.’ Three veteran TV character actors left us on this date, Leonard Stone, Sid Melton and vocalist Paul Frees. ALL the milestones for Nov. 2nd INSIDE.

It’s the date that brought us Victoria’s David Foster (pictured), Bill Anderson, Lyle Lovett, Jenny McCarthy, Toni Collette, and the late Betsy Palmer, Edmonton radio station CFRN was granted its first license; Medicine Hat’s CHAT started up on 1270 kc.; the first English language hockey telecast was called by Foster Hewitt on Toronto’s CBLT; the Dave Clark Five performed on the Ed Sullivan Show; ‘The Lucy Show’ debuted on CBS-TV, and a few years later the same network aired the 100th episode of the sitcom ‘Maude.’ Obits for Nov. 1 include Phil Silvers, Noah Beery Jr., Skitch Henderson, Yma Sumac, Canadian broadcast journalist and politician Rene Levesque, and North Vancouver's contribution to Air Farce, Dave Broadfoot. ALL the milestones for the date INSIDE.

It’s the date of birth of broadcasters Dan Rather and Jane Pauley, singers Dale Evans and Ethel Waters, actors Michael Landon, Barbara Bel Geddes, Ken Wahl and John Candy, and rapper Vanilla Ice. Vancouver’s CHAN-TV (now Global) signed on for the first time; NBC televised ‘Carmen’ as the first opera ever aired ‘in living color’; the 100th episode of ‘The Odd Couple’ was seen on ABC; and Alive Cooper hosted ‘The Monstrous Munster Mash’ marathon on superstation WGN. Bing Crosby’s ‘White Xmas’ began an 11 week run at #1; the Rolling Stones played Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto; and Barry McGuire sang ‘Eve of Destruction’ on CBS-TV’s Ed Sullivan Show. ALL the milestones for Oct. 31st INSIDE.

Happy birthday to Grace Slick, Henry Winkler, Kevin Pollak, Harry Hamlin, Matthew Morrison (formerly of ‘Glee’), and Ben Bailey (formerly of ‘Cash Cab.’). It’s the day CBS radio listeners were terrified by Orson Welles (pictured) and his ‘War of the Worlds’; the 100th episode of ‘Cheers’ was aired on NBC-TV, and 4 years later the same network broadcast the 100th episode of ‘Matlock.’ Roy Orbison’s ‘Oh, Pretty Woman’ became a Gold Record. and Frank Sinatra recorded ‘My Way.’ Leaving us on Oct. 30th were Steve Allen, Robert Goulet, Pert Kelton, John Houseman, and Vancouver-born actor John Drainie. ALL the milestones for this date INSIDE.

Oct 29th gave us musicians Neal Hefti and Zoot Sims, actors Richard Dreyfuss, Winona Ryder and Kate Jackson, plus singer/comedienne Fannie Brice, and DJ/recording star the Big Bopper. KTLA-TV in L.A. originated the first coast-to-coast telecast in HD; Canada’s Astral Media completed its $1.8 billion purchase of Standard Radio; Bobby Helms recorded the now iconic ‘Jingle Bell Rock’; The Huntley-Brinkley Report (pictured) debuted on NBC-TV, a few decades before Nell Carter’s ‘Gimme a Break’ had ITS premiere; and CBS first used videotape to repeat its nightly ‘Douglas Ewards & the News’ for West Coast release. Obits include bandleaders Woody Herman and John Scott Trotter, plus guitarist Duane Allman, Kennedy satirist Vaughn Meader, Canadian actor Lloyd Bochner, and BBC TV presenter Jimmy Savile. You’ll find ALL the milestones for the date INSIDE.

Happy Birthday to Julia Roberts, Joaquim Phoenix, Dennis Franz, Brad Paisley, Cleo Laine and Andy Richter. New York’s WEAF aired the first college football game on a radio network; Jack Benny took his immensely popular radio show to CBS-TV; the same network broadcast the 100th episode of ‘The Andy Griffith Show,’ and a year later the 100th ‘Dick Van Dyke Show.’ Red Barber resigned from broadcasting Brooklyn Dodger games to join Mel Allen and the New York Yankees, Elvis made his 2nd appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show (pictured), and the flying cowboy radio serial ‘Sky King’ debuted on ABC. Obits this date include ex-KJR deejay Bwana Johnny, Porter Wagoner, Beryl Davis, James MacArthur, Leon Janney, and pioneer Vancouver sportscaster Leo Nicholson. ALL the milestones for Oct. 28th INSIDE.

It’s the date that brought us John Cleese, Nanette Fabray, Matt Drudge, Floyd Cramer, Kelly Osbourne, and Manitoba-born comic actor Jack Carson. Pittsburgh’s pioneer radio station KDKA was granted a broadcast license, ‘Disneyland’ began a long Sunday night run on ABC & CBC televison, Groucho’s quiz show ‘You Bet Your Life’ (pictured) debuted on ABC Radio; Jane Morgan sang ‘Fascination’ on the Ed Sullivan Show, and 11 years later Mary Hopkin sang ‘Those Were the Days’ on the same CBS-TV showcase. ‘Knots Landing’ began its 10th season on CBS-TV, Bruce Springsteen was on the covers of both ‘Time’ and ‘Newsweek,’ and Jane Pauley announced she would be ending her 13 years on NBC-TV’s ‘Today Show.’ Signing off forever were bandleaders Xavier Cugat, Frank Devol and Lester Lanin, controversial radio evangelist Father Coughlin, and comic Morey Amsterdam. ALL the milestones for Oct. 27th INSIDE.

Happy Birthday today to Seth McFarlane, Keith Urban, Tom Cavanagh, Pat Sajak and Jaclyn Smith. ‘St. Elsewhere’ debuted on NBC-TV; ‘M*A*S*H’ started its tenth season on CBS-TV; Frances Gumm (later known as Judy Garland) made her radio debut on NBC’s ‘Shell Chateau’; ‘Chez Helene’ began its more than 13 year run on CBC-TV; and the acclaimed WWII documentary ‘Victory at Sea’ debuted on NBC-TV. Taking their final bows on this earth were Canadian radiomen J. Frank Willis and Alden Diehl, CBS founder Bill Paley, country music’s Hoyt Axton, and the teacher on ‘Leave It to Beaver’ Sue Randall. Details and ALL the milestones for Oct. 26th INSIDE.

It’s a birthday for Marion Ross, Helen Reddy, James Carville and Katy Perry; also for the late ANNIS STUKUS (pictured), Bobby Gimby, Minnie Pearl and Leo G. Carroll. The longrunnning radio soap opera “Stella Dallas” debuted on New York’s WEAF; Ed Sullivan introduced The Rolling Stones to North American TV audiences; ‘Newhart’ premiered on CBS-TV; the 200th episode of ‘Cheers’ aired on NBC-TV; and Rick Nelson played a dramatic role on ABC-TV’s ‘Streets of San Francisco.’ Obits for Oct. 25th include Vincent Price, Roger Miller, Richard Harris, Mildred Natwick, Forrest Tucker and early radio balladeer Morton Downey, ALL the milestones for the date INSIDE.

Happy Birthday to Kevin Kline, Bill Wyman, Santo Farina, F. Murray Abraham, and Heather Rankin. Radio’s first big variety show ‘The Fleischmann Hour’ with RUDY VALLEE (pictured) debuted on NBC; CBC radio introduced it’s long-running ‘Cross Country Checkup; and ‘Kojak’ starring Telly Savalas premiered on CBS-TV. Neil Sedaka recorded ‘Calendar Girl,’ and Bob Dylan taped his iconic ‘The Times They Are A-Changin’.’ And the genius behind ‘Star Trek,’ Gene Roddenberry passed away. Details and ALL the Oct. 24th milestones INSIDE.