2012
Jun
8
1948: RADIO'S 'TEXACO STAR THEATER' BECOMES A TELEVISION SENSATION By Christy Slewinski
 
 
This day in 1948 marked the first telecast of Texaco Star Theater, which turned the popular radio show into television's first hit series and created the nation's first television star, Milton Berle.While Milton Berle hosted the show's first telecast, he initially shared hosting duties with other stars, including Morey Amsterdam, Jack Carter and Henny Youngman, on a rotating basis. In September, 1948, Berle was made the show's permanent host.Early on, the live variety show featured a range of
 
 
 
  
 
 
2012
Jun
7
1955: CBS PREMIERES 'THE $64,000 QUESTION' By Christy Slewinski
 
 
On this day in 1955, CBS premiered its popular game show,  The $64,000 Question. Inspired by the popular radio quiz show Take it or Leave It (which later became The $64 Question), The $64,000 Question was the forerunner to contemporary game shows such as Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?The $64,000 Question, hosted by actor Hal March, featured contestants answering a series of questions on one particular topic, with the prize amount doubling — $64, $128, $256 to $512, then $1,000,
 
 
 
  
 
 
2012
Jun
6
1998: HBO PREMIERES 'SEX AND THE CITY' By Christy Slewinski
 
 
On this day in 1988, HBO premiered Sex and the City. The half-hour comedy starred Sarah Jessica Parker as a columnist who chronicled her single lifestyle and dating experiences — and those of her friends — in a New York newspaper...
 
 
 
  
 
 
2012
Jun
5
1954: LAST TELECAST OF NBC'S 'YOUR SHOW OF SHOWS' By Christy Slewinski
 
 
This day in 1954 marked the last telecast of the NBC variety show, Your Show of Shows. The live, weekly, 90-minute show was filled with comedy sketches and musical and dance performances. The show had weekly guest stars and a slate of regulars, but its breakout stars were Sid Caesar and Imogene Coca...
 
 
 
  
 
 
2012
Jun
4
1949: DUMONT'S 'CAVALCADE OF STARS' DEBUTS By Christy Slewinski
 
 
On this day in 1949, the DuMont network introduced the variety show, Cavalcade of Stars. Much like its contemporaries, NBC's Texaco Star Theatre and CBS's The Ed Sullivan Show, the live broadcast featured a variety of stage and screen actors performing in skits and vaudeville-style acts...
 
 
 
  
 
 
2012
Jun
3
1996: 'KRATTS' CREATURES' PREMIERES ON PBS By Christy Slewinski
 
 
On this day in 1996, PBS premiered Kratts' Creatures, a weekday kids' series hosted by brothers Chris and Martin. The duo traveled the globe to observe and interact with a variety of animals, birds, reptiles, insects and other creatures...
 
 
 
  
 
 
2012
Jun
2
1981: WALTERS TO HEPBURN: "WHAT KIND OF TREE ARE YOU?" By Christy Slewinski
 
 
On this day in 1981, ABC aired one of the most remembered — or, perhaps, most misremembered — episodes of The Barbara Walters Special. The telecast featured interviews with Lauren Bacall, Nancy Reagan, and Katherine Hepburn. It was during Walter's sit-down with Hepburn, on the set of Broadway's The West Side Waltz, when Hepburn said: "I'm a very strong, I've become a sort of, you know, thing," says Hepburn...
 
 
 
  
 
 
2012
Jun
1
2009: CONAN O'BRIEN TAKES OVER 'THE TONIGHT SHOW' By Christy Slewinski
 
 
On this day in 2009, former Late Night with Conan O'Brien host Conan O'Brien took the reigns of the storied late show, The Tonight Show, from Jay Leno...
 
 
 
  
 
 
2012
May
30
2011: VH1 INTRODUCES ITS FIRST ONE-HOUR SCRIPTED SERIES By Christy Slewinski
 
 
On this day in 2011, cable's VH1 introduced its first hour-long scripted series, Single Ladies, in the form of a two-hour telefilm. The series, executive produced by Queen Latifah's Flavor Unit Entertainment, starred Stacey Dash, LisaRae McCoy and Charity Shea as three friends with different opinions on relationships...
 
 
 
  
 
 
2012
May
29
1999: LEMMON, SCOTT STAR IN SHOWTIME'S 'INHERIT THE WIND' By Christy Slewinski
 
 
On this day in 1999, Showtime premiered its adaptation of the 1955 Jerome Lawrence-Robert E. Lee play, Inherit the Wind. The drama was inspired by the Scopes "monkey trial," in which teacher John Scopes was put on trial for teaching Darwin's theory of evolution in Tennessee...
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

This Day in TV History

1957: Julie Andrews Stars in 'Cinderella'
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