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.

Gayle King is 68

🎂HAPPY BIRTHDAYS:

• Actor Maggie Smith (TV’s “Downton Abbey,” film’s “Harry Potter”) is 88. 
• Singer-keyboardist Edgar Winter is 76. 
• Actor Denzel Washington is 68. 
• TV personality Gayle King is 68. 
• Drummer Mike McGuire of Shenandoah is 64. 
• Actor Chad McQueen (the “Karate Kid” films) is 62. 
• Country singer-guitarist Marty Roe of Diamond Rio is 62. 
• Actor Malcolm Gets (“Caroline in the City”) is 59. 
• Political commentator Ana Navarro (“The View”) is 51. 
• Comedian Seth Meyers (“Late Night With Seth Meyers”) is 49. 
• Actor Brendan Hines (“Suits,” ″Lie To Me”) is 46. 
• Actor Joe Manganiello (“True Blood”) is 46. 
• Actor Vanessa Ferlito (“NCIS: New Orleans”) is 45. 
• Singer John Legend is 44. Actor Andre Holland (“Selma”) is 43. A
• ctor Sienna Miller is 41. Actor Beau Garrett (“The Good Doctor”) is 40. 
• Actor Thomas Dekker (“Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles,” “Heroes”) is 35. 
• Actor Mackenzie Rosman (“7th Heaven”) is 33. “American Idol” runner-up David Archuleta is 32. 
• Actor Mary-Charles Jones (“Kevin Can Wait”) is 21. Actor Miles Brown (“Black-ish”) is 18.

✞DEATH ANNIVERSARYS

• In 2017..Rose Marie [Mazzetta], American actress, comedienne and singer (The Dick Van Dyke Show - "Sally"; The Doris Day Show), dies at 94
• In 2018..Christine McGuire, American pop vocalist (McGuire Sisters - "Sincerely"; "Sugartime"), dies at 92
• In 2018..Ray Sawyer, American singer (Dr Hook), dies at 81
• In 2019..Carley Ann McCord, American sports reporter (Cox Sports TV; in-game host New Orleans Pelicans, New Orleans Saints), dies in a plane crash at 30
• In 2021..John Madden Pro Football HOF coach (Oakland Raiders 1969-78; Super Bowl 1976) and sportscaster (16 x Emmy Award winner; CBS, FOX, ABC, NBC; Madden NFL video games), dies at 85