Columns

IT WAS APRIL 16th … in the early years of radio when Vancouver’s CNRV became CRCV 1100 as the Canadian Radio Commission took over operations from the CNR… When the soon-to-be highly popular “Fibber McGee & Molly” radio program debuted on the N-B-C Blue Network from Chicago… When Polly Bergen (pictured) starred in “The Helen Morgan Story” on CBS TV’s live drama showcase Playhouse 90… and when Walter Cronkite succeeded Douglas Edwards as anchor of “The CBS Evening News.” ALL the milestones for the date INSIDE.

IT WAS APRIL 15th .. when the world’s first all colour TV station was dedicated. Chicago’s WNBQ-TV has since evolved into WMAQ-TV… When CFRO FM 102.7 Vancouver Co-Op Radio signed on, after three months of trials… When “In Living Color,” FOX-TV’s sketch comedy show starring its creators Keenan Ivory Wayans and Damon Wayans,and introducing Canadian Jim Carrey (pictured), began its four year run… and when Bill Rancic beat out Kwame Jackson to win the first season of NBC’s “The Apprentice” with Donald Trump. ALL the milestones for the date INSIDE.

IT WAS APRIL 14th .. when Robert Ripley hosted his first ‘Believe It or Not Broadcast’ on NBC, the beginning of an 18 year radio run… When WGN radio carried the first play-by-play broadcast of a regular season Chicago Cub baseball game… When Chilliwack’s CHWK moved up the dial from 1340 to 1230 KHz, enroute to its longtime home at 1270… When piano virtuoso Van Cliburn appeared on US national TV for the first time, as Jack Paar’s guest on NBC-TV’s ‘Tonight Show’… and when CBS-TV aired the Johnny Cash special ‘Spring Fever’ in prime time, with guests Waylon Jennings, June Carter Cash, and Rosanne Cash. ALL the milestones for the date INSIDE.

IT WAS APRIL 13th .. when the weekly radio crime drama ‘Bulldog Drummond’ began its 8-year run on the Mutual Broadcast System… When the CRTC’s first public hearings on Cable Television were held… When “The Grand Ole Opry,” a Saturday night radio staple from Nashville that holds the longevity record for any live broadcast, came to cable TV (Nashville Network) … and when the cast of “The Andy Griffith Show” reunited for the NBC-TV film “Return To Mayberry.” It attracted the largest audience of any TV-movie that year. ALL the milestones for the date INSIDE.

IT WAS APRIL 12th when Canadian broadcaster J. Frank Willis began his legendary 69 hour marathon coverage from a mine surface in Nova Scotia (pictured), after an explosion trapped three miners down below … When ‘The Life of Riley’ family comedy was heard for the first time on the CBS radio network, as a Saturday morning half-hour… When CBS-TV’s Ed Sullivan Show featured Brook Benton singing his first hit, “It’s Just A Matter Of Time”… and when the first episode of “21 Jump Street” starring a young Johnny Depp, aired on the Fox Network. ALL the milestones for the date INSIDE.

IT WAS APRIL 11th .. when the first live sports event on radio, a boxing match, was heard blow-by-blow over Pittsburgh’s pioneer station KDKA… When hockey play-by-play legend Danny Gallivan (pictured) was born in Montreal… When Lesley Gore and Paul Anka headlined the final broadcast of NBC-TV’s pop music showcase, ‘Hullabaloo!’… and when the Tommy Hunter Show, after a nearly 27 year run, was seen for the last time on CBC TV. ALL the milestones for the date INSIDE.

IT WAS APRIL 10th .. when Art Baker hosted ‘People Are Funny’ in its debut on NBC radio … When 16-year-old Ricky Nelson sang for the first time on his family’s radio show ‘The Adventures of Ozzie & Harriet’ .. When legendary Toronto newsman Dick Smythe ended an 18-year run at CHUM-FM and walked across the street to CFTR-FM… and when Charles Kuralt (pictured) hosted his last broadcast of CBS-TV’s ‘Sunday Morning.’ ALL the milestones for the date INSIDE.

IT WAS APRIL 9th … when Bob Hope made his network TV debut, hosting the 90-minute “Star-Spangled Review” on NBC… When the Ed Sullivan Show’s eclectic playbill on CBS-TV included Zippy the Chimp rollerskating and riding a bike, a comedy routine by vaudeville veterans Smith & Dale, ventriloquist Ricky Layne & Velvel, singers Julie Wilson, Oscar Brown Jr. and Jan Peerce… When The Rolling Stones made their first live TV appearance on ITV’s Friday night music showcase “Ready Steady Go!”… and when CBS radio & MSNBC shock jock Don Imus was suspended (and later fired) after he jokingly referred to members of the Rutgers University women’s basketball team as “nappy-headed hos”. ALL the milestones for the date INSIDE.

IT WAS APRIL 8th … when the original radio voice of ‘The Lone Ranger,’ Ontario-born Earl Graser, was killed in an auto accident at age 32 … When country singer Jimmy Dean began a morning show on CBS in what would be a futile effort to defeat NBC’s Today Show … When UK singer Petula Clark starred in her own NBC-TV prime time special, with guest Harry Belafonte (pictured) … and when the last original episode of ‘All in the Family’ aired on CBS-TV. ALL the milestones for the date INSIDE.

IT WAS APRIL 7th … when the first national rock and roll series, Alan Freed’s ‘Rock ‘n’ Roll Dance Party’, made its debut on the CBS Radio network… When San Francisco deejay Tom Donahue turned KMPX-FM into what is considered to be America’s first alternative “free-form” radio station, playing non-commercial music by album-oriented bands… When Rickie Lee Jones was the musical guest on NBC’s Saturday Night Live, performing her soon-to-be smash hit “Chuck E’s In Love”… and when the 100th episode of “Married With Children” aired on Fox TV. ALL the milestones for the date INSIDE.