Today in Broadcast History

Happy Birthday to Dame Maggie Smith, Denzel Washington, Seth Meyers,, Nichelle Nichols and John Legend. The last episode of ‘Ding Dong School’ with Miss Frances aired on NBC-TV; trumpeter Hugh Masekela guested on CBS-TV’s ‘To Tell the Truth’; Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau gave a year’s end interview to CTV; ‘The Edge of Night’ wrapped up its 28 year run on CBS and later NBC-TV; CNN boss Ted Turner was named TIME Magazine’s Man of the Year; and Ed Bradley interviewed an emotional Michael Jackson on CBS-TV’s 60 Minutes. Dec. 28th obits include Clayton Moore (TV’s Lone Ranger), Jerry Ohrbach of ‘Law & Order,’ William Demarest (‘My Three Sons’), music men Billy Taylor and Freddie King, and singer/comedienne Kaye Stevens. ALL the milestones for the date INSIDE.

Boxing Day saw the birth of funny men Steve Allen and Alan King, actors Jared Leto and Eden Sher, musicians Bob Carpenter and Chris Daughtry, and ‘America’s Most Wanted’ host John Walsh. The WSM Barn Dance began a Saturday night tradition on Nashville radio, soon becoming the ‘Grand Ole Opry.’ ‘Big Sister’ ended its 16 year run as a daytime soap on CBS Radio; Victoria’s 107.3 switched off the Christmas music, and introduced KOOL-FM, with ‘Today’s Best Music’; ‘The Shadow’ ended its 24-year radio run; and ‘Search for Tomorrow’ ended its 35 year run on first CBS-TV, and for the last five years, NBC. Obits Dec. 26th include Jack Benny, Jason Robards, Nigel Hawthorne, Fontella Bass, wrestler Gorgeous George, and LA sportscaster Stu Nahan. ALL the milestones for the date INSIDE.

Born on Xmas Day were Rod Serling, Jimmy Buffett, WKRP’s Gary Sandy, Barbara Mandrell, Sissy Spacek, and bandleader Leighton Noble, who lived out his retirement years in Victoria BC. Trail BC got its own radio station when the experimental 10AT signed on; Milton Cross hosted the first Metropolitan Opera broadcast; Bing Crosby performed ‘White Christmas’ for the first time on NBC radio’s ‘Kraft Music Hall’; and Walt Disney made his first foray into TV. Obits this day include Dean Martin, W.C. Fields, Eartha Kitt, Joan Blondell, and the ‘Godfather of Soul’ James Brown. ALL the broadcast milestones for Christmas Day INSIDE.

It’s the day when Don McNeill of radio’s ‘Breakfast Club’ and James Gregory of TV’s ‘Barney Miller’ were born. As well it’s Happy Birthday to Harry Shearer, Susan Lucci, Patrick Watson and Eddie Vedder. The BBC began regular daily radio newscasts; NBC began programming its national radio network; the first complete opera (Hansel & Gretel) was televised on WRGB Schenectady; Swift Current got local TV service as CJFB signed on; the daytime soap ‘The Young and the Restless’ premiered on CBS-TV; and the ‘How the Grinch Stole Christmas’ cartoon was televised for the first time. Obits for Dec. 23 include Dragnet’s Jack Webb, Canadian jazzman Oscar Peterson, comic pianist Victor Borge and actor Charlie Ruggles. ALL the milestones for the date INSIDE.

It’s the birthdate of actors Ralph Fiennes and Hector Elizondo, Diane Sawyer of ABC News, the late announcer and game show host Gene Rayburn, and singer Jordin Sparks. Pioneer New York radio station WEAF aired the first-ever broadcast of a boxing match; the first experimental TV signals were aired from the top of the Empire State Building, two decades before the TV era began; Monty Hall presided over his last ‘Let’s Make a Deal’ on ABC-TV; Archie Bunker became a grandfather on CBS-TV’s “All in The Family’; and Conan O’Brien and Jack Black (pictured) engaged in a guitar duel on TBS’ late night ‘Conan.’ Among the obits for Dec. 22nd are bigtime (OTR) radio announcer Jimmy Wallington, legendary soap opera creator Irna Phillips, and the great Lone Ranger narrator/announcer Fred Foy. ALL the milestones for Dec. 22nd INSIDE.

It’s the birthdate of Jonah Hill, Uri Geller, Irene Dunne, John Hillerman, Pamela Austin, and the late MP and CKWX (later CBC) Open Liner Judy Lamarsh. Radio Australia began shortwave transmission, identified by the cry of the Kookabura bird; Vancouver’s CKWX was approved for an FM sister station, C-JAZ (it is now JACK FM at 96.9); Kelowna’s CILK FM was approved for sale to Standard Radio (later Astral, now Bell); and NBC-TV experimented with no announcers on a Jets-Dolphins football telecast. It was not considered a success. Bowing out forever on Dec. 20th were Carl Sagan, Foster Brooks, Arnold Stang, Brittany Murphy, Steve Landesberg, and the first black anchor on a network (ABC) newscast, Max Robinson. ALL the milestones for the date INSIDE.

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.