Columns

This date gave us actresses Helen Mirren, Sandra Bullock, Vivian Vance and Gracie Allen, plus rockers Mick Jagger and Darlene Love. UBC radio station CiTR won its first broadcast license, Lennon & McCartney finished writing their classic 'Hey Jude,' Jimi Hendrix played his hometown of Seattle for the last time, Paul Anka scored his first Billboard #1 hit, and ABC-TV's 'General Hospital' taped its 7,000th episode. The music world lost Broadway lyrcist Frank Loesser, guitarist JJ Cale, and Guy Lombardo's Kenny Gardner. All the milestones for July 26th INSIDE.

It's the date of birth for actors Walter Brennan, Matt LeBlanc and Jack Gilford, and CTV's Lisa Laflamme. Schenectady New York got the world's 1st 50,000 watt radio station, Capitol Records got its first #1 hit, and Roy Orbison's first hit 'Only the Lonely' reached #2 on the charts. Martin & Lewis began their 10 year partnership, CBC-TV used a Montreal Royals baseball game as its first experimental telecast, and Roseanne Barr was booed from a San Diego baseball stadium after her wretched rendition of the Star Spangled Banner. All these and scores more milestones for July 25th INSIDE.

It was the date of birth of comedy actors Michael Richards and Ruth Buzzi, Canadians Chief Dan George and Robert Farnon, big band singer Bob Eberly and Wonder Woman actress Lynda Carter. The team of Martin and Lewis split up, 'The Romance of Helen Trent' was first heard on radio, Roy Orbison was guest host on TV's 'American Bandstand,' Artie Shaw's Orchestra recorded their biiggest hit 'Begin the Beguine,' and the sales of three BC radio stations were approved. Obits include Medical Center's Chad Everett, and comedy actors Sherman Helmsley and Victor Moore. All the July 24th milestones INSIDE.

The date gave us radio stars Don Imus and Robert W. Morgan, actors Woody Harrelson and Arthur Treacher, and game show host Bert Convy. Telstar enabled the first live TV show from the US to Europe, The Gene Autry Show aired the first its 91 TV episodes, Drew Carey was announced as the successor to Bob Barker on 'The Price is Right', San Antonio got the first AM Stereo radio station, and Neil Young's first recording session took place in a Winnipeg radio station. Obits include actors Van Heflin and Vic Morrow, musicians Kay Kyser and Myron Floren, newsman Daniel Schorr and singer Amy Winehouse. Details and all the July 23rd milestones INSIDE.

Born this date were Jeopardy's Alex Trebek, actors Orson Bean, David Spade and Albert Brooks, and singers Don Henley and Margaret Whiting. A second Kelowna radio station was licensed, Vancouver's CKVU became City-TV, Buddy Holly had his first Nashville recording session, and Diana Ross headlined a concert in New York's Central Park. Signing off forever were kiddies' TV favorites J. P. Patches and Miss Frances, actors Estelle Getty and Dennis Farina, the Marlboro Man, and Canadian radio pioneer Reginald Fessenden. All the entertainment milestones for July 22nd INSIDE.

It's the date that gave us Marshall McLuhan, Don Knotts, Robins Williams and Kay Starr. The CRTC gave approval to the Global TV network, "I Walk the Line" started 8 weeks atop the Country Music chart, Queen played the Montreal Frum, and Mary Hart insured her legs for $2 million. Leaving us on July 21st were actors Basil Rathbone and Robert Young, broadcaster Dave Garroway, singer Dorothy Collins, and musician Long John Baldry. Scores more milestones for the date INSIDE.

Edward Bear on radio: a beauty or a beast by Ben Fong-Torres, Radio Columnist, San Francisco Chronicle Sunday, July 20, 2014 At the KSAN reunion: Richard Gossett...

It's the date of birth for singers Buddy Knox and Kim Carnes, and actresses Diana Rigg and Natalie Wood. Bllboard published its first comprehensive hit singles list, the first astronauts walked on the moon, Bob Dylan's 'Like a Rolling Stone' was released, and The Carpenters' summer variety series debuted on NBC-TV. Ending their lives were news anchor Frank Reynolds and sportscaster Bill Flemming, Star Trek's James Doohan, Morty Nevins of The Three Suns, and wireless inventor Guglielmo Marconi. These and scores more milestones detailed INSIDE.

Singer Vikki Carr, musician Commander Cody, and TV stars Anthony Edwards and George Dzunda were born on this date. Vancouver's AM 730 changed to another format doomed to failure, Regina's legendary CKCK Radio signed on, Marilyn Monroe's first screen test was filmed, Our Miss Brooks debuted on CBS radio, and William Shatner started filming the second pilot for the TV series Star Trek. Leaving the stage for the final time were McHale's Navy's Joe Flynn, Hawaiian Eye's Poncie Ponce, and country star Lefty Frizzell. These and scores more milestones for July 19th INSIDE.

The date gave us singers Martha Reeves and Dion, actors Hume Cronyn and Marvin Miller, and comedian Red Skelton. CBS radio introduced its experimental Columbia Workshop of the Air, Bon Jovi was named the top grossing act in the world, CKVU was licensed as Vancouver's 3rd TV station, and The Four Seasons had the #1 song. Obits included one-half of Canada's favorite comedy team Johnny Wayne; and veteran NBC & PBS newsman Paul Duke. Details of these and all July 17th milestones INSIDE.