Columns

IT WAS MARCH 28th when one of Chicago’s great radio stations, WGN 720 first took to the air… When the New York Times classical music station WQXR banned singing commercials from its schedule… When UK pirate radio station Radio Caroline began broadcasting from a ship off the British coast …. When we lost a Toronto radio legend Wally Crouter …. And when New Westminster’s Raymond Burr (pictured) starred in an NBC movie ‘Ironside,’ which became (after Perry Mason) his second longrunning TV series. ALL the milestones for March 28th INSIDE.

IT WAS MARCH 27th when ‘Blue Ribbon Town,’ the radio show that starred Groucho Marx was first heard on CBS…. When the daytime serial ‘Myrt & Marge’ ended its 11-year run on CBS radio When a young Steve McQueen (pictured) made his network TV debut on NBC’s Goodyear Playhouse… When a huge tsunami wave nearly demolished Port Alberni's CJAV radio .. When David Letterman hosted the 67th Academy Awards on ABC-TV ... and when Vancouver’s CFUN 1410 once more scrapped its music format to go all-talk under the slogan “Talk with Attitude.” ALL the milestones for the date INSIDE.

IT WAS MARCH 25th … when IT WAS MARCH 25th … when Jimmy Durante and Garry Moore premiered their joint variety show on NBC radio, replacing another comedy team, Abbott & Costello… When New York’s WNBC became the first radio station to ban Brewer and Shipley’s biggest hit “One Toke Over The Line” due to its apparent marijuana references… When the 58th and final episode of “The Monkees” TV show aired on NBC… When the final episode of “Bewitched” aired on ABC… and when NBC aired the 136th and last episode of ‘Sanford & Son.’ ALL the milestones for the date INSIDE

IT WAS MARCH 25th … when Jimmy Durante and Garry Moore (pictured) premiered their joint variety show on NBC radio, replacing another comedy team, Abbott & Costello… When New York’s WNBC became the first radio station to ban Brewer and Shipley’s biggest hit “One Toke Over The Line” due to its apparent marijuana references… When the 58th and final episode of “The Monkees” TV show aired on NBC… When the final episode of “Bewitched” aired on ABC... and when NBC aired the 136th and last episode of 'Sanford & Son.' ALL the milestones for the date INSIDE.

IT WAS MARCH 24th when one of the most powerful signals from the US mountain west, KSL radio of Salt Lake City began broadcasting…. When Major Bowes’ Original “Amateur Hour” went national on the NBC Radio Network, after a year airing locally on WHN New York… When "Hannah Montana" with Miley Cyrus debuted on the Disney Channel in the US .. When ABC’s late night Iran Hostage crisis program was renamed “Nightline with Ted Koppel”…. and when Whoopi Goldberg (pictured) was host for the 74th Academy Awards telecast. ALL the milestones for the date INSIDE.

IT WAS MARCH 22nd when NBC Radio’s “Voice of Firestone”, a 30-minute showcase of semi-classical music, became the first commercial radio program to be carried simultaneously on both AM and FM stations… When Vancouver’s CFMI 101.1 FM signed on with an automated rock/country hybrid format … When Barry Manilow made his first television appearance, performing “Mandy” and “It’s A Miracle” on ABC’s “American Bandstand”… When Glen Campbell, Johnny Cash & Roger Miller guested on an ABC John Denver TV special ... and when two disparate music acts Bob Dylan and Liberace played NBC-TV’s Late Night with David Letterman. ALL the milestones for the date INSIDE.

IT WAS MARCH 21st .. when Portland radio station KGW began broadcasting…. When Shirley Booth (pictured) made her TV acting debut in “The Hostess with the Mostest” on Playhouse 90 on CBS…. When CBS-TV’s Ed Sullivan Show starred Gary Lewis & the Playboys singing “This Diamond Ring”…. and when on the CBS-TV prime time soap “Dallas,” JR was shot. ALL the milestones for the date INSIDE.

IT WAS MARCH 20th … when the original Lucky Strike Hit Parade premiered on NBC radio, featuring the top 15 tunes of the week… When Eugene Ormandy conducted the Philadelphia Orchestra on CBS in the first symphony concert to be televised in North America… When a protege of Dick Clark Bobby Rydell (pictured) made his first TV appearance, during the second season of Clark’s daily “American Bandstand” on ABC… When Gibsons BC's CKAY began testing at 91.7... and when Edmonton public radio station CKUA went dark for five weeks after it ran out of money. ALL the milestones for the date INSIDE;

IT WAS MARCH 19th … when the first televised prize fight aired in ‘living color’ saw Joey Giardello knock out Willie Troy on NBC …. When Vancouver’s C-FUN AM 1410 flipped to a Top 40 format …. When singer Lesley Gore guest-starred on the last episode of the ABC-TV sitcom “The Donna Reed Show”… And when the final episode of the iconic “Mary Tyler Moore Show” (pictured) aired on CBS-TV. ALL the milestones for the date INSIDE.

IT WAS MARCH 18th when a daytime drama based on the Bible “Light of the World” was first heard on NBC radio…. When Joan Rivers made the first of some 62 guest appearances with Johnny Carson on NBC-TV’s ‘Tonight Show’… When the debut episode of “The Greatest American Hero” aired on ABC-TV… When a KOMO-TV news helicopter crashed near the Space Needle, killing the pilot and a photographer.. and when Pat Cashman (pictured) left KJR-FM after 12 years doing morning drive at various Seattle stations. ALL the milestones for the date INSIDE.