I represent the first generation who, when we were born, the television was now a permanent fixture in our homes. When I was born people had breakfast with Barbara Walters, dinner with Walter Cronkite, and slept with Johnny Carson. Read the full "Pre-ramble"
Here is another "Mental Sorbet" that we could use to momentarily forget about those things that leave a bad taste in our mouths.Now that the dust appears to be settling from our latest late night talk show war and in the interest of not being cynical he is a famous show-biz reconciliation.
Pernell Roberts died of pancreatic cancer at his home in Malibu, California at the age of 81. Born Pernell Elvin Roberts on May 18, 1928 was best known for his roles as Ben Cartwright's eldest son, Adam Cartwright, on Bonanza from 1959 to 1965, and as chief surgeon, Dr. John MacIntyre, the title character on Trapper John, M.D. (1979-1986). He was also known for his activism, which included participation in the Selma to Montgomery marches in 1965, and pressuring NBC to refrain from hiring whites to portray minority characters.
The National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences presents its first industry award at the Hollywood Athletic Club in Los Angeles. The Emmy for most popular program went to Pantomime Quiz Time, and puppeteer Shirley Dinsdale and her puppet Judy Splinters won an award for Outstanding TV Personality. Most of the awards were for programs produced by TV station KTLA. The station also won an award for Outstanding Overall Achievement.
January 31, 1949
To quote the Bicentennial Minute, "And that's the way it was".
Emmyand Golden Globe winner Jack Klugman will be our special guest on the next edition of TV CONFIDENTIAL with Ed Robertson and Frankie Montiforte, premiering Monday, Jan. 25 at 10pm ET, 7pm PT on Shokus Internet Radio, with a rebroadcast Tuesday, Jan. 26 at 11pm ET, 8pm PT on Share-a-Vision Radio, KSAV.org.
Then in our second hour, we’ll shift gears as we remember Alias Smith and Jones,the popular Western series from the early 1970s starring Pete Duel and Ben Murphy. Though the history of the show is overshadowed by the suicide of Pete Duel in December 1971, Alias Smith and Jones brought a youthful spin to the Western genre that remains fresh and entertaining today. Joining us this hour will be author Paul Green,whose books include Pete Duel: A Biography and A History of Television’s The Virginian. TV CONFIDENTIAL with Ed Robertson and Frankie MontiforteMon-Sun 10pm ET, 7pm PT Shokus Internet Radio Every other Tuesday at 11pm ET, 8pm PTShare-a-Vision Radio, KSAV.org http://www.tvconfidential.net/blog.tvconfidential.net Also available as a podcast via iTunes and FeedBurnerHere is another "Mental Sorbet" that we could use to momentarily forget about those things that leave a bad taste in our mouths.
Dwight D. Eisenhower becomes the first president to hold news conferences to be filmed by TV and newsreels. On this day in 1955, Eisenhower gave a 33-minute conference in the treaty room at the State Department, recorded by NBC and shared with CBS, ABC, and the DuMont Network.
The first television station west of the Mississippi River goes on the air. The station was KTLA-TV in Hollywood. The station began broadcasting at 8:30 p.m. from a converted garage. When the first Emmy Awards were handed out two years later, KTLA swept the awards for its original programming.To quote the Bicentennial Minute, "And that's the way it was".
Ed, Frankie and guest co-host Tony Figueroa welcome actress Susan Olsen The Brady Bunch and pop culture historian Ted Nichelson in the first hour as they discuss their book, Love to Love You Bradys, a behind-the-scenes history of the short-lived but long remembered Brady Bunch Variety Hour.
Then Emmy-winning writer/producer Joseph Dougherty (thirtysomething, Saving Grace) joins the guys in the second hour as they weigh in on the ongoing late night controversy involving Jay Leno and Conan O'Brien and its effect on NBC's 10pm lineup and local network affiliates. Here is another "Mental Sorbet" that we could use to momentarily forget about those things that leave a bad taste in our mouths.
NBC links its East and Midwest TV networks, celebrating with a special ceremonial telecast. Radio network NBC had started experimenting with television broadcasts as early as 1938 and began regular service in 1939, starting with the World's Fair in New York. NBC and CBS both received commercial licenses for stations in New York City on July 1, 1941. NBC launched its first TV network in 1946 by transmitting programs from its New York station to its Philadelphia and Schenectady stations. The company didn't open its Midwest network until September of 1948. The West Coast was added in September 1951, creating the country's first coast-to-coast network.
Experimental Television sets are installed in three homes in Schenectady, New York. RCA and General Electric installed the sets, which displayed a 1.5-inch-square picture. However, televisions did not become common household appliances until the late 1940s.
To quote the Bicentennial Minute, "And that's the way it was".
Art Clokey, the creator of Gumby and Pokey, began his work with clay figures on his grandfather's farm 80 miles north of Detroit where he spent his summers in the 1930s. It was paradise to him as a boy. A neighboring farmer had a son about his age. They would play together in the barnyard or in the living room of the house. The son had a set of blocks and toy cannons. They built forts with toy soldiers. They would shoot pencils and marbles out of the cannons and destroy the fort. When they ran out of soldiers Art began to make them of clay. It was the first time he can remember working with clay.Here is another "Mental Sorbet" that we could use to momentarily forget about those things that leave a bad taste in our mouths.To quote the Bicentennial Minute, "And that's the way it was".
To quote Dave Garroway, the first host of the Today Show who closed each program with an upraised hand and the single word, "Peace".
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