Today in Broadcast History

June 11th gave us actors Hugh Laurie and Gene Wilder, broadcasters Russ Hodges, Lawrence E Spivak and Greta Van Susteren. Victoria's Nelly Furtado hit #1 on the UK record charts, NBC-TV aired Fear Factor for the first time, Chuck Berry pleaded guilty to tax evasion, and the Mamas and the Papas played The Ed Sullivan Show. On this date we lost the Amos 'n' Andy TV Show, the Sopranos final episode played on premium cable, while Star Trek's doctor DeForest Kelley, Herb Anderson (the father of Dennis the Menace), and TV journalist David Brinkley checked out. Details of these and dozens more anniversaries INSIDE.

Judy Garland, actress Hattie McDaniel and actor Robert Cummings were born on this date. Sammy Davis scored his only #1 hit, Elvis Presley and Buck Owens were recording their next releases, and The Beatles' "A Hard Day's Night," both the album and the single, were released. While Janis Joplin took another step toward stardom with her first concert fronting Big Brother and the Holding Company, Ray Charles, organist Earl Grant, actress Jo Van Fleet, TV newsman Judd Rose and Pittsburgh sportscaster Bob Prince were among the celebrities checking out this date. And the quirky TV serial Twin Peaks aired its final episode. Details of these and scores more June 10th anniversaries INSIDE.

This date gave birth to Les Paul, Cole Porter, Jackie Wilson and Jackie Mason, not to mention TV journalist Marvin Kalb. The novelty hit Purple People Eater reached #1 on the charts, Bobby Darin played his first date in Las Vegas, Tony Bennett played Carnegie Hall; and comedian Richard Pryor suffered life-threatening burns while freebasing cocaine. Departing this vale of tears on June 9th were quizmaster Allen Ludden, Carol Burnett's ex Joe Hamilton, Penticton-born actress Alexis Smith, and UK orchestra leader Frank Chacksfield. Details of these and scores more June 9th anniversaries INSIDE.

June 8th brought us actors Robert Preston, Kathy Baker and Penticton's Alexis Smith; comedians Joan Rivers and Jerry Stiller; and rapper Kanye West. Airing for the first time were radio's "Lassie" and Milton Berle's legendary Tuesday night TV show. Frank Sinatra played Vancouver, and Rod Stewart played Toronto. The finale of "Welcome Back Kotter" aired on ABC-TV, while actor Robert Taylor, singer Jimmy Rushing and hotliner Pat Burns breathed their last. Details of these and scores more anniversaries INSIDE.

June 7th gave us singers Dean Martin and Tom Jones, and provided Al Martino with his 1st #1 hit. It also was the premiere date for the radio hit "The Adventures of Topper, plus "The Johnny Cash TV show" and "The $64,000 Question." Checking out on June 7th were sportscasters Jim McKay and Wayne Cody, Norris Goff of radio's "Lum & Abner," and Vancouver singer and broadcaster Arnie Nelson. Details of these and scores of other anniversaries INSIDE.

As well as D-Day in WWII, June 6th gave us Front Page Challenge on CBC-TV; Gordon Sinclair gave the first of what would be a lifetime of personal newscasts on Toronto's CFRB; Herman's Hermits headlined the Ed Sullivan Show, while Rod Stewart started his solo singing career. Bob Barker taped his final Price is Right, and Bill Haley's "Rock Around the Clock," the record that revolutionized the music business, hit #1 for the first time. Details on these and scores of other anniversaries INSIDE.

ON THIS DAY in 1895, actor William Boyd was born in Cambridge Ohio. Over a 20 year period beginning in 1935 he played Hopalong Cassidy in movies, on radio &...

June 4th gave us broadcasters Charles Collingwood and George Noory, actors Bruce Dern and Dennis Weaver, and Capitol Records. Country singer Tim McGraw and domestic diva Martha Stewart were both hit with negative headlines. Leaving us this date were the TV shows The Waltons, Married with Children, and the Mickey Rooney Show, along with pioneering radio sportscaster Clem McCarthy, folksinger John Hartford, and OTR sound effects specialist Ray Erlenborn. Details of these and scores more entertainment milestones INSIDE. Please CLICK on the headline above.

June 3rd gave us journalists Gordon Sinclair and Anderson Cooper, actresses Ellen Corby and Colleen Dewhurst, and broadcast outlets KVOS-TV and Vancouver's Virgin Radio. The Jack Webb classic "Dragnet" premiered on the radio, the Rolling Stones made their North American TV debut, and Michael Jackson encountered health problems. Breathing their last on this date was Sid Caesar's first TV series, actors James Arness and David Carradine, Rue McLanahan of "The Golden Girls, and bandleader Ozzie Nelson, who gained most of his fame in "The Adventures of Ozzie & Harriet." These and many more entertainment milestones are detailed INSIDE.