Today in Broadcast History

IT WAS JUNE 17th ..when NBC's WNBT-TV, channel 4 in New York City, was granted the first construction permit to operate a commercial TV station in the United States... When 'Suspense.' radio's outstanding theatre of thrills, began its 20-year run on CBS... When Seattle's KOL-FM 94.1 switched from automated background music to "Progressive Rock"... ..and when "The Discovery Channel" first appeared on U.S. cable systems. First program was "Iceberg Alley." ALL the milestones for June 17th INSIDE.

IT WAS JUNE 16th .. when the first network TV news aired in the US on Dumont's "News from Washington"... When the sitcom 'My Little Margie' debuted on CBS-TV... When "The Dean Martin Summer Show" featuring the comedy team of Rowan & Martin, debuted on NBC-TV... ..and when the CRTC authorized the XM & Sirius satellite subscription-based radio/music services for Canadian consumers. ALL the milestones for the date INSIDE.

IT WAS JUNE 15th .. when the first-ever radio broadcast of live music took place from Chelmsford, England, featuring Australian soprano Dame Nellie Melba... When the rural TV comedy "Hee Haw" with Roy Clark and Buck Owens premiered on CBS as a summer replacement for the Smothers Bros... When Rev. David Mainse broadcast the first "100 Huntley Street" program out of its studios at the said address in downtown Toronto... ..and when 83-year-old Bob Barker's final appearance as emcee of CBS TV's"The Price Is Right" aired. He had hosted the game show for 35 years! ALL the milestones for June 15th INSIDE.

IT WAS JUNE 14th ... when a U.S. President was heard on the radio for the first time. President Warren G. Harding dedicated the Francis Scott Key Memorial and was heard on Baltimore's WEAR ... When "The Happy Gang'' troupe of musicians, led by Bert Pearl, made their first broadcast on station CRCT, the C-B-C flagship station in Toronto. It became a NATIONAL listening habit 4 months later... When after 13 years Harold Peary played the role of The Great Gildersleeve on the radio for the last time ... ..and when NBC-TV's action-adventure series "A Team," aired for the last time. ALL the milestones for the date INSIDE.

IT WAS JUNE 13th ... when the Rolling Stones made an appearance on ABC-TV's "Hollywood Palace," during their first tour of North America .... When John Lennon made his last TV appearance on an ABC-TV salute to UK entertainment mogul Sir Lew Grade that had been taped in April.... When NBC' late night TV host Tom Snyder interviewed serial killer Charles Manson on what has since become the most famous edition of his "Tomorrow" Show... ..and when Garrison Keilor, host and storyteller on the award-winning public radio series, A Prairie Home Companion, left the show and its delightful shores of Lake Wobegon for Denmark where he intended to spend his time writing (he returned to the U.S... and the program ... two years later). ALL the milestones for June 13th INSIDE.

IT WAS JUNE 12th ... when pioneer Toronto radio station CFCA had its Grand Opening. Foster Hewitt broadcast his first hockey game on CFCA eight months later.... When Pittsburgh's KDKA became the first 50,000 watt radio staation... When the Sunday night TV extravaganza that would be must-see family viewing for the next twenty years, “Toast of the Town,” (later the Ed Sullivan Show), made its debut on CBS... ..and when the TV comedy “Mr Peepers” starring Wally Cox with Tony Randall, aired for the last time on NBC. ALL the milestones for June 12th INSIDE.

IT WAS JUNE 11th ... when Hank Williams made his debut on the Grand Ole Opry. His performance, with the audience demanding several encores of "Lovesick Blues,'' is still considered one of the Opry's greatest moments... When the all-black TV sitcom "Amos 'n Andy" was driven from the air in the heat of the civil rights movement, for its so-called stereotypical characterizations, though the radio version continued for 7 years more ... When the first episode of "Fear Factor" with host Joe Rogan, aired on NBC-TV... ..and the final episode of 'The Sopranos' aired on HBO. ALL the milestones for the date INSIDE.

IT WAS JUNE 10th ... when Ed Sullivan's 19th Anniversary Show on CBS-TV featured Spanky & Our Gang with their big hit, "Sunday Will Never Be the Same".... When Gary Lewis and the Playboys performed their biggest hit "This Diamond Ring" on NBC-TV's "Tonight Show starring Johnny Carson." When the TV horror anthology series "Tales From The Crypt" aired the first of its 93 episodes on US cable channel HBO... ..and when the quirky TV serial drama "Twin Peaks" aired for the final time on ABC. ALL the milestones for June 10th INSIDE.

IT WAS JUNE 9th ... when Barbra Streisand made her third appearance on CBS TV’s “Ed Sullivan Show,” and later Andy Williams signed in as the Mystery Guest on the same network's "What's My Line"... When Chilliwack's CHWK AM1270 received CRTC approval to flip to 104.9 FM.... When Canadian party leaders debated policy on television for the first time (Pierre Trudeau, Robert Stanfleld, Tommy Douglas and Real Caouette)... .. and when Green Day was the musical guest on NBC-TV's Last Call With Carson Daly for the first of four consecutive nights. ALL the milestones for the date INSIDE.