November 18 Radio History

➦In 1951…Edward R. Murrow and Fred Friendly  launched one of the most highly-praised TV productions in history. The newsmagazine, documentary "See It Now' debuted on CBS. The aired for more than six years. On that first program, which evolved out of Murrow’s radio (and Columbia Records) series Hear It Now, we saw a live camera shot of the Atlantic Ocean, followed by a live shot of the Pacific, then Murrow said, “We are impressed by a medium through which a man sitting in his living room has been able to look at two oceans at once.”  In April of 1952, See It Now moved into an evening time slot.

➦In 1954...ABC radio and TV banned “Mambo Italiano,” a hit by Rosemary Clooney for so-called “offensive lyrics,” most likely due to the exaggerated Italian vernacular, including the words “goombah” and “gidrool.”

➦In 1963…The Beatles got their first exposure on U-S TV in a feature story on NBC-TV's "The Huntley-Brinkley Report" it included a film clip of the band performing in England.

➦In 1985...Howard Stern returned to the New York radio scene (after his firing by WNBC660 AM). He debuted on WXRK 92.3 FM in the afternoon, but made a permanent switch to mornings 3 months later.

➦In 1987...CBS Inc. announced that it had agreed to sell its record division to Sony Corp. for approximately $2 billion.

➦In 1994...the inimitable Cab Calloway died in a Delaware nursing home following a stroke suffered in June. He was 86.  The big band leader, who became nationally known through radio broadcasts dating back to 1931. He was best known for his trademark “hi-de-ho” song “Minnie the Moocher.” He was also featured in the movie “The Blues Brothers.” In October of ’94, he’d been honored at a White House ceremony by President Clinton for his contribution to the arts.

➦In 1994...The Rolling Stones broadcast a 20-minute segment of their show in Dallas, TX live over the Internet. They were the first major band to stream a live show on the web.

➦In 2004...Howard Stern held a rally in downtown New York City. Thousands showed up and Stern gave away 500 free SIRIUS radios and 20,000 coupons for free radios for those who signed up for the service.

Linda Evans is 79

🎂HAPPY BIRTHDAYS:

• Actor Brenda Vaccaro is 82. 
• Actor Linda Evans (“Dynasty”) is 79. 
• Actor Susan Sullivan is 79. 
• Country singer Jacky Ward is 75. 
• Actor Jameson Parker (“Simon and Simon”) is 74. 
• Actor-singer Andrea Marcovicci is 73. 
• Singer Graham Parker is 71. 
• Actor Delroy Lindo (“The Good Fight”) is 69. 
• Comedian Kevin Nealon is 68. 
• Actor Oscar Nunez (“The Office”) is 63. 
• Actor Elizabeth Perkins is 61. 
• Singer Kim Wilde is 61. 
• Actor Tim Guinee (GIH’-nee) (“Elementary”) is 59. 
• Guitarist Kirk Hammett of Metallica is 59. 

• 

  Peta Wilson is 51

  Singer Tim DeLaughter of Polyphonic Spree (and Tripping Daisy) is 56. 
• Actor Romany Malco (“A Million Little Things,” “Weeds”) is 53. 
• Actor Owen Wilson is 53. 
• Actor Dan Bakkedahl (“Life in Pieces,” ″The Mindy Project”) is 53. 
• Singer-Broadway composer Duncan Sheik is 52. 
• Actor Mike Epps is 51. 
• Actor Peta Wilson (“La Femme Nikita”) is 51. 
• Actor Chloe Sevigny (“Big Love,” ″Boys Don’t Cry”) is 47. 
• Actor Steven Pasquale (“The Good Wife”) is 45. 
• Keyboardist Alberto Bof of Lukas Nelson and Promise of the Real is 44. 
• Rapper Fabolous is 44. 
• Actor-director Nate Parker (“Birth of a Nation”) is 42. 
• Rapper Mike Jones is 41. 
• Actor Mekia Cox (“Secrets and Lies”) is 40. 
• Actor-comedian Nasim Pedrad (“Scream Queens,” ″Saturday Night Live”) is 40. 
• Actor Christina Vidal (TV’s “Grand Hotel”) is 40. 
• Singer TJ Osborne of Brothers Osborne is 37. 
• “Project Runway” winner and designer Christian Soriano is 36. 
• Actor Nathan Kress (“iCarly”) is 29.