Today in Broadcast History

Happy Birthday to, Dick Cavett, Ted Turner, Allison Janney, Meg Ryan and Jodie Foster. On this date the first mass market transistor pocket radio was introduced; the cartoon series ‘Rocky & his Friends’ debuted on ABC-TV; Linda Ronstadt appeared as herself on FOX-TV’s ‘The Simpsons’; a six-hour Beatles Anthology began airing on North American radio; NBC aired the 100th episode of their hit drama ‘ER’; Vancouver’s X-FM 104.9 switched to All Christmas music, and a year later Victoria’s CHBE107.3 did the same. Ending their stay with us Nov. 19th were US sportscaster Bill Stern, songwriter Bobby Russell, producer & son of Doris Day Terry Melcher, Dick Wilson of Charmin toilet tissue ad fame, and Toronto-based classical actor John Neville. ALL the milestones for the date INSIDE.

It’s the date that brought us Linda Evans, Elizabeth Perkins, Owen Wilson, Imogene Coca, Johnny Mercer, Dorothy Collins, and former Fox News and NBC host/journalist Megyn Kelly. Edward R. Murrow’s acclaimed documentary series ‘See It Now’ debuted on CBS-TV; ‘As It Happens’ started it’s 50+ year run on CBC Radio; the first CanCon rules for TV were announced; CKNW Radio boosted its power to 5,000 watts at 1320 KHz; ABC-TV aired Britney Spears’ first TV concert; and Fats Domino sang ‘Blueberry Hill’ on CBS-TV’s Ed Sullivan Show. Nov. 18th claimed the lives of bandleaders Ted Heath and Cab Calloway, singers Dorothy Kirsten and Hal Dickenson (The Modernaires), composer Cy Coleman and actor Harold J. Stone. ALL the milestones for the date INSIDE.

 Happy Birthday to Canadians Lorne Michaels and Rachel McAdams. Also born this date were the late Rock Hudson, Archie Campbell and Jack Lescoulie. Calgary’s CHQR began broadcasting at 810 KHz with 10,000 watts; Edgar Bergen and his dummy Charlie McCarthy became overnight sensations after guesting on NBC radio’s ‘Rudy Vallee Show’; Rush Limbaugh returned to the airwaves after a month in drug rehab; FOX-TV aired the US’ first condom ad; longtime CBS newsman Roger Mudd (pictured) began working for NBC News; and Elton John recorded his next album live on New York’s WABC-FM. Passing away Nov. 17th were early Chicago radio children’s favorite Ireene Wicker, big band singer Bob Eberly, announcer Bill Baldwin, and country music’s Don Gibson. Details and ALL the milestones for the date INSIDE.

ON THIS DAY in 1896 Jim Jordan, the man behind the iconic radio sitcom Fibber McGee & Molly, was born. “Fibber McGee & Molly” Together with wife Marian & writer Don...

Happy Birthday to Sam Waterston, C.W. McCall, Kevin Eubanks, Chad Kroeger of Nickelback, newsman John Roberts, Shalene Woodley and Jack Burns. The National Broadcasting Company began operations with 24 radio stations; Bellingham’s KVOS AM 1200 fired up with 100 watts; TV’s first remote occurred when the cameras of NBC New York’s W2XBT covered a fire; Edmonton’s CKRA-FM (‘Capital FM’) signed on to 96.3 MHz; ‘Dallas’ episode 100 was seen on CBS-TV; and the Rolling Stones made their first appearance on NBC-TV’s primetime ‘Hullabaloo.’ Obits this date include Lionel Barrymore, Enid Markey, Dennis Cole, former CBS owner Larry Tisch, Cincinnati baseball broadcaster Joe Nuxhall, and John Morgan of the Royal Canadian Air Farce. ALL the milestones for Nov. 15th INSIDE.

It’s the date of birth for actors Dick Powell, McLean Stevenson (pictured), Josh Duhamel, Betsy Brandt, Rosemary DeCamp, and Brian Keith, and singers Martha Tilton, Morton Downey and Johnny Desmond. Chicago radio station KYW was the first to air a professional opera as it was being staged; the BBC began domestic radio service; the Go-Go’s made their national TV debut as guests on NBC’s Saturday Night Live; and the Dave Clark Five performed ‘Over & Over’ on CBS-TV’s Ed Sullivan Show. It’s the day Tommy Dorsey’s Orchestra recorded their legendary ‘Opus #1′; Eddie Fisher recorded his 3rd #1 hit ‘Oh My Pa-Pa.’ And the date we lost America’s first news anchor who did yeoman work on both radio & TV, Robert Trout of CBS News. ALL the milestones for Nov. 14th INSIDE.

Happy Birthday to Neil Young, Al Michaels, Ryan Gosling and Megan Mullally. It’s the day Vancouver’s Red Robinson began his 60+ year radio career at CJOR AM600; San Francisco’s clear channel KPO became KNBC (now KNBR); Winnipeg got the city’s first private TV station; the BBC aired TV’s first gardening show; Jack Elam (pictured) ABC-TV aired the 100th episode of ‘Full House’; and Bon Jovi performed on NBC-TV’s Today Show. Brenda Lee was on CBS-TV’s ‘Ed Sullivan Show’ to sing ‘Fool #1′; and Foo Fighters made their 4th appearance on ‘Saturday Night Live.’ Bowing out this date were Eve Arden of ‘Our Miss Brooks’, Penny Singleton of ‘Blondie,’ and Dave Willock of scores of light comedy supporting roles, ALL the milestones for Nov. 12th INSIDE.

Happy Birthday to Neil Young, Al Michaels, Ryan Gosling and Megan Mullally. It’s the day Vancouver’s Red Robinson began his 60+ year radio career at CJOR AM600; San Francisco’s clear channel KPO became KNBC (now KNBR); Winnipeg got the city’s first private TV station; the BBC aired TV’s first gardening show; ABC-TV aired the 100th episode of ‘Full House’; and Bon Jovi performed on NBC-TV’s Today Show. Brenda Lee was on CBS-TV’s ‘Ed Sullivan Show’ to sing ‘Fool #1′; and Foo Fighters made their 4th appearance on ‘Saturday Night Live.’ Bowing out this date were Eve Arden (pictured) of ‘Our Miss Brooks’, Penny Singleton of ‘Blondie,’ and Dave Willock of scores of light comedy supporting roles, ALL the milestones for Nov. 12th INSIDE.

Happy Birthday to Demi Moore, Calista Flockhart and Adam Beach. Also born Nov. 11th were Jonathan Winters, LaVern Baker and Robert Ryan. This was the day that radio star Kate Smith first sang ‘God Bless America’; the juvenile adventure ‘Mandrake the Magician’ debuted on New York’s WOR Radio; NBC-TV aired the first movie with an AIDS theme, ‘An Early Frost’; the first video recorder was demonstrated in Los Angeles and Mickey Dolenz of The Monkees guested on NBC-TV’s ‘Boy Meets World’. ‘Rocky and his Friends’ debuted as a TV cartoon show, and Courtenay’s CFCP Radio flipped to FM to become ‘Magic FM.’ Obits include Shirley Mitchell, Jane Ace, Dayton Allen, and the voice of the Cleveland Indians Herb Score. Details INSIDE.

It’s the day of birth for Miranda Lambert, Tracy Morgan, Mackenzie Phillips, sportscaster J. Paul McConnell, plus the late Richard Burton, Jane Froman, and (pictured) announcer George Fenneman. ‘The Magnificent Montague’ debuted on NBC as the last original sitcom of the OTR era; Canada’s Board of Broadcast Governors was created to replace the CBC as the industry regulator; ‘Sesame Street’ debuted on the predecessor to PBS in the US; Canada’s national 10-station radio news network CKO closed down, bankrupt; and singer Jose Feliciano appeared in a dramatic role on NBC-TV’s ‘MacMillan and Wife.’ Leaving this mortal coil were Seattle’s revered voice of baseball Dave Niehaus , actors Jack Palance, Laraine Day and Chuck Connors, and BC broadcaster and station owner Joe Chesney, Details INSIDE.