Columns

Happy Birthday to Bryan Adams, (pictured) Elke Sommer, Art Garfunkel, Tatum O’Neal and Sam Rockwell. The comic strip ‘The Gumps’ debuted as a series on CBS radio; ‘The Big Show’ debuted as a Sunday night 90-minute radio spectacular on NBC; Vancouver’s CKNW increased power from 1,000 watts to 5,000 at 1320 kc; the ‘Nat King Cole Show’ debuted on NBC-TV; Tom Jones guested on the soundtrack of Fox-TV’s ‘The Simpsons’; and Kenny Rogers and The First Edition made their TV debut on CBS-TV’s ‘Smothers Bros. Comedy Hour.’Those bowing off the world stage Nov. 5th include Fred MacMurray, Johnny Horton, Bobby Hadfield

Happy Birthday to Michael McConaughey, Kathy Griffin, Delbert McLendon, Loretta Swit and Howie Meeker. Also born this date were Will Rogers, Art Carney (pictured), Shirley Mitchell, Kate Reid, and Vancouver-born Court Benson. The longtime radio serial ‘One Man’s Familly’ debuted on NBC Television; Van Morrison was the musical guest on ‘Saturday Night Live’; pioneer Montreal radio station CFCF aired its first commercial show; Vancouver’s CHQM introduced stereo FM to the West Coast; Kelowna’s CKOV signed on with all its 100 watts of glory; and decades later K 96.3 debuted its classic rock format as it signed on, also to serve Kelowna. ALL the milestones for Nov. 4th are found INSIDE.

It’s the date that brought us actors Charles Bronson, Dennis Miller, Roseanne Barr, Lois Smith, Peggy McCay, and singers Lulu and Jane Monheit. The sitcoms ‘The Nanny’ and ‘Dif’rent Strokes’ were seen for the first time; the CBC extended its FM Stereo network coast to coast; ‘Good Morning America’ debuted on ABC-TV; Edmonton’s heritage call letters CFRN were heard for the first time; the ‘Nashville Network’ debuted on North American cable systems; and Geraldo Rivera’s nose was broken as a riot broke out during the taping of his syndicated TV show. Details and ALL the milestones for Nov. 3rd INSIDE.

It’s the day that gave us Burt Lancaster, David Schwimmer, Paul Ford, Jay Black, k.d. lang, and early West Coast newscaster Sam Hayes. The early radio soap opera Myrt & Marge (pictured) debuted on CBS; the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) was created; CFGP brought 100 watts of local radio service to Grande Prairie Alta, and years later on this date, CFCW signed on with 250 watts in Camrose. CBC-TV experimented unsuccessfully with a 9 pm newscast, Ted Danson’s ‘Becker’ debuted on CBS-TV, and NBC-TV aired the 100th episode of ‘Third Rock from the Sun.’ Three veteran TV character actors left us on this date, Leonard Stone, Sid Melton and vocalist Paul Frees. ALL the milestones for Nov. 2nd INSIDE.

It’s the date of birth of broadcasters Dan Rather and Jane Pauley, singers Dale Evans and Ethel Waters, actors Michael Landon, Barbara Bel Geddes, Ken Wahl and John Candy, and rapper Vanilla Ice. Vancouver’s CHAN-TV (now Global) signed on for the first time; NBC televised ‘Carmen’ as the first opera ever aired ‘in living color’; the 100th episode of ‘The Odd Couple’ was seen on ABC; and Alice Cooper hosted ‘The Monstrous Munster Mash’ marathon on superstation WGN. Bing Crosby’s ‘White Xmas’ began an 11 week run at #1; the Rolling Stones played Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto; and Barry McGuire sang ‘Eve of Destruction’ on CBS-TV’s Ed Sullivan Show. ALL the milestones for Oct. 31st INSIDE.

Happy birthday to Grace Slick, Henry Winkler, Kevin Pollak, Harry Hamlin, Matthew Morrison (formerly of ‘Glee’), and Ben Bailey (formerly of ‘Cash Cab.’). It’s the day CBS radio listeners were terrified by Orson Welles (pictured) and his ‘War of the Worlds’; the 100th episode of ‘Cheers’ was aired on NBC-TV, and 4 years later the same network broadcast the 100th episode of ‘Matlock.’ Roy Orbison’s ‘Oh, Pretty Woman’ became a Gold Record. and Frank Sinatra recorded ‘My Way.’ Leaving us on Oct. 30th were Steve Allen, Robert Goulet, Pert Kelton, John Houseman, and Vancouver-born actor John Drainie. ALL the milestones for this date INSIDE.

Oct 29th gave us musicians Neal Hefti and Zoot Sims, actors Richard Dreyfuss, Winona Ryder and Kate Jackson, plus singer/comedienne Fannie Brice, and DJ/recording star the Big Bopper. KTLA-TV in L.A. originated the first coast-to-coast telecast in HD; Canada’s Astral Media completed its $1.8 billion purchase of Standard Radio; Bobby Helms recorded the now iconic ‘Jingle Bell Rock’; The Huntley-Brinkley Report (pictured) debuted on NBC-TV, a few decades before Nell Carter’s ‘Gimme a Break’ had ITS premiere; and CBS first used videotape to repeat its nightly ‘Douglas Edwards & the News’ for West Coast release. Obits include bandleaders Woody Herman and John Scott Trotter, plus guitarist Duane Allman, Kennedy satirist Vaughn Meader, and Canadian-born actor Lloyd Bochner. You’ll find ALL the milestones for the date INSIDE.

Happy Birthday to Julia Roberts, Joaquim Phoenix, Dennis Franz, Brad Paisley, Cleo Laine and Andy Richter. New York’s WEAF aired the first college football game on a radio network; Jack Benny took his immensely popular radio show to CBS-TV; The same network broadcast the 100th episode of ‘The Andy Griffith Show,’ and a year later on Oct. 29 the 100th ‘Dick Van Dyke Show.’ Red Barber resigned from broadcasting Brooklyn Dodger games to join Mel Allen and the New York Yankees, Elvis made his 2nd appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show (pictured), and the flying cowboy radio serial ‘Sky King’ debuted on ABC. Obits this date include ex-KJR deejay Bwana Johnny, Porter Wagoner, Beryl Davis, James MacArthur, Leon Janney, and pioneer Vancouver sportscaster Leo Nicholson. ALL the milestones for Oct. 28th INSIDE.

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, and Jane Pauley announced she would be ending her 13 years on NBC-TV’s ‘Today Show.’ 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.