Industry News

I spent a LOT of time watching the campaign, the debates, the promises ... and now, I’ve decided:

Happy Birthday to Canadians Rick Mercer, Margot Kidder and Norm Macdonald; to actor George Wendt, rapper Eminem and country music’s Alan Jackson. It was Oct. 17th when the NBC Radio Hollywood studios (pictured) opened at Sunset and Vine; when ‘Captain Midnight’ debuted on WGN Chicago, and live TV coverage of the Canadian parliament debuted on Canadian cable. ‘Hollywood Squares’ debuted on NBC daytime, a Barbra Streisand special ‘Belle of 14th Street’ aired on CBS-TV, and George W. Bush and Al Gore staged their 3rd televised debate, The music world took a hit this date with the deaths of Tennessee Ernie Ford, Teresa Brewer, Alberta Hunter, Billy Williams, Mark Warnow, plus composers Viz Mizzy and Jay Livingston. Details and ALL the milestones for Oct. 17th INSIDE.

“It’s astounding how little truth there is in ‘Truth,’” said CBS Corp. spokesman Gil Schwartz, who is also a character in the film. The major motion picture, starring Robert Redford as Dan Rather and Cate Blanchett as Mapes recounts their disputed 60 Minutes II report calling into question Pres. George W. Bush‘s military service.

Happy Birthday today to Angela Lansbury, Suzanne Somers, Merilee Rush, John Mayer, Kellie Martin and Tim Robbins. Vancouver deejay Jack Cullen (pictured) aired his first ever ‘Owl Prowl’ on CKMO AM 1410;’The Right to Happiness,’ a longrunning quarter hour daytime drama, debuted on the NBC Blue radio network; ‘The Bob Newhart Show’ aired its 100th episode on CBS-TV; the Vancouver-produced ‘Smallville’ debuted on the WB network; and the last episode of ‘Max Headroom’ aired on ABC-TV. Among the celebrity deaths for Oct. 16th are Shirley Booth, Ken Carpenter, Barbara Billingsley, Lister Sinclair, Jean Shepherd, Ella Mae Morse, Gene Krupa, and Dan Dailey. Details, and ALL the milestones for this date INSIDE.

KIRO Radio officially went on the air 80 years ago with help from Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s Vice President John Nance Garner. (Contributed)

Roundhouse Radio launches Thursday at 98.3 FM out of a storefront location at 714 Alexander Street in Japantown.

Born this date were CBS radio/TV news anchor Robert Trout and TV host/announcer Art James, actors Dominic West, Linda Lavin and Penny Marshall, and TV chef Emeril Lagasse (pictured). The music licensing organization ASCAP was formed; ‘I Love Lucy’ debuted on CBS-TV; early Seattle radio station KCPB became KIRO with 500 watts; Vancouver’s CKLG FM signed on as an easy listening station (it’s now rocker C-FOX); Tom Snyder began an 8 year run on NBC late night with ‘The Tomorrow Show’; the Fox Business Network began programming on US cable systems; and Drew Carey took over as host of The Price is Right. Signing off forever Oct. 15th were quizmaster Jack Narz, singers Terry Gilkyson and Edie Adams, and Canadian radio pioneer Billy Browne Sr. ALL the milestones for the date INSIDE.

It’s the date that gave us Roger Moore, Lillian Gish, Harry Anderson, Canadian news anchor Harvey Kirck, radio actor Russell Thorson and singer/TV talent judge Usher. ‘The Lux Radio Theatre’ began its 20 year run, from New York; Edward Noble’s purchase of NBC radio’s Blue network was approved; the rescue of little Jessica McLure from an abandoned Texas wellshaft began on North American TV screens; Roy Orbison and the Everly Brothers guested on ABC-TV’s ‘Shindig’; and ‘Red Red Wine’ by UB40 was #1. Notable obits for Oct. 14th include Bing Crosby, Leonard Bernstein, Elwood Glover (pictured), Keenan Wynn, Hy Averbach and Dame Edith Evans. ALL the milestones for this date INSIDE.

The Republican presidential candidate will host Saturday Night Live Nov. 7,