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1959 in radio

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The year 1959 saw a number of significant happenings in radio broadcasting history.

Events[edit]

• 3 February – A light-aircraft crash near Clear Lake, Iowa, kills three musicians: Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and KTRM-Beaumont deejay JP "The Big Bopper" Richardson, Jr., as well as the plane's pilot. The tragedy will go on to become known as "The Day The Music Died".
• 11 May – At 10 am, KROW 960 AM in San Francisco switches its call letters to KABL. The KABL name will stay with the station until September 2004.

Debuts[edit]

• German-American musicologist Karl Haas starts Adventures in Good MusicatWJRinDetroit, Michigan.
• 14 March – Tulane University's WTUL signs on for the first time. Owned and operated by Tulane University, this progressive-music station. will give Jerry Springer his start in broadcasting.
• 3 April – Pick of the Week is first broadcast on the BBC Home Service.
• 7 June KKLS signs on in Rapid City

Closings[edit]

• 2 January – CBS ends Our Gal Sunday, This Is Nora Drake, Backstage Wife and Road of Life.^[1]
• 2 January – The Kate Smith Show ends its run on network radio (Mutual).^[2]
• 9 January – The Howard Miller Show ends its run on network radio (CBS).^[2]

Births[edit]

• 2 January – Joe Bevilacqua, award-winning American voice actor, radio producer, dramatist, humorist and documentary film producer.
• 9 January – Andy Kershaw, English world music presenter.
• 27 January – Cris Collinsworth, American sportscaster, previously American football player.
• 28 January – Randi Rhodes, American radio host.
• 22 May – Graham Fellows, English comedy performer.
• 3 June – John Carlson, American conservative talk radio host on KVIinSeattle.
• 7 June – Mike Pence, American politician who began his career on the radio station WIFE-FM (WRCR-FM).
• 13 August – Danny Bonaduce, American comedian, actor and broadcast personality.

Deaths[edit]

• 9 January – Hans Bredow, "father of German radio" (born 1879).
• 3 March – Lou Costello, American comic actor (The Abbott and Costello Show), heart attack (born 1906).
• 6 December – Len Doyle, American actor, played investigator Harrigan on Mr. District Attorney (born 1893).^[3]

References[edit]

^ "Len Doyle". Illinois, Galesburg. Galesburg Register-Mail. 8 December 1959. p. 13. Retrieved 29 March 2016 – via Newspapers.com. .

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