Columns

Happy birthday to Grace Slick, Henry Winkler, Kevin Pollak, Harry Hamlin, Matthew Morrison (formerly of ‘Glee’), and Ben Bailey (formerly of ‘Cash Cab.’). It’s the day CBS radio listeners were terrified by Orson Welles (pictured) and his ‘War of the Worlds’; the 100th episode of ‘Cheers’ was aired on NBC-TV, and 4 years later the same network broadcast the 100th episode of ‘Matlock.’ Roy Orbison’s ‘Oh, Pretty Woman’ became a Gold Record. and Frank Sinatra recorded ‘My Way.’ Leaving us on Oct. 30th were Steve Allen, Robert Goulet, Pert Kelton, John Houseman, and Vancouver-born actor John Drainie. ALL the milestones for this date INSIDE.

Oct 29th gave us musicians Neal Hefti and Zoot Sims, actors Richard Dreyfuss, Winona Ryder and Kate Jackson, plus singer/comedienne Fannie Brice, and DJ/recording star the Big Bopper. KTLA-TV in L.A. originated the first coast-to-coast telecast in HD; Canada’s Astral Media completed its $1.8 billion purchase of Standard Radio; Bobby Helms recorded the now iconic ‘Jingle Bell Rock’; The Huntley-Brinkley Report (pictured) debuted on NBC-TV, a few decades before Nell Carter’s ‘Gimme a Break’ had ITS premiere; and CBS first used videotape to repeat its nightly ‘Douglas Edwards & the News’ for West Coast release. Obits include bandleaders Woody Herman and John Scott Trotter, plus guitarist Duane Allman, Kennedy satirist Vaughn Meader, and Canadian-born actor Lloyd Bochner. You’ll find ALL the milestones for the date INSIDE.

Happy Birthday to Julia Roberts, Joaquim Phoenix, Dennis Franz, Brad Paisley, Cleo Laine and Andy Richter. New York’s WEAF aired the first college football game on a radio network; Jack Benny took his immensely popular radio show to CBS-TV; The same network broadcast the 100th episode of ‘The Andy Griffith Show,’ and a year later on Oct. 29 the 100th ‘Dick Van Dyke Show.’ Red Barber resigned from broadcasting Brooklyn Dodger games to join Mel Allen and the New York Yankees, Elvis made his 2nd appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show (pictured), and the flying cowboy radio serial ‘Sky King’ debuted on ABC. Obits this date include ex-KJR deejay Bwana Johnny, Porter Wagoner, Beryl Davis, James MacArthur, Leon Janney, and pioneer Vancouver sportscaster Leo Nicholson. ALL the milestones for Oct. 28th INSIDE.

It’s the date that brought us John Cleese, Nanette Fabray, Matt Drudge, Floyd Cramer, Kelly Osbourne, and Manitoba-born comic actor Jack Carson. Pittsburgh’s pioneer radio station KDKA was granted a broadcast license, ‘Disneyland’ began a long Sunday night run on ABC & CBC televison, Groucho’s quiz show ‘You Bet Your Life’ (pictured) debuted on ABC Radio; Jane Morgan sang ‘Fascination’ on the Ed Sullivan Show, and 11 years later Mary Hopkin sang ‘Those Were the Days’ on the same CBS-TV showcase. ‘Knots Landing’ began its 10th season on CBS-TV, and Jane Pauley announced she would be ending her 13 years on NBC-TV’s ‘Today Show.’ ALL the milestones for Oct. 27th INSIDE.

Happy Birthday today to Seth McFarlane, Keith Urban, Tom Cavanagh, Pat Sajak and Jaclyn Smith. ‘St. Elsewhere’ debuted on NBC-TV; ‘M*A*S*H’ started its tenth season on CBS-TV; Frances Gumm (later known as Judy Garland) made her radio debut on NBC’s ‘Shell Chateau’; ‘Chez Helene’ began its more than 13 year run on CBC-TV; and the acclaimed WWII documentary ‘Victory at Sea’ debuted on NBC-TV. Taking their final bows on this earth were Canadian radiomen J. Frank Willis and Alden Diehl, CBS founder Bill Paley, country music’s Hoyt Axton, and the teacher on ‘Leave It to Beaver’ Sue Randall. Details and ALL the milestones for Oct. 26th INSIDE.

It’s a birthday for Marion Ross, Helen Reddy, James Carville and Katy Perry; also for the late ANNIS STUKUS (pictured), Bobby Gimby, Minnie Pearl and Leo G. Carroll. The longrunnning radio soap opera “Stella Dallas” debuted on New York’s WEAF; Ed Sullivan introduced The Rolling Stones to North American TV audiences; ‘Newhart’ premiered on CBS-TV; the 200th episode of ‘Cheers’ aired on NBC-TV; and Rick Nelson played a dramatic role on ABC-TV’s ‘Streets of San Francisco.’ Obits for Oct. 25th include Vincent Price, Roger Miller, Richard Harris, Mildred Natwick, Forrest Tucker and early radio balladeer Morton Downey, ALL the milestones for the date INSIDE.

Her grandfather is the late Don Getty, premiere of Alberta from 1985 to 1992, and quarterback of the Edmonton (then) Eskimos starting in 1955. Rarely does your family play into the context of a podcast episode, but given that the Getty name has so much to do with sport, politics, Alberta, oil, and now media.

Happy Birthday to Kevin Kline, Bill Wyman, Santo Farina, F. Murray Abraham, and Heather Rankin. Radio’s first big variety show ‘The Fleischmann Hour’ with RUDY VALLEE (pictured) debuted on NBC; CBC radio introduced it’s long-running ‘Cross Country Checkup’; and ‘Kojak’ starring Telly Savalas premiered on CBS-TV. Neil Sedaka recorded ‘Calendar Girl,’ and Bob Dylan taped his iconic ‘The Times They Are A-Changin’.’ And the genius behind ‘Star Trek,’ Gene Roddenberry passed away. Details and ALL the Oct. 24th milestones INSIDE.

Happy Birthday to Weird Al Yankovic, Dwight Yoakam, Cat Deeley, Nancy Grace, and Vancouver’s Ryan Reynolds. It’s also the date of birth of the late Johnny Carson, CNN’s John Holliman, and actor James Daly. Comedian FRED ALLEN and his wife Portland (pictured) made their radio debut on CBS; Jonathan Winters became a TV star with his first special on NBC; and rocker Axl Rose gave his first live interview in years on ABC-TV’s Jimmy Kimmel Live. Vernon B.C.’s radio station CICF started broadcasting on 1050 KHz; Allen Freed’s All Star Rock ‘n’ Roll Show played Vancouver’s Georgia Auditorium, tickets cost $2.50; and 12 year old ‘Little’ Stevie Wonder recorded his first Motown single. Obits on Oct. 23rd include Al Jolson, country music’s Maybelle Carter, NBC newswoman Jessica Savitch, CBS News boss William Leonard, and baritone Robert Merrill. Details and ALL the milestones for the date INSIDE.

It’s the date MARIE OSMOND (pictured) fainted during a live telecast of ABC’s ‘Dancing With the Stars’; Alan Freed brought his all-star rock ‘n’ roll show to Portland; and the Kingston Trio guested on NBC-TV’s WWII drama ‘Convoy.’ Tommy Edwards scored his biggest selling #1 ‘It’s All in the Game,’ and ten years later to the day, passed away. The Beach Boys released their next Chart Topper ‘Good Vibrations,’ while Chubby Checker did ‘The Twist’ on the Ed Sullivan Show. Happy Birthday to Vancouver breakfast broadcaster Kim Seale and to Howard Stern’s mother, while at the other end, obits for Oct. 22 include Soupy Sales, Cleavon Little, Mary Wickes, Melfort Sask.’s Arthur Hill, sportscaster Red Barber, and CBS Newsman Robert Pierpoint. Details & ALL the milestones for the date INSIDE.