Today in Broadcast History

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 melodramas '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 up the AM dial from 940 to 650 KHz and increase power to 10,000 watts. ALL the milestones for Feb. 3rd INSIDE.

The parlour game 'Twenty Questions' began its 8-year run on the Mutual radio network. Radio station CKLG signed on at 1070 KHz licensed to serve Vancouver's North Shore. 'What's My Line' (pictured) began a 17 year run Sunday nights on CBS-TV. NBC-TV debuted the 90-minute 'Midnight Special,' which would run for almost nine years in the late Friday 1 am slot following Johnny Carson. And Britney Spears was both the host and performing musical guest on NBC's 'Saturday Night Live.' ALL the milestones for Feb, 2nd INSIDE.

This was the date 62 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 33 years ago today NBC-TV's 'Late Night with David Letterman' debuted in the hour following Johnny Carson. ALL the milestones for Feb. 1st INSIDE.

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." And 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. 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. Lionel Barrymore was conscripted to host CBS's 'Lux Radio Theatre' after star host/producer C.B. DeMille refused to join the performer's union. The 'Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour' premiered on CBS-TV. And the 'Crook & Chase' talk show debuted on cable TV's Nashville Network. ALL the milestones for Jan. 29th INSIDE.

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. And 'Fantasy Island' began its 6-year-long Saturday night run on ABC-TV. All the milestones for Jan. 28th INSIDE.

A highbrow drama series 'CBS Radio Workshop' debuted on the radio network. Louis Armstrong, Ella Fitzgerald and Senor Wences headlined CBS-TV's "Ed Sullivan Show.' The hour-long 'Singalong with Mitch' began its 3-year run on NBC-TV. And two decades later the sitcom 'Laverne & Shirley' (pictured) debuted on ABC-TV.

The medium of television was first demonstrated on Jan. 26th, in London by John L Baird. Singer & radio star Jack Smith (pictured) took over from Art Baker as host of one of TV's most popular shows, "You Asked for It." The Global Television Network began operations as a six-transmitter regional service covering southern Ontario. And 'Jimmy Kimmel Live!' made its debut on ABC-TV in the post-midnight slot formerly filled by Bill Maher. ALL the milestones for Jan. 26th INSIDE.