Columns

Happy Birthday to Mitzi Gaynor, Dr. Drew Pinsky, Damon Wayans, Beyyonce and Whitney Cummings. The late iconic broadcaster Paul Harvey was born 96 years ago today. The last original hour-long episode of CBS-TV's 'Perry Mason' aired, Kelly Clarkson won the first 'American Idol,' John and Yoko appeared with Jerry Lewis on his Labor Day telethon; Elvis Presley made his first appearance on 'The Grand Old Opry,' and Jerry Butler made his national TV debut on 'American Bandstand.' Obits include Walter Tetley, Irene Dunne, Nanaimo's Larry Thomas, Herve Villechaiz, announcer John Conte and big bandleader Charlie Barnet. Details of ALL the milestones for Sept. 4th INSIDE.

Happy Birthday to Charlie Sheen, Al Jardine, Valerie Perrine and Anne Jackson. Bill Good Jr. started a decade of TV news anchoring at CTV Vancouver, "Search for Tomorrow" began a 35 year run as a popular TV daytime drama, while David Brinkley ended his 38 years with NBC News, the final original radio episode of The Lone Ranger aired, along with the final TV episode of The Adventures of Ozzie & Harriet, the last "live" What's My Line on CBS-TV, the last ABC-TV production of The Lawrence Welk Show, and the final original "Mary Tyler Moore Show" aired on CBS. Donovan's "Sunshine Superman" was #1, "Hey Jude" by The Beatles was certified Gold, Burton Cummings received the Order of Canada, and TV's Cisco Kid, Duncan Renaldo, died. ALL the milestones for Sept. 3rd are INSIDE.

It's Happy Birthday to Mark Harmon, Keanu Reeves, Salma Hayek, Terry Bradshaw and Jimmy Clanton. Fiteen Minutes with Bing Crosby debuted on CBS radio, Andy Williams and The Bobettes performed on ABC-TV's American Bandstand, The CBS Evening News with Walter Cronkite expanded to 30 minutes, NBC-TV cancelled Star Trek, Vancouver's talk station CJOR became Classic Rock CHRX, Victoria's CJVI flipped to FM, replaced on AM by Camosun College's 'The Village 900,' Elvis Presley was in West Hollywood to record his second LP, while Hootie and the Blowfish made their TV debut on David Letterman's late night NBC show. And Bob Denver of Gilligan's Island fame died. ALL the milestones for Sept. 2nd will be found INSIDE.

It's the date of birth for Dr. Phil McGraw, Vancouverites Yvonne De Carlo and Jim Conrad, singers Conway Twitty and Gloria Estefan, plus Lily Tomlin and Jack Benny's Don Wilson. CKNW signed on for the first time at 1230 KHz, Toronto's CFRB moved to its longterm home at 1010 KHz, both Edmonton and Vancouver got their third local TV stations, Art Linkletter began simulcasting his popular daytime radio show 'House Party' on CBS-TV, and both 'Gunsmoke' and 'I Dream of Jeannie' ended their lengthy TV runs. Details of these and ALL the Sept. 1st milestones INSIDE.

It's the birthdate of broadcasters Arthur Godfrey and Daniel Schorr, Richard Gere, Buddy Hackett, Alan Fotheringham (Photo on right) and Van Morrison. The first news was aired on radio in the form of Detroit election returns on 8MK; 'Superman' began daily episodes on the Mutual network, the 'Great Gildersleeve' became the first spinoff series on radio (started on 'Fibber McGee & Molly'), Walter Cronkite became anchor of the CBS-TV Evening News, the sitcom 'Partridge Family' aired its final episode while 'Alice' aired for the first time on CBS-TV. Leaving us Aug. 31st were journalists David Frost and Ike Pappas, UK entertainer Max Bygraves and US country music legend Jerry Reed. Details, and ALL the milestones for the date INSIDE.

Born this date were actors Fred MacMurray, Bill Daily, Raymond Massey, David Paymer, Michael Chicklis and Joan Blondell. David Letterman debuted on CBS-TV late night, Tom Brokaw began his tenure as 'Today Show' anchor on NBC-TV, 'Screen Director's Playhouse' aired for the final time on NBC Radio, Gene Chandler recorded his classic 'Duke of Earl,' The Beatles played the Hollywood Bowl (tickets.. $3), and CBC Radio's Bob Kerr aired his final 'Off the Record' show, 36 years after it began. Details of these, and ALL the milestones for Aug. 30th INSIDE.

Celebrities born this date include Peter Jennings, Robin Leach, Lea Michelle, Isabel Sanford, Elliott Gould and Rebecca DeMornay. CBC Radio's Jurgen Gothe aired his final 'Disc Drive,' Merv Griffin began a 3-year late night CBS-TV run opposite Johnny Carson, the last episode of ABC-TV's 'The Fugitive' was aired, Anne Murray's 'Snowbird' hit #1, and Queen played the Mntreal Forum. Both Elton John and Leeann Rimes checked into rehab (22 years apart), while final, permanent checkouts include newsman Lowell Thomas, actor Lee Marvin, bluesman Jimmy Reed and actress Jean Hagen. Details of these and ALL the Aug. 29th milestones INSIDE.

A good day for actors to be born, like Jason Priestley, Daniel Stern, Charles Boyer, Simon Oakland and Nancy Kulp, along with singer Shania Twain. On their final tour of North America the Beatles played Dodger Stadium, the Jamie Foxx Show debuted on The WB, the little wooden radio star Charlie McCarthy received an honorary degree from Northwestern University, and Canada's Happy Gang played two reunion concerts, 16 years after their radio show ended. Tammy Wynette recorded 'Stand By Your Man,' the Lovin' Spoonful appeared on ABC-TV's American Bandstand, and Tina Turner's star was unveiled on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Details of these and ALL the milestones for Aug. 28th INSIDE.

Born this date were actresses Sarah Chalke, Tuesday Weld and MacKenzie Phillips, plus Martha Raye, Tommy Sands, Paul Reubens and Daryl Dragon. CBC Toronto's CBLT moved up the dial from channel 9 to 6. The Beatles visited Elvis Presley for the one and only time. Boyz II Men started a 14 week run at #1 on the charts, Connie Francis was the celebrity mystery guest on CBS-TV's What's My Line, and Diane Sawyer started her 5 year run on CBS-TV's 60 Minutes. Obits for Aug. 27th include Gracie Allen, Bennett Cerf, Sam Levinson, Jack Dennett, Greg Morris, Stevie Ray Vaughn and Brandon Tartikoff. Details of these and ALL the milestones for the date INSIDE.

This date gave us singers Valerie Simpson, Vic Dana and Canada's own Juliette, plus actors Melissa McCarthy and Macaulay Culkin, and radio innovator Lee DeForest. Ted Rogers Sr. manufactured the first A/C vacuum tube, Red Barber did the play-by-play for the very first televised baseball game, The Board of Broadcast Governors took over Canada's radio regulating from the CBC, Calgarians first heard the radio call letters CFAC, and the Bachman-Turner overdrive released their best selling LP, 'Not Fragile.' The lives of broadcasters Art Baker, Larry Keating, Knox Manning, and pretend broadcaster Ted Baxter (aka Ted Knight) ended this date. Details of these, and ALL the milestones for Aug. 26th INSIDE.