Columns

The US Federal Radio Commission issued the very first television license to an experimental laboratory in Washington D.C. Still before WWII, in TV’s infancy, the first hockey game was televised in New York City, 12 years ahead of Canada’s first hockey telecast. Sid Caesar and Imogene Coca (pictured) starred in the first ever ‘Your Show of Shows,’ which became a Saturday night sensation for NBC-TV. A Led Zeppelin concert at the Paris Theatre in France was broadcast live on UK television. And Frank Sinatra’s guest appearance as a retired detective gave CBS-TV’s ‘Magnum PI’ its highest rating ever. Details and many more milestones for Feb. 25th INSIDE.

The Voice of America shortwave radio service signed on as a US propaganda tool during WWII and the Cold War. Kay Starr, Bert Lahr and The Mills Brothers were the guests on NBC-TV’s hourlong ‘Perry Como Show.’ Talk show host Larry King was stricken with a major heart attack, and underwent quintuple by-pass surgery. ‘The Second Barry Manilow Special’ aired on ABC-TV with guest star Ray Charles. And radio/TV headliners Dinah Shore, John Daly, Don Knotts, Dennis Weaver and Vancouver deejay Rick Honey (pictured) passed away. Details and many more milestones for the date INSIDE.

It was Feb 23rd when The Beatles made their third appearance in as many weeks on CBS-TV’s Ed Sullivan Show, When The Fifth Dimension guested on ABC-TV’s action series ‘It Takes a Thief.’ When the first Juno Awards were handed out, celebrating the best in Canadian music. (The first year they were ‘The Gold Leaf Awards.) And when 65 million Americans tuned in to NBC-TV for the Spielberg movie ‘Schindler’s List’ with minimal commercials. ALL the milestones for the date INSIDE.

One of the oldest three-letter call signs in the US, radio station WOR went on the air from studios in Newark N.J. The first presidential address on radio from the White House was delivered by Calvin Coolidge. Vancouver’s CKLG AM 730 dropped its experiment in talk radio and returned to contemporary hit music. And Sportscaster Al Michaels (pictured) was at the mike as the USA scored its ‘Miracle on Ice,’ upsetting the USSR, enroute to Olympic hockey Gold. Bernie Pascall called the game live to Canada. ALL the milestones for Feb. 22nd INSIDE.

The first TV soap opera ‘A Woman to Remember’ debuted on the shortlived Dumont network. The 200th episode of “Perry Mason” (starring New Westminster’s Raymond Burr) aired on CBS TV. Neil Diamond’s first TV special aired on NBC-TV. The 200th episode of the hit sitcom ‘The Jeffersons’ was seen on CBS-TV. Montreal’s Leonard Cohen made a rare TV appearance guesting on NBC’s ‘Miami Vice.’ And David Letterman (pictured) returned to his CBS Late Show some five weeks after having emergency quintuple heart bypass surgery, ALL the milestones for Feb. 21st INSIDE.

It was a Feb. 20th when 8-year-old Ricky Nelson and his older brother David began portraying themselves on ABC Radio’s ‘Adventures of Ozzie & Harriet.’ Until then their roles had been played by actors. When Vancouver’s CHQM AM 1320 dumped its ‘Lite 1320’ format for ‘Memory Music’ from the 1930s to the ’60s. When The Platters made their only appearance on Dick Clark’s ‘American Bandstand.’ When the Dave Clark Five and The Supremes headlined CBS-TV’s Ed Sullivan Show. And when the original host of ABC’s ‘Good Morning America,’ David Hartman (pictured) left the daily program. ALL the milestones for Feb. 20th INSIDE.

It’s the date the late iconic voice of the Seattle Mariners, Dave Niehaus was born. Sammy Davis Jr. kissed the biggotted Archie Bunker to great hilarity on CBS-TV’s ‘All in the Family’ (pictured). Dick Clark staged the first “American Music Awards” on ABC TV. The Four Tops, Pat Boone and Pearl Bailey headlined ‘The Ed Sullivan Show’ on CBS-TV. Toronto radio station CFRB was officially launched. And Calgary was introduced to radio station Q-107 as CKIK-FM switched to Classic Hits. ALL the milestones for Feb. 19th INSIDE.

Canadian-born movie star Glenn Ford was the subject of NBC-TV’s ‘This is Your Life.’ The Everly Brothers sang their latest hit. ‘Cryin’ in the Rain’ on CBS-TV’s Ed Sullivan Show. Career broadcasters Harvey Kirck and Harry Caray died, while Gordon Lightfoot was falsely reported to have died. A US religious group cancelled Pat Boone’s weekly gospel music show after he appeared in black leather and fake tattoos on the American Music Awards show. And the mini-series ‘Roots: the Next Generation’ began its 7-night run on ABC-TV. ALL the milestones for Feb. 18th INSIDE.

Johnny Cash was Ralph Edwards’ surprised guest of honor on NBC-TV’s ‘This Is Your Life’ (pictured). After five years on Minnesota radio only, Garrison Keillor’s “A Prairie Home Companion” was first broadcast nationally on NPR. Aerosmith were the musical guests on NBC-TV’s Saturday Night Live. An L.A. radio station played two unreleased Rolling Stone songs non-stop for 48 hours. And FOX-TV attracted 40 million viewers for its finale of the reality series ‘Joe Millionaire.’ ALL the milestones for Feb. 17th INSIDE.

On this date ‘My True Story’ began its daily, almost 19-year run on ABC Radio. “The Dick Clark Saturday Night Beechnut Show,” a musical variety half-hour, debuted on ABC-TV. Vancouver’s CFBT-FM (The Beat, now Virgin Radio)) first began testing its transmitter on 94.5 KHz. The ‘Saturday Night Live 40th Anniversary Special’ aired on NBC-TV. And one of the stars of the CBS- TV sitcom M*A*S*H, McLean Stevenson (pictured), suffered a fatal heart attack at age 68. ALL the milestones for Feb. 15th INSIDE.