June 1: This Day in TV History

[Stanislav]

Just a few random TV related events that happened on June 1. Discuss or comment as you please……

1939: The first telecast of a heavyweight boxing match (Max Baer vs. Lou Nova at Yankee Stadium) takes place over New York’s WNBT-TV (now WNBC).

1940: Actor René Auberjonois (Benson, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Boston Legal) is born in New York City.

1949: KSL-TV signs on for the first time in Salt Lake City.

1953: WDAY-TV Fargo, North Dakota begins operations as an NBC affiliate (they are now ABC). They are said to be one of the few remaining U.S. TV stations that regularly sign-off and leave the air every night, as WDAY chooses not to carry the overnight network show World News Now.

1966: The final original network episode of The Dick Van Dyke Show is broadcast. (Thankfully for all of us, it lives on and on in reruns!)

1980: CNN begins broadcasting for the first time at 5 p.m. EST. The first thing seen on the new network was an introduction by Ted Turner, followed by the channel’s first newscast, anchored by husband and wife team David Walker and Lois Hart. (Who are still a team on- and off-air, now working at Sacramento’s KCRA-TV.)

1993: Connie Chung begins co-anchoring The CBS Evening News with Dan Rather. Dan isn’t thrilled, neither are the viewers, and she leaves two years later.

1996: Fox begins broadcasting weekly Major League Baseball games, under the title Major League Baseball on FOX (how original). Under their current contract with MLB, these broadcasts will continue through at least the 2013 season. (!)

2006: A military helicopter crashes into a guy wire of the tower of Fox affiliate WFXL in Albany, Georgia, causing serious damage and leaving the structure unstable and unrepairable. Six days later, a “controlled” demolition of the crippled tower has the unintended effect of also taking down the nearby tower of NBC affiliate WALB! (I’ll bet the insurance report made for some interesting reading!)

(Just a little featurette I hope to do as time permits…..don’t expect it every single day. It’s an entirely random selection based on a quick Net search, and is not meant to be comprehensive. So, don’t post nasty messages about “you forgot THIS” or “how could you not mention THAT?” Do so, and I’ll just take my keyboard and go home…..)

 

[landtuna]

2006: A military helicopter crashes into a guy wire of the tower of Fox affiliate WFXL in Albany, Georgia, causing serious damage and leaving the structure unstable and unrepairable. Six days later, a “controlled” demolition of the crippled tower has the unintended effect of also taking down the nearby tower of NBC affiliate WALB! (I’ll bet the insurance report made for some interesting reading!)

What? Was the helo not available? ;D

 

[Tim from Springfield IL]

A few June 1 TV-related births:

1934: Pat Boone--The singer also served as GM advertising spokesman during the late 1950s and early 1960s, succeeding Dinah Shore as the voice of "See the USA in your Chevrolet." Also hosts programs on Trinity Broadcasting Network, and also used to be active with the Easter Seals Telethon (circa 1970s-1996?--this part may need more clarification and research).

1955: Tony Snow (died 2008)--former Fox News Channel anchor who also served as press secretary for President George W. Bush.

Also this is more movie-related, but it occurred one year ago tomorrow:

2008: A fire at the Universal Studios backlot destroyed the "Courthouse Square" and Clock Tower sets from Back to the Future.

And about 24 hours from now:

2009: Conan O'Brien hosts his first "Tonight Show," with Jimmy Fallon replacing O'Brien on "Late Night" on NBC.

 

[Stanislav]

2006: A military helicopter crashes into a guy wire of the tower of Fox affiliate WFXL in Albany, Georgia, causing serious damage and leaving the structure unstable and unrepairable. Six days later, a “controlled” demolition of the crippled tower has the unintended effect of also taking down the nearby tower of NBC affiliate WALB! (I’ll bet the insurance report made for some interesting reading!)

What? Was the helo not available? ;D

Video of the mishap. including live commentary:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JfZwJ3w3OL0

 

[radioman148]

>>1966: The final original network episode of The Dick Van Dyke Show is broadcast. (Thankfully for all of us, it lives on and on in reruns!)>> Amen--My favorite sitcom of all time.

 

[Tim from Springfield IL]

1980: CNN begins broadcasting for the first time at 5 p.m. EST. The first thing seen on the new network was an introduction by Ted Turner, followed by the channel’s first newscast, anchored by husband and wife team David Walker and Lois Hart. (Who are still a team on- and off-air, now working at Sacramento’s KCRA-TV.)

Happy 30th Birthday tomorrow to CNN!

 

[RyanHoward]

A few June 1 TV-related births:

1934: Pat Boone--The singer also served as GM advertising spokesman during the late 1950s and early 1960s, succeeding Dinah Shore as the voice of "See the USA in your Chevrolet." Also hosts programs on Trinity Broadcasting Network, and also used to be active with the Easter Seals Telethon (circa 1970s-1996?--this part may need more clarification and research).

1955: Tony Snow (died 2008)--former Fox News Channel anchor who also served as press secretary for President George W. Bush.

Also this is more movie-related, but it occurred one year ago tomorrow:

2008: A fire at the Universal Studios backlot destroyed the "Courthouse Square" and Clock Tower sets from Back to the Future.

And about 24 hours from now:

2009: Conan O'Brien hosts his first "Tonight Show," with Jimmy Fallon replacing O'Brien on "Late Night" on NBC.

1974: Singer Alanis Morissette, who started out on the old Nickelodeon show You Can't Do That on Television in the early 80's, long before her big pop music career, is born in Ottawa, Canada.