December 28 Radio History

➦In 1915...announcer Dick Joy was born in Putnam, Connecticut.

Starting in local LA radio while a USC journalism student he became the youngest staff announcer in CBS radio history at age 21. On radio he worked on The Danny Kaye Show, The Sad Sack, Vox Pop, The Adventures of Sam Spade, Blue Ribbon Town, Dr. Kildare. Silver Theatre, New Old Gold Show, The Saint, and The Danny Thomas Show.  On TV his assignments included December Bride, Perry Mason, Have Gun – Will Travel, Daktari, Lost in Space, Gomer Pyle U.S.M.C., and Playhouse 90.

He died Oct. 31 1991 at age 75.

➦In 1953...Bob Pittman, CEO of iHeartMedia was born.

The son of a Methodist minister, Pittman was born in Jackson, Mississippi, but raised in Brookhaven and became a radio announcer at the age of 15 to earn money for flying lessons.

He was an announcer in a number of cities and then successfully programmed radio stations in Pittsburgh, Chicago and finally at the NBC flagship station, WNBC-AM, in New York when he was 23 years old. He also produced and co-hosted a music video and news show in 1978 that ran on NBC's O&O Television stations.

He did learn to fly, and has been a pilot for almost 40 years: He now has over 6,000 flight hours; currently holds an Airline Transport Pilot's license for airplanes; and is rated for helicopters and 3 types of jets.

➦In 1981...WEA Records (Warner-Elektra-Atlantic) raised the price of its 45 rpm records from $1.68 to $1.98. The company was the leader of the pack with other labels soon boosting their prices. Within a few years, the 45 rpm record was “boosted” right out of existence by the arrival of the CD.

🎂HAPPY BIRTHDAY:

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  Sienna Miller is 39

  Actor Nichelle Nichols (“Star Trek”) is 88. 
• Actor Maggie Smith (“Harry Potter”) is 86. 
• Singer-keyboardist Edgar Winter is 74. 
• Actor Denzel Washington is 66. 
• TV personality Gayle King (“CBS This Morning”) is 66. 
• Drummer Mike McGuire of Shenandoah is 62. 
• Actor Chad McQueen (the “Karate Kid” films) is 60. 
• Country singer-guitarist Marty Roe of Diamond Rio is 60. 
• Actor Malcolm Gets (“Caroline in the City”) is 57. 
• Political commentator Ana Navarro (“The View”) is 49. 
• Comedian Seth Meyers (“Late Night with Seth Meyers”) is 47. 
• Actor Brendan Hines (“Suits,” ″Lie To Me”) is 44. 
• Actor Joe Manganiello (“True Blood”) is 44. 
• Actor Vanessa Ferlito (“NCIS: New Orleans”) is 43. 
• Singer John Legend is 42. 
• Actor Andre Holland (“Selma”) is 41. 
• Actor Sienna Miller is 39. 
• Actor Beau Garrett (“The Good Doctor”) is 38. 
• Actor Thomas Dekker (“Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles,” “Heroes”) is 33. 
• Actor Mackenzie Rosman (“7th Heaven”) is 31. 
• “American Idol” runner-up David Archuleta is 30. 
• Actor Mary-Charles Jones (“Kevin Can Wait”) is 19. 
• Actor Miles Brown (“Black-ish”) is 16.