Today in Broadcast History

Happy Birthday to Alyssa Milano, Elaine Joyce, Jennifer Beals, and illusionist Cris Angel. Pioneer Vancouver radio station CNRV was hooked up nationally via the CNR network; the BBC inaugurated shortwave radio service; New Westminster’s CKNW moved into new studios at 227 Columbia; the CBS-TV movie ‘The Homecoming’ first introduced America to ‘The Waltons’; and the musical special ‘The Carpenters: a Christmas Portrait’ aired in prime time on ABC-TV. Obits this date include Mike Clarke of ‘The Byrds’, Page Cavanaugh of ‘The Page Cavanaugh Trio,’ radio actor Les Tremayne and TV actress Hope Lange. ALL the milestones for Dec. 19th INSIDE.

Happy Birthday to Steven Spielberg, Leonard Maltin, Rachel Griffiths, Ron White, Christine Aguilera, and Katie Holmes. ‘To Tell the Truth’ debuted in prime time on CBS-TV; NBC aired the 50th episode of ‘The A Team;’ ‘Wonder Woman’ had its premiere on ABC-TV; the classic Christmas episode of ‘I Love Lucy’ aired for the first time in 30 years on CBS-TV; and ‘How the Grinch Stole Christmas’ was seen for the 1st time on CBS. Obits include Larry Lujack, Dave Abbott, Mavor Moore, Zsa Zsa Gabor (pictured), Mark Goodson and SNL icon Chris Farley. ALL the milestones for Dec. 18th INSIDE.

Happy Birthday to Eugene Levy, Bill Pullman, Sarah Paulson and Chris Mathews. ‘The Simpsons’ began their 30 year (so far) run on FOX; Edgar Bergen made his national debut with Charlie McCarthy, as pictured, on NBC radio; Moose Jaw’s only radio station got official ‘commercial’ status as CHAB, after 11 years in the experimental stage; Wayne & Shuster and Paul Anka were headliners on CBS-TV’s ‘Ed Sullivan Show’; and Tiny Tim & Miss Vicky were wed to much national acclaim on Johnny Carson’s ‘Tonight Show.’ Obits include Don Chevrier, Dana Andrews, Rex Allen Sr., performance artist Captain Beefheart and muckraker Jack Anderson. Details and ALL the Dec. 17th milestones INSIDE.

Happy Birthday to Lesley Stahl, JB Smoove, Jon Tenney and ABBA’s Benny Andersson. ‘One Day at a Time’ began its 9-year run on CBS-TV; the same network aired the 50th episode of ‘All in the Family’; Vancouver’s first TV station CBUT began transmitting from Mount Seymour; Jack Webb’s ‘Dragnet’ got a sneak preview on NBC-TV’s ‘Chesterfield Sound Off Time’; and Howard Stern did his last terrestrial broadcast before moving to Sirius Satellite Radio. Obits Dec. 16 include Dan Fogelberg, the West Wing’s John Spencer, Kojak’s Dan Frazer, Arthur Godfrey’s Haleloke, plus actresses Madlyn Rhue, and Nicolette Larson. ALL the milestones for the date INSIDE.

Happy Birthday to Don Johnson, Michelle Dockery, Helen Slater, Dave Clark of the ‘Dave Clark Five’,and ventriloquist Jimmy Nelson. ‘Captain Midnight’ aired for the last time, after 10 years thrilling young radio audiences; ‘Davey Crockett Indian Fighter’ debuted on the Walt Disney Sunday night hour on ABC-TV; Elvis Presley sang for the last time on the Shreveport radio program that first gave him wide exposure, ‘Louisiana Hayride’; Joe Garagiola joined NBC-TV’s ‘Today Show’ as co-host and interviewer; and Melissa Etheridge made her national TV debut on Dave Letterman’s late night NBC show. Celebrities bowing out this date include Walt Disney (pictured), Jan Peerce, Fats Waller, Charles Laughton, Chill Wills, and televangelist Oral Roberts. ALL the milestones for Dec. 15th INSIDE.

Frances Bavier, Aunt Bee on TV's Andy Griffith Show was born this day. CBC radio station in Yellowknife CFYK signed on at 1340 KHz. sportscaster Howard Cosell retired from ABC-TV’s Monday Night Football. In 1984, Madonna had her first number-one hit when “Like a Virgin” Canadian media mogul Izzy Asper (pictured) gained 100% control of the Global Television Network.

Happy Birthday to Taylor Swift, Jamie Foxx, Steve Buscemi, Dick Van Dyke, Christopher Plummer, Ted Nugent and Wendie Malick. Arlo Guthrie (picture) released the future hit “Alice’s Restaurant.” The clear channel sound of Denver radio station KOA AM 850 was heard for the first time; ‘Allen’s Alley’ (pictured) debuted on the Fred Allen radio show; the TV rights to the first four ‘Suoer Bowls’ went to NBC & CBS for $9.5 million; Infinity Broadcasting was fined $600,000 for the potty mouth of Howard Stern on the radio; and NBC-TV’s ‘Saturday Night Live’ instituted a time delay system because of foul-mouthed guest host Richard Pryor. Dec. 13th claimed two leading men of TV’s ‘Amos ‘n’ Andy,’ first Tim Moore (Kingfish Stevens) and 11 years later to the day, Spencer Williams Jr. (Andy Brown) passed away. ALL the milestones for the date INSIDE.

Canada’s Genie awards, celebrating the best in the country’s cinema, were held in Montreal for the first time. A new Beatles single, “Free As a Bird,” was released in North America, a week after it hit stores in the UK. Denver Pyle (photo)  got his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, plus so much more, including Birthday Milestones

Happy Birthday to Brenda Lee, Jermaine Jackson, Rita Moreno, Donna Mills, Teri Garr and comedienne Mo’Nique. Radio around the world carried the abdication speech of the UK’s King Edward VIII; Alan Waters purchased Totonto’s CHUM 1050; Victoria’s CFMS was transformed into ‘The Ocean 98.5’; the CBC announced the cutting of 378 jobs; ABC-TV aired the first of Bing Crosby’s 17 Christmas TV Specials; and Tom Selleck (Pictured) was seen for the first time as the original ‘Magnum PI’ on CBS-TV. Notable obits include sitar virtuoso Ravi Shankar, radio & TV host Robert Q. Lewis, and Canadian TV vocalist Wally Koster, Details and ALL the Dec 11th milestones INSIDE.

Born this date were BC broadcaster Mel Cooper(pictured), actresses Nia Peeples, Susan Dey and Gloria Loring, actors Kenneth Branagh, Dan Blocker and John Colicos, and newsman Chet Huntley. Vancouver’s good music CHQM signed on at 1320 KHz; Seattle’s KOMO 4 became the city’s 2nd TV station; Nashville’s WSM Barn Dance was introduced for the first time as ‘The Grand Ole Opry’; and 6-year old Donny Osmond appeared for the 1st time with his brothers on NBC-TV’s ‘Andy Williams Show.’ Checking out were Richard Pryor), Marie Windsor, Paul Richards, Freeman Gosden, Shirley Hemphill, and Canadian broadcasters Spence Caldwell and Duke McLeod. ALL the Dec. 10th milestones INSIDE.