Today in Broadcast History

Two memorable series from Old Time Radio debuted on this date .. ‘The Chamber Music Society of Lower Basin Street’ on NBC, and ‘Yours Truly Johnny Dollar’ on CBS. Jack Paar (pictured) walked off NBC-TV’s ‘Tonight Show’ because the network had censored his bathroom joke. The 100th episode of ‘Ironside’ aired, starring New Westminster’s Raymond Burr. And Kurt Russell’s TV-movie titled ‘Elvis!’ debuted on ABC. ALL the milestones for Feb. 11th INSIDE.

It was a Feb. 9th when Vancouver’s CHQM AM 1320 ended 34 years of nostalgic/easy listening music and morphed into all-Chinese-language CHMB. When AM 730 switched from a MOJO talk radio format to become Vancouver’s first All-Sports station. When The Beatles made their first of three appearances on CBS-TV’s ‘Ed Sullivan Show’ (pictured). And when the 100th episode of ‘Beverly Hills 90210’ aired on FOX. ALL the milestones for the date INSIDE.

90 years ago today comedian Eddie Cantor’s illustrious radio career got underway as he made an appearance on Rudy Vallee’s “The Fleischmann Hour” on NBC. Two decades later the Fifth Emmy Awards gave top honors to I Love Lucy, Thomas Mitchell and Helen Hayes. Also this date ‘The Smothers Brothers Comedy Show’ (pictured) debuted on CBS-TV, the 200th episode of ‘Married with Children’ aired on FOX-TV, and the 50th ‘Andy Griffith Show’ was seen on CBS-TV. ALL the milestones for Feb. 5th INSIDE.

Baseball’s Jackie Robinson (pictured) signed a contract with NBC’s New York radio & TV stations as Director of Community Activities, thus becoming the first black broadcast executive. Elvis Presley made his second appearance on CBS-TV’s ‘Dorsey Brothers Stage Show.’ ABC-TV aired a 25th anniversary salute to Dick Clark’s ‘American Bandstand.’ And Katie Couric’s “All Access Grammy Special” aired on CBS-TV, featuring interviews with Justin Timberlake, Katy Perry, Lil Wayne and Taylor Swift. ALL the milestones for Feb. 4th INSIDE.

The third of WXYZ Detroit’s kids radio adventure shows ‘Challenge of the Yukon’ debuted… for a Michigan audience only. The comedy team of Abbott and Costello (pictured) joined the cast of CBS radio’s ‘Kate Smith Hour.’ The mischievous chimpanzee J. Fred Muggs became a regular on NBC-TV’s ‘Today Show.’ And Vancouver radio station C-ISL got the okay to move down the AM dial from 940 to 650 KHz and increase power to 10,000 watts. ALL the milestones for Feb. 3rd INSIDE.

This was the date 67 years ago when both ‘Private Secretary’ (with Ann Sothern) and ‘General Electric Theatre’ (hosted by Ronald Reagan) debuted on CBS-TV. The date when 26-year-old Toronto-born Peter Jennings (pictured) became anchorman at ABC News for the first time. The TV mini-series that introduced Nick Nolte, ‘Rich Man Poor Man’ began on ABC. And 38 years ago today NBC-TV’s ‘Late Night with David Letterman’ debuted in the hour following Johnny Carson

Three years and a day after the radio debut of ‘The Lone Ranger,’ WXYZ Detroit introduced ‘The Green Hornet,’ which ran weekly for 16 years. 11-year-old Brenda Lee (pictured) made her T-V debut on ABC’s “Junior Ozark Jubilee.” Julie Andrews, Henry Fonda, Rex Harrison and Jackie Gleason appeared in a two-hour CBS-TV special titled, “The Fabulous Fifties.” “The Wonder Years” began its 115 episode run on ABC-TV. And newsman Edwin Newman retired after 35 years with NBC Radio & TV. ALL the milestones for Jan. 31st INSIDE.

This was the date ‘The Lone Ranger’ aired for the first time, from Detroit’s WXYZ radio. Vancouver got its second TV station (first privately-owned) in CHAN, now known as Global TV. NBC-TV introduced the anthology series ‘Robert Montgomery Presents’; the hour-long show would continue for 8 years. Kevin Eubanks took over the band on Jay Leno’s ‘Tonight Show,’ while Kevin Newman left ABC News for Vancouver and the ‘Global National’ anchor slot. And Mutual radio began airing ‘The Larry King Show’ from midnight to 5:30 am Eastern. ALL the milestones for Jan. 30th INSIDE.

Victoria’s former CJVI (AM900) changed from playing Top 40 music to the ‘Jack FM’ format, ‘playing what we want’ on 103.1 MHz. .On this day in 1999, veteran CKNW beat reporter George Garrett (Pictured) retired after 43 years in radio. A very sad departure for investigation journalism. Like our friend Harvey Oberfeld he is retired. These two are the investigative journalists we desperately need today.

Garry Moore (pictured) was the MC as ‘Beat the Band’ debuted on NBC Radio. The very first Emmy Awards were handed out in Los Angeles. The zany ‘Goon Show’ ended its 9-year run on BBC Radio. ‘Barnaby Jones’ starring Buddy Ebsen began its 8 season run on CBS-TV. Correspondent/anchor Roger Mudd left NBC News after seven stormy years. And ‘Fantasy Island’ began its 6-year-long Saturday night run on ABC-TV. All the milestones for Jan. 28th INSIDE.