Today in Broadcast History

IT WAS MARCH 15th… when BC got its second radio station, this one operated by The Vancouver Sun, two days after The Province station debuted… When future Montreal rock radio powerhouse CFOX hit the airwaves, under the ownership of Gordon Sinclair Jr… When CBS television introduced its ‘Morning Show’ (pictured), hosted by future iconic news anchor Walter Cronkite… When the first episode of the TV sitcom ‘Mr. Belvedere’ aired on ABC… and when CBS announced it was cancelling its Sunday night lynchpin ‘The Ed Sullivan Show’ after 23 seasons. ALL the milestones for the date INSIDE.

It was March 12th when the newly elected President of the US Franklin Roosevelt used radio to deliver his first Fireside Chat… ..when singer Fabian (pictured) was named “Most Promising New Talent” in a poll of “American Bandstand” viewers… ..when the TV movie “Wonder Woman” starring Cathy Lee Crosby came to ABC .. ..when Bob Dylan cancelled an “Ed Sullivan Show” television appearance after being told he could not sing “Talking John Birch Paranoid Blues” because it was too political… ..and when syndicated TV’s venerable Entertainment Tonight aired its 3,000th show. ALL the milestones for the date INSIDE.

It was March 10th when 20-year old Julie Andrews made her US television debut on NBC’s Ford Star Jubilee…. When Bobby Darin appeared on television for the first time, singing “Rock Island Line” on CBS-TV’s “Dorsey Brothers Stage Show”… When Sonny and Cher guest-starred as “Jerry and Ramona” on ‘The Man From U.N.C.L.E.’ on NBC-TV…. and when Willard Scott became the weatherman on NBC-TV’s ‘Today Show.’ Details and ALL the milestones for the date INSIDE.

It was a March 9th nearly 100 years ago when Seattle’s KJR began radio broadcasting… when Edward R. Murrow on CBS-TV’s ‘See It Now’ exposed Senator Joseph McCarthy for the bullying fraud that he was… when New York’s WNBT broadcast the first local TV commercials in colour… when the Grand Old Opry aired its final Saturday night brodcast from the Ryman Auditorium … and when Dan Rather took over as CBS-TV anchorman, replacing Walter Cronkite. Specifics, and ALL the milestones for the date INSIDE

It was March 8th when ”Transit Through Fire: An Odyssey of 1942,” the first opera commissioned by the CBC, was aired on radio coast-to-coast. When Vancouver’s CKWX adopted a country music format. When CBS-TV’s General Electric Theatre featured the only joint television appearance by The Marx Brothers in an almost-silent 30-minute episode called “The Incredible Jewel Robbery.” When the UK’s Dave Clark 5 made their first appearance on CBS TV’s “Ed Sullivan Show,” performing “Glad All Over.” And when the last original episode of “The Brady Bunch” was televised on ABC. Details and many more milestones for the date INSIDE.

It was a March 7th when radio station KARI 550 signed on the air from Blaine, Washington with a Christian-spoken word format… ..when the “Beatles” made their broadcasting debut on BBC radio in England. ..when ”Peter Pan”, with Mary Martin and Cyril Richard, was presented as a live TV special on NBC’s Producer’s Showcase. ..when Steve Martin and Alec Baldwin co-hosted the 82nd Academy Awards telecast .. ..and when Vancouver’s CKWX 1130 dropped its adult contemporary music and became a country music station. Specifics, and ALL the milestones for the date INSIDE.

It was March 6th when the first US telecast from an airplane was aired from the skies over New York City… when NBC-TV aired the musical special “An Evening With Diana Ross” (pictured) …. when the 100th episode of “The Six Million Dollar Man” aired on ABC-TV… and when Walter Cronkite signed off the CBS Evening News for the final time, to be replaced by Dan Rather. Specifics, and many more March 6th milestones INSIDE.

It was March 3rd when Detroit was first introduced to radio station WWJ. When Elvis Presley made his TV debut on the syndicated ‘Louisiana Hayride’ (pictured). When Vancouver’s CKWX AM 1130 published its last Top 40 Survey, relinquishing the field to CFUN 1410. When Andy Griffith first introduced the character ‘Matlock’ on NBC-TV, and four years later the same network aired the 100th episode of ‘Alf.’ And when ‘Nova’ began its 46 year (so far) run on PBS. Details and many more milestones for March 3rd INSIDE.

Howard Stern (pictured) started broadcasting at WWDC Washington DC, where he developed his ‘shock jock’ format. The Beatles’ next smash hit ‘Let it Be’ was previewed via film on CBS-TV’s Ed Sullivan Show. ‘The Barry Manilow Special’ aired on ABC-TV, attracting a viewership of 37 million. The Supreme Court of Canada allowed its proceedings to be televised for the first time; a hearing on taxation. And U2 began a five-night weeklong run on CBS’ Late Show With David Letterman. Details and many more milestones for March 2nd INSIDE.

The radio sitcom based in a bar ‘Duffy’s Tavern’ began its 10-year run. Vancouver saw Canada’s first jazz radio station hit the airwaves in CJAZ FM92.1 CHQB AM 1280 signed on in Powell River BC. Seattle-Tacoma’s channel 11 (then KTNT) began operations as an independent station. The 150th episode of ‘The Andy Griffith Show’ aired on CBS-TV. And The Beatles (on film) made their final appearance on CBS-TV’s Ed Sullivan Show. Details and many more milestones for March 1st INSIDE