Today in Broadcast History

NBC-TV aired the pilot for a US version of a hit BBC satirical news show, 'That Was the Week that Was,' with David Frost hosting as he had in the UK. It quickly became a weekly series. 55 years ago Canada's comedy team Wayne & Schuster guest-hosted on CBS-TV's 'Ed Sullivan Show' and performed a Professor Von Gartner skit. And 44 years ago today the first-ever episode of 'Masterpiece Theatre' aired on PBS, with Alistair Cooke (pictured) as on-screen host. ALL the milestones for the date INSIDE.

Eleven months before the sneak attack on Pearl Harbour, CBS demonstrated small screen color television. Clint Eastwood (pictured) began his ascent of the star ladder as the western series 'Rawhide' had its premiere on CBS-TV. And the ethnic sitcom 'Little Mosque on the Prairie' debuted on CBC-TV. ALL the milestones for Jan. 9th INSIDE.

Edmonton's adopted son Robert Goulet (pictured) made his US TV debut on "The Ed Sullivan Show" on CBS, singing "If Ever I Would Leave You." The PBS children's show headliner Mister Rogers was honored with his own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. And the NBC-TV drama series Providence, which introduced Melina Kanakaredes in her first TV lead role, made its debut. ALL milestones for Jan. 8th INSIDE.

The well-remembered OTR 'squeaky door' show 'Inner Sanctum Mysteries' debuted on the NBC Blue network. For the first time TV cameras were allowed inside the House of Commons in Ottawa. The Peoples Choice Awards named 'Deal or No Deal' with Canada's Howie Mandel (pictured) as favorite game show. And 'Midday' with Valerie Pringle and Bill Cameron debuted on CBC Television as a daytime version of 'The Journal.' ALL the milestones for Jan. 7th INSIDE.

The radio genius behind 'One Man's Family,' Carleton E. Morse (pictured) introduced his second major series 'I Love a Mystery' on the NBC West Coast network. Ronald Colman (with wife Benita Hume) debuted in his own weekly radio series, 'The Halls of Ivy.' And zookeeper Marlin Perkins introduced his wildlife TV series that would run for 25 years, 'Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom.' ALL the milestones for Jan. 6th INSIDE.

Radio's longrunning mystery show 'The Shadow' began its 22 year run on the networks. Vancouver's Alan Young (pictured) starred in episode 1 of TV's talking horse show 'Mr. Ed.' And the ABC daytime drama 'All My Children' debuted. ALL the milestones for Jan, 5th INSIDE.

It's the date that NBC debuted one of radio's first variety shows, 'The Dodge Victory Hour' starring Will Rogers and Al Jolson. Bob Hope (pictured) made his first national radio appearance on NBC's 'The Intimate Review.' Victoria's CHEK-TV left the CBC and became a fulltime CTV affiliate; and several lengthy TV runs came to a close on CBS Jan. 3rd, 'Rawhide' (which introduced Clint Eastwood) and 'The Twentieth Century,' hosted by Walter Cronkite. Come INSIDE for ALL the milestones.

William S Paley (pictured) incorporated the Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS.) And a future General Manager of the station Hal Davis joined CKNW as Chief Copywriter. ALL the milestones for Jan. 3rd INSIDE.

Happy Birthday to Cuba Gooding Jr, Taye Diggs, Jack Hanna, Dax Shepard, Julius Larosa and Kate Bosworth. Bing Crosby began his 10-years as host of NBC radio's 'Kraft Music Hall'; the CBC opened its second AM hookup, the 'Dominion Network.' 'The Life of Riley' with William Bendix came to NBC-TV, and two years later so did 'The Bob Cummings Show.' Nanaimo's CHUB AM 1570 was flipped to FM, becoming THE WAVE 102.3. At the very end of the network radio era, CBS dropped 'The Road of Life', 'Our Gal Sunday,' and two other longrunning soaps. Jan, 2nd obits include Dick Powell, Alan Hale Jr, Anne Francis, CNN's Jim Huber, and Manitoba's Jack Carson (pictured). ALL the milestones for the date INSIDE.

Jan. 1st saw many broadcast firsts, including the debut of the Canadian 'Bravo' cable channel, the start of VH1 in the US, the debut of ESPN Radio and the CBS-TV series ' Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman' (pictured). The first broadcast of the Rose Bowl game was heard on KHJ Los Angeles, and 4 years later, the Rose Bowl went coast-to-coast on NBC radio. Lorne Green was named voice of the new CBC national news service; Vancouver's CKNW moved from 1230 to 1320 KHz with 250 watts of power, CKWX Radio went 24 hours with 'Concert tUnder the Stars' from midnight to 5, and CHQM amended its Easy Listening music format to iinclude Light Rock. The final episode of ABC-TV's 'Adventures of Ozzie & Harriet' was filmed, and CBS-TV's 'The Karen Carpenter Story' became the most-watched TV movie of the year. ALL the milestones for Jan. 1st INSIDE.