Today in Broadcast History

IT WAS JULY 29th ... when the CBC's prairie powerhouse CBK-540 signed on with 50,000 watts from Watrous, Saskatchewan, as the only CBC radio outlet between Winnipeg and Vancouver... When Jack Paar (pictured) began his five-year run as host of NBC-TV's "Tonight Show"... When Jim Hartz was named to join Barbara Walters as co-host of the Today show on NBC.... ...and when millions around the world watched on television as Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer were wed in London. ALL the milestones for July 29th INSIDE.

It's the date of birth of radio announcer Bill Goodwin and TV announcer Art Hannes, producer Dick Ebersol and CBS anchorman Scott Pelley. Judy Garland recorded her iconic 'Over the Rainbow,' Regina got Saskatchewan's 1st TV station, Toronto's Crew Cuts had their only #1 song hit, Jerry Lee Lewis made his TV debut, Kathie Lee Gifford (pictured) made her last appearance on TV's 'Live with Regis & Kathie Lee', and Rosemary Clooney had a #1 hit with 'Come On-a My House.' Obits include radio announcing heavyweights Truman Bradley and Jackson Beck, actress Eileen Brennan and radio's first Lone Ranger, George Seaton. Details of these and scores more milestones for July 28th INSIDE.

IT WAS JULY 27th .. when Moose Jaw radio station CJRM signed on with 500 watts at 665 KHz. It was later moved to Regina and became CKRM .... When Steve Allen (pictured) began a local late-night TV talk show in New York City that the following year went national on NBC-TV as 'The Tonight Show' .... When a summer replacement series "Dean Martin Presents The Bobby Darin Amusement Company" debuted on NBC-TV... .. and when NBC-TV removed the daily Dinah's Place from its programming roster. The move brought Dinah Shore's 23-year association with the Peacock Network to a close. ALL the milestones for the date INSIDE.

IT WAS JULY 26th .. when the Abe Burrows Show premiered on CBS radio, as the comedy writer got his own 15 minute program... When UBC radio station CiTR was approved for operation on 650 KHz via AM carrier current, to cover the Point Grey campus only.... When the ABC-TV daytime soap General Hospital taped its 7,000th episode... ..and when legendary radio personality Don Percy (pictured) did his last morning show on Vancouver's oldies station CISL AM 650, before returning to Winnipeg. ALL the milestones for the date INSIDE.

IT WAS JULY 25th ... when the Canadian Marconi Company made the first trans-Atlantic two-way radio broadcast from Signal Hill, Newfoundland, to the S-S "Victoria" 1200 miles away... When 2XAG in Schenectady, NY (later known as WGY) became the first radio station in the U.S. to broadcast with a 50,000-watt transmitter.... When in pre-WWII New York City TV station W2XBS presented television's first musical comedy.The show was Topsy and Eva .... ..and when NBC-TV's "Midnight Special" featured songs by Neil Sedaka, Janis Ian, Jessi Colter, and Kraftwerk. Hostess for the week was Helen Reddy (pictured). ALL the milestones for the date INSIDE.

IT WAS JULY 24th .. when U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt stopped in the middle of his 4th 'Fireside Chat' on national radio and asked for a glass of water, which he then sipped... When the melodramatic "Romance of Helen Trent" debuted on midwest regional radio before becoming a CBS network staple three months later, and running daily for the next 27 years!... When NBC correspondent Edwin Newman became news anchor of the TV network's 'Today Show'.... ..and when the independent sales of three BC radio stations.. CJAT Trail. CJAV Port Alberni, and CKAY Duncan .. were approved by the CRTC. ALL the milestones for July 24th INSIDE.

IT WAS JULY 23rd ... when the Telstar communications satellite made possible the first live TV broadcast from the US to Europe... When Toronto-born rocker Neil Young (pictured), at age 17, held his first recording session in the studios of Winnipeg radio station CKRC... When the FCC approved the AM stereo radio system; KTSA in San Antonio was the first to go stereo... ..and when the three-year old television network FOX-TV topped ABC, NBC and CBS in the ratings for the 1st time, thanks to "America's Most Wanted." ALL the milestones for the date INSIDE.

IT WAS JULY 22nd ... when the British sitcom that gave rise to CBS-TV's 'All in the Family', 'Till Death Us Do Part' debuted on BBC-TV... When a UK floating pirate radio station, "Swinging Scotland", shut down for lack of funds... When The Doors were guests on ABC-TV's American Bandstand, performing "Crystal Ship" and "Light My Fire"... .. and when a license for Kelowna's second radio station CKIQ-1150 was approved by the CRTC. ALL the milestones for July 22nd INSIDE.

IT WAS JULY 20th ... when NBC radio debuted 'G-Men' as a Saturday night feature. For most of its 20-year run the title was 'Gangbusters'... When "The Arthur Murray Party" premiered on ABC TV, featuring the man behind a nationwide chain of dance schools and his wife Kathryn. As it continued its 10-year run on the tube it would move to DuMont, CBS, & NBC... When UBC's student-operated radio station CiTR-FM broadcast in stereo for the first time.... ..and when Vancouver-born actor James Doohan (pictured), best known for playing Scotty on Star Trek, died at his home in suburban Seattle at age 85. ALL the milestones for July 20th INSIDE.