November 16 In Radio History

On this day in 1899 Mary Margaret McBride was born in Paris Missouri. She later worked as a radio personality on WOR-AM, New York City.

In 1904…Fleming patents thermionic tube (diode tube)

In 1940…In Atlanta, the "hillbilly music" show "The WSB Barn Dance" began its 9½-year run.

In 1959. Harry Harrison debuted on WMCA, New York. (1965 Aircheck)

In 1962…Bob Lewis first show at WABC

In 1967… Jonathan Schwartz first at WNEW FM

In 1979…Paul McCartney released the holiday single "Wonderful Christmastime." Because he wrote, published, and played all the instruments on this recording, McCartney's royalties add up. Including royalties from cover versions, it is estimated that Paul McCartney makes $400,000 per year from this song, which puts its cumulative earnings in excess of $15 million.

In 1996…The Beatles became the first artists to have three #1 albums in the same year when their "Anthology 3" hit the top of the American album chart.

In 2012…Radio personality (WBZ-Boston, WKBW-Buffalo, WBEN-Buffalo)/program director Jefferson Kaye, for many years the voice of NFL Films, died of cancer at 75.

In 2012…Radio and television personality (WWJ-Radio, WWJ-TV) Sonny Eliot, a broadcaster in Detroit for 63 years and one of the first TV weathermen to combine meteorology and humor, died at age 91.