Columns

A leader's number one priority should be to build a great team. I believe that this is the most important area to judge the ability of any leader; the quality and effectiveness of the team they build.

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, Bruce Springsteen was on the covers of both ‘Time’ and ‘Newsweek,’ and Jane Pauley announced she would be ending her 13 years on NBC-TV’s ‘Today Show.’ Signing off forever were bandleaders Xavier Cugat, Frank Devol and Lester Lanin, controversial radio evangelist Father Coughlin, and comic Morey Amsterdam. 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’ debuted 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.

Happy Birthday to Kevin Kline, Bill Wyman, Santo Farina, F. Murray Abraham, Heather Rankin and Jerry Edmonton. 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 debuted 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. 23rd 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 1050KHz; 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.

Happy Birthday to Kim Kardashian, Judge Judy, Manfred Mann, Carrie Fisher and the Honeymooner’s Joyce Randolph. Also born this date were the late ROBERT CLOTHIER (pictured) of ‘The Beachcombers,’ Dizzy Gillespie and Hy Averbach. The UK’s Cliff Richard appeared on CBS-TV’s ‘Ed Sullivan Show.’ Elton John received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Johnny Mathis scored a #1 hit with ‘Chances Are,’ and Chuck Berry topped the charts with ‘My Ding-a-Ling.’ Bob Dylan finished his first album for Columbia, Carl Perkins taped a special for US cable in London, and the new owners of BC radio stations in Powell River and Courtenay changed formats. Passing on this date were BC broadcasters Bob Hall and Daryl Duke, musicians Edmundo Ros and Bill Black, WWII pinup Marie McDonald, Fred Berry of ‘What’s Happening,’ and Canadian patent medicine pitchman Gilbert Templeton. ALL the milestones for Oct. 21 INSIDE.

Trudeau the Elder gave Western Canada the finger: Stephen Harper gave ordinary Canadians across the country the finger ...and his party has now paid for that.

Crafting effective communication takes time. It’s easy to just talk. Anyone can open their mouths and let the sounds fall out. The result is often little more than noise that meanders aimlessly; comparable to a chicken running around with its head cut off – pure chaos