Columns

NBC-TV aired the pilot for a US version of a hit BBC satirical news show, ‘That Was the Week that Was,’ with David Frost hosting as he had in the UK. It quickly became a weekly series. L thCanada’s comedy team Wayne & Schuster guest-hosted on CBS-TV’s ‘Ed Sullivan Show’ and performed a Professor Von Gartner skit. The ethnic radio soap opera, ‘The Goldbergs,’ for 20 years a hit daytime strip, became a 30-minute weekly primetime TV show on CBS. And the first-ever episode of ‘Masterpiece Theatre’ aired on PBS, with Alistair Cooke (pictured) as on-screen host. ALe milestones for the date INSIDE.

Eleven months before the sneak attack on Pearl Harbour, CBS demonstrated small screen color television. Clint Eastwood (pictured) began his ascent of the star ladder as the western series ‘Rawhide’ had its premiere on CBS-TV. NBC-TV debuted a future sitcom hit ‘3rd Rock from the Sun’; Pat Sajak became the latest challenger to Johnny Carson with a late night talk show on CBS-TV; The same network introduced “The Late Late Show” post midnight, hosted at first by Tom Snyder; And the ethnic sitcom ‘Little Mosque on the Prairie’ debuted on CBC-TV. ALL the milestones for Jan. 9th INSIDE.

Edmonton’s adopted son Robert Goulet (pictured) made his US TV debut on “The Ed Sullivan Show” on CBS, singing “If Ever I Would Leave You.” The PBS children’s show headliner Mister Rogers was honored with his own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. And the NBC-TV drama series Providence, which introduced Melina Kanakaredes in her first TV lead role, made its debut. ALL milestones for Jan. 8th INSIDE.

Red Skelton got his first weekly starring vehicle on the NBC Red radio network. The well-remembered OTR ‘squeaky door’ show ‘Inner Sanctum Mysteries’ debuted on NBC Blue. For the first time TV cameras were allowed inside the House of Commons in Ottawa. The Peoples Choice Awards named ‘Deal or No Deal’ with Canada’s Howie Mandel (pictured) as favorite game show. And ‘Midday’ with VaALL the milestones for Jan. 7th INSIDE.lerie Pringle and Bill Cameron debuted on CBC Television as a daytime version of ‘The Journal.’

Ronald Colman (pictured with wife Benita Hume) debuted in their own weekly NBC radio series, ‘The Halls of Ivy.’ The Global Television Network began with a toehold in Southern Ontario; That same day the CBS Radio Mystery Theater with host E.G. Marshall began its 9-year run; And zookeeper Marlin Perkins introduced his wildlife TV series that would run for 25 years, ‘Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom.’ ALL the milestones for Jan. 6th INSIDE.

A few times a year, the radio grim reaper makes its rounds and kills off another round of talented people. Depending on the sociopathic behaviour of the company who executes the plan, it is described as "dislocation" or "restructuring"

Radio’s longrunning mystery show ‘The Shadow’ began its 22 year run on the networks. Vancouver’s Alan Young (pictured) starred in episode 1 of TV’s talking horse show ‘Mr. Ed.’ Pat Boone signed in as the mystery guest on CBS-TV’s ‘What’s Mty Line’; And the ABC daytime drama ‘All My Children’ debuted. ALL the milestones for Jan. 5th INSIDE.

It’s the date that NBC debuted one of radio’s first variety shows, ‘The Dodge Victory Hour’ starring Will Rogers and Al Jolson. Bob Hope (pictured) made his first national radio appearance on NBC’s ‘The Intimate Review.’ Victoria’s CHEK-TV left the CBC and became a fulltime CTV affiliate; and several lengthy TV runs came to a close on CBS Jan. 4th, ‘Rawhide’ (which introduced Clint Eastwood) and ‘The Twentieth Century,’ hosted by Walter Cronkite. Come INSIDE for ALL the milestones.

Happy Birthday to Dabney Coleman, Van Dyke Parks, Mel Gibson and Stephen Sills. On this date William S Paley (pictured) incorporated the Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS.) And a future General Manager of the station Hal Davis joined CKNW as Chief Copywriter. The 100th episode of ‘The Jeffersons’ aired on CBS, and ABC telecast the 100th episode of ‘Hart to Hart.’ ALL the milestones for Jan. 3rd INSIDE.

Happy Birthday to Cuba Gooding Jr, Taye Diggs, Jack Hanna, Dax Shepard, and Kate Bosworth. Bing Crosby began his 10-years as host of NBC radio’s ‘Kraft Music Hall’; the CBC opened its second national AM hookup, the ‘Dominion Network.’ ‘The Life of Riley’ with William Bendix came to NBC-TV, and two years later so did ‘The Bob Cummings Show.’ Nanaimo’s CHUB AM 1570 was flipped to FM, becoming THE WAVE 102.3. As we neared the end of the network radio era, CBS dropped ‘The Road of Life’, ‘Our Gal Sunday,’ and two other longrunning soaps. Jan. 2nd obits include Dick Powell, Alan Hale Jr, Anne Francis, CNN’s Jim Huber, and Manitoba’s Jack Carson (pictured). ALL the milestones for the date INSIDE.