NBC in History

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Events in Film & TV

Events 1 - 100 of 554

  • 1920-04-20 Big Show ends 2 year run on NBC radio
  • 1921-03-21 Walter Kerr Theater (Ritz, CBS, NBC, ABC) opens at 223 W 48th St NYC
  • 1922-07-25 AT&T begins broadcasting on WBAY (NYC-later WEAF, WNBC, WRCA & WFAN)
  • 1926-10-09 NBC (National Broadcasting Corporation) forms
  • 1926-11-15 1st formal radio network, RCA takes over AT&T 25 station Network (NBC)
  • 1928-03-19 "Amos & Andy" debuts on radio (NBC Blue Network-WMAQ Chicago)
  • 1928-12-23 NBC sets up a permanent, coast-to-coast radio network
  • 1929-10-24 Rudy Vallee's "The Fleishmann's Yeast Hour" begins broadcasting on NBC radio
  • 1930-07-30 1st broadcast of "Death Valley Days" on NBC-radio
  • 1930-10-20 Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, premieres on NBC radio
  • 1931-04-06 1st broadcast of "Little Orphan Annie" on NBC-radio
  • 1931-10-30 W2XB TV channel 1 in NYC, NY (NBC) begins broadcasting
  • 1932-02-14 The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show debuts on CBS radio, airing there until 1937, moving to NBC until 1949, and returning to CBS in 1949, before moving to television
  • 1932-04-29 1st broadcast of "One Man's Family" on NBC radio, longest-running dramatic serial on US radio (ends 1959)

Radio Premiere

1932-05-02 American comedian Jack Benny's 1st radio show premieres (NBC Blue Network)

  • 1932-12-02 "Adventures of Charlie Chan" 1st heard on NBC-Blue radio network
  • 1933-06-23 Don McNeill's Pepper Pot (Breakfast Club) begins 35½ year run on NBC

Contract of Interest

1934-04-05 Baseball superstar Babe Ruth agrees to do three 15-minute broadcasts a week over NBC for a fee of $39,000 for 13 weeks; $4,000 more than his NY Yankees playing contract

  • 1935-03-24 Major Bowes' Original Amateur Hour goes national on NBC Radio Network
  • 1935-07-20 1st broadcast of "Gang Busters" on NBC-radio
  • 1937-01-25 1st broadcast of "Guiding Light" on NBC radio
  • 1937-11-13 NBC forms first full-sized symphony orchestra exclusively for radio
  • 1937-12-12 NBC & RCA sends 1st mobile-TV vans onto the streets of NY

Radio Premiere

1937-12-25 Arturo Toscanini conducts 1st "Symphony of the Air" concert over NBC Radio

Radio History

1937-12-27 Mae West performs Adam & Eve skit that gets her banned from NBC radio

Radio History

1938-03-26 NBC radio performance of Howard Hanson's 3rd Symphony

  • 1938-05-17 Radio quiz show "Information Please!" debuts on NBC Blue Network
  • 1938-07-26 1st radio broadcast of "Young Widder Brown" on NBC

Opening of the New York World's Fair

1939-04-30 NBC/RCA begins regularly scheduled television broadcasts in New York with a broadcast of the opening of the 1939 New York World's Fair by Franklin D. Roosevelt

  • 1939-05-17 1st televised baseball game is broadcast on NBC, with Princeton University defeating Columbia University 2-1

Radio Premiere

1939-08-06 1st broadcast of "Dinah Shore Show" on NBC-radio

  • 1939-10-22 NBC becomes first network to televise a pro football game; Brooklyn Dodgers beat Philadelphia Eagles, 23-14 at Brooklyn's Ebbets Field
  • 1940-02-01 NBC performs the first inter-city television broadcast from its station in New York City to another in Schenectady, New York by General Electric relay antennas.
  • 1941-07-01 1st commercial TV licenses granted-W2XBS-WNBT (NBC) & WCBW (CBS), NYC
  • 1941-07-01 WNBT TV (W2XBS, Now WNBC) channel 4 in NYC (NBC) begins broadcasting
  • 1941-08-31 Great Gildersleeve, a spin-off of Fibber McGee & Molly debuts on NBC
  • 1941-09-03 KYW TV channel 3 in Philadelphia, PA (NBC) begins broadcasting

Music Premiere

1942-07-19 US première of Dmitri Shostakovich' 7th Symphony in NYC by the NBC Symphony Orchestra under Arturo Toscanini in a concert broadcast nationwide on NBC radio

  • 1944-02-21 "War As It Happens" news show premieres on NBC TV (NYC only)

Radio Premiere

1944-08-13 Jackie Gleason-Les Tremayne show premieres on NBC radio

  • 1946-05-09 1st hour long entertainment TV show, "NBC's Hour Glass" premieres
  • 1946-11-02 New York City's WEAF (AM & FM) radio stations change call letters to WNBC
  • 1947-02-08 KSD (now KSDK) TV channel 5 in St Louis, MO (NBC) begins broadcasting
  • 1947-03-04 WWJ (now WDIV) TV channel 4 in Detroit, MI (NBC) begins broadcasting
  • 1947-05-07 "Kraft Television Theater" premieres on NBC
  • 1947-06-27 WRC TV channel 4 in Washington, D.C. (NBC) begins broadcasting
  • 1947-10-27 WMAR TV channel 2 in Baltimore, MD (NBC) begins broadcasting
  • 1947-11-06 NBC's "Meet the Press" debuts - US's longest running TV show
  • 1947-11-12 KPO-AM in San Francisco CA changes call letters to KNBC (now KNBR)
  • 1947-12-27 1st "Howdy Doody Show" (Puppet Playhouse), telecast on NBC
  • 1948-01-18 TV talent show "The Original Amateur Hour" hosted by Ted Mack premieres on the DuMont Television Network
  • 1948-02-05 "Nature of Things" science show premieres on NBC prime time
  • 1948-02-09 WLWT TV channel 5 in Cincinnati, OH (NBC) begins broadcasting
  • 1948-02-16 1st newsreel telecast, "20th Century Fox-Movietone News", shown on NBC
  • 1948-03-20 First live televised symphony performances: Eugene Ormandy leads Philadelphia Orchestra on CBS, followed 90 minutes later by Arturo Toscanini leading the NBC Orchestra on NBC

Texaco Star Theater

1948-06-08 "Texaco Star Theater" premieres on NBC-TV, with "Mr. Television" Milton Berle made permanent emcee in September of the same year

  • 1948-06-09 WBZ TV channel 4 in Boston, MA (NBC) begins broadcasting
  • 1948-07-21 WSPD TV channel 13 in Toledo, OH (NBC) begins broadcasting
  • 1948-09-21 Milton Berle becomes the permanent host on NBC's TV show "Texaco Star Theater"
  • 1948-09-28 WBAP-TV, (NBC affiliate) Fort Worth Texas, begins broadcasting
  • 1948-09-29 WBAP (now KXAS) TV channel 5 in Fort Worth-Dallas, TX (NBC) begins
  • 1948-11-24 WAVE TV channel 3 in Louisville, Kentucky (NBC) begins broadcasting
  • 1948-11-25 KING TV channel 5 in Seattle, WA (NBC) begins broadcasting
  • 1948-11-29 KOB TV channel 4 in Albuquerque, NM (NBC) begins broadcasting
  • 1948-11-29 Puppet TV show "Kukla, Fran, & Ollie" starring Fran Allison debuts on NBC's WNBQ in Chicago, Illinois
  • 1948-12-11 WMC TV channel 5 in Memphis, Tennessee (NBC) begins broadcasting
  • 1948-12-18 WDSU TV channel 6 in New Orleans, LA (NBC) begins broadcasting
  • 1949-01-01 KPRC TV channel 2 in Houston, TX (NBC) begins broadcasting
  • 1949-01-03 "Colgate Theater" dramatic anthology series premieres on NBC TV
  • 1949-01-16 KNBH (now KNBC) TV channel 4 in Los Angeles, CA (NBC) 1st broadcast
  • 1949-01-31 1st daytime soap on TV "These Are My Children" (NBC in Chicago)
  • 1949-03-15 WICU TV channel 12 in Erie, PA (NBC) begins broadcasting
  • 1949-03-15 WLWD (now WDTN) TV channel 2 in Dayton, OH (NBC) begins broadcasting
  • 1949-03-18 WGAL TV channel 8 in Lancaster, PA (NBC) begins broadcasting
  • 1949-03-21 WTVJ TV channel 4 in Miami, FL (NBC/CBS) begins broadcasting
  • 1949-04-03 WLWS (now WCMH) TV channel 4 in Columbus, OH (NBC) begins broadcasting
  • 1949-05-29 Candid Camera, TV comedy show, moves to NBC
  • 1949-06-06 WKY (now KTVY) TV channel 4 in Oklahoma City, OK (NBC) 1st broadcast
  • 1949-06-14 WROC TV channel 8 in Rochester, NY (NBC) begins broadcasting
  • 1949-06-24 "Hopalong Cassidy" becomes 1st network western (NBC)
  • 1949-07-02 "Red Barber's Clubhouse" sports show premieres on CBS (later NBC) TV
  • 1949-07-07 "Dragnet" premieres on NBC radio; also a TV series in 1951 & 1967
  • 1949-07-10 WJAR TV channel 10 in Providence, Rhode Island (NBC) begins broadcasting
  • 1949-08-15 WOTV TV channel 8 in Grand Rapids, MI (NBC) begins broadcasting
  • 1949-09-01 KMTV TV channel 3 in Omaha, Nebraska (CBS/NBC) begins broadcasting
  • 1949-09-15 WJAC TV channel 6 in Johnstown, PA (NBC/ABC) begins broadcasting
  • 1949-10-16 WDAF TV channel 4 in Kansas City, MO (NBC) begins broadcasting
  • 1949-10-31 WOC (now KWQC) TV channel 6 in Davenport, IA (NBC) 1st broadcast
  • 1949-11-15 KRON-TV channel 4 in San Francisco, California (NBC) begins broadcasting; call letters a nod to the owners other business, The San Francisco Chronicle newspaper
  • 1949-12-01 WKTV TV channel 2 in Utica, NY (NBC) begins broadcasting
  • 1949-12-11 WOAI (now KMOL) TV channel 4 in San Antonio, TX (NBC) 1st broadcast
  • 1950-01-30 "Robert Montgomery Presents" dramatic anthology premieres on NBC TV
  • 1950-02-15 WSYR (now WSTM) TV channel 3 in Syracuse, NY (NBC) begins broadcasting

Your Show of Shows

1950-02-25 "Your Show of Shows" with Sid Caesar & Imogene Coca premieres on NBC. Writers include Mel Brooks, Neil Simon and Woody Allen.

  • 1950-07-10 "Your Hit Parade" premieres on NBC-TV (later CBS), after being broadcast on radio from 1935
  • 1950-07-20 "Arthur Murray Party" premieres on ABC TV (later DuMont, CBS, NBC)
  • 1950-09-30 WSM TV channel 4 in Nashville, TN (NBC) begins broadcasting

Victor Borge Show

1951-02-03 "Victor Borge Show" debuts on NBC-TV

  • 1951-05-14 Ernie Kovacs Show, TV Variety debut on NBC
  • 1951-06-09 "Doodles Weaver Show" debuts on NBC-TV

Birthdays in Film & TV

Arturo Toscanini (1867-1957)

1867-03-25 Italian cellist and conductor (La Scala, 1898-1908 & 1921-29; Metropolitan Opera, 1908-15; New York Philharmonic, 1926-36; NBC Symphony Orchestra, 1937-41 & 1944-54), born in Parma, Kingdom of Italy

  • 1882-09-09 Clem McCarthy, American sportscaster (NBC Radio; RKO newsreels), born in Rochester, New York (d. 1962)
  • 1890-08-05 Erich Kleiber, Austrian-Argentine conductor (Teatro Colón, 1937-49; NBC Symphony, 1947-48), born in Vienna, Austria-Hungary (d. 1956)
  • 1890-08-12 Al Goodman, Russian-American orchestra leader (NBC Comedy Hour), born in Nikopol, Russia (d. 1972)
  • 1891-02-27 David Sarnoff, American radio and television pioneer (RCA, NBC), born in Uzlyany, Belarus, Russian Empire (d. 1971)
  • 1907-09-29 Richard Harkness, American newscaster (Story of the Week, NBC), born in Artesian, South Dakota (d. 1977)
  • 1908-02-04 (Emmanuel) "Mannie" Klein, American swing jazz and session trumpeter (Frank Trumbauer; NBC Orchestra), born in New York City (d. 1994)
  • 1908-02-13 Pauline Frederick, American journalist and correspondent (UN, NBC TV), born in Gallitzin, Pennsylvania (d. 1990)
  • 1909-04-22 Hymie Shertzer, American jazz and session saxophonist (Benny Goodman; NBC's Tonight Show), born in New York City (d. 1977)
  • 1911-08-09 Robert McCormick, American NBC newscaster (Current Opinion), born in Danville, Kentucky (d. 1985)
  • 1911-12-10 Chet Huntley, American newscaster (NBC Huntley-Brinkley Report), born in Cardwell, Montana (d. 1974)
  • 1913-06-30 Harry Wismer, American sports broadcaster (NBC Blue Network, ABC, voice of Washington Redskins) and AFL team owner (NY Titans), born in Port Huron, Michigan (d. 1967)
  • 1914-03-09 Paul Winter, American classical and session violinist (NBC Orchestra, 1937-58), born in New York City (d. 1992)
  • 1915-11-26 Earl Wild, American composer and pianist (Caesar's Hour, 1952-56; NBC Symphony, 1937-44), born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (d. 2010)
  • 1918-01-27 (Lyle) "Skitch" Henderson, British-American pianist and orchestra leader (NBC Radio; NBC Television; New York Pops), born in Birmingham, England (d. 2005)
  • 1919-01-25 Edwin Newman, American journalist & author (NBC-TV, Comment), born in NYC, New York (d. 2010)
  • 1919-06-18 Melville "Mel" Brandt, American actor and NBC staff announcer (Faraway Hill), born in Brooklyn, New York (d. 2008)
  • 1920-04-28 Nan Merriman, American-Dutch singer (Arturo Toscanini NBC Orchestra), born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (d. 2012)

David Brinkley (1920-2003)

1920-07-10 American NBC news anchor (The Huntley-Brinkley Report), born in Wilmington, North Carolina

  • 1920-07-17 Bill Monroe, American newscaster (NBC-TV, Congressional Report), born in New Orleans, Louisiana (d. 2011)
  • 1921-09-12 Frank McGee, American news anchor (NBC Evening News), born in Monroe, Louisiana (d. 1974)
  • 1921-10-13 Harper MacKay, American orchestra leader (NBC Follies), born in Boston, Massachusetts (d. 1995)
  • 1922-08-26 Irving R. Levine, American journalist (NBC News), born in Pawtucket, Rhode Island (d. 2009)
  • 1923-02-02 Liz Smith [Mary Elizabeth], American journalist and gossip columnist known as "The Grand Dame of Dish" (WNBC, NY Daily News), born in Fort Worth, Texas (d. 2017)
  • 1924-12-23 Floyd Kalber, American television journalist & anchorman (NBC Weekend News Anchor-1973), born in Omaha, Nebraska (d. 2004)
  • 1926-01-11 Grant Tinker, American TV executive (NBC), born in Stamford, Connecticut (d. 2016)
  • 1926-04-21 Herbert Schlosser, American television executive (NBC - hired Johnny Carson; championed Laugh-In; conceptualized Saturday Night Live), born in Atlantic City, New Jersey (d. 2021),
  • 1927-01-27 Nancy Dickerson, pioneering American radio and TV journalist (NBC, CBS), born in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin (d. 1997)
  • 1927-07-14 John Chancellor, American news anchor (NBC, VOA), born in Chicago, Illinois (d. 1996)
  • 1927-11-05 Bob Abernethy, American journalist and newscaster (NBC News Encore), born in Geneva, Switzerland
  • 1927-12-08 Ferdie Pacheco, American physician (cornerman for Mohammad Ali) and boxing analyst (NBC, Showtime), born in Tampa, Florida (d. 2017)
  • 1927-12-20 Jim Simpson, American sportscaster, (NBC, ESPN), born in Washington, D.C. (d. 2016)
  • 1928-01-08 Sander Vanocur, American journalist (NBC Weekend News), born in Cleveland, Ohio
  • 1928-02-09 Roger Mudd, American news anchor (CBS Weekend News, NBC Evening News), born in Washington, D.C.
  • 1928-03-24 Byron "Yanks" Janis, American concert pianist (debut with NBC Symphony Orchestra at age 15), born in McKeesport, Pennsylvania
  • 1928-10-27 Kyle Rote, College Football HOF halfback (SMU; 4 × Pro Bowl; NY Giants) and broadcaster (WNEW, NBC, WNBC New York), born in San Antonio, Texas (d. 2002)
  • 1930-01-07 Douglas Kiker, American NBC newsman (1970 Peabody Award), born in Griffin, Georgia (d. 1991)
  • 1930-06-09 Marvin Kalb, American educator & newscaster (CBS/NBC, Meet the Press), born in NYC, New York
  • 1931-01-19 Robert MacNeil, news anchor (NBC Weekend News, 1965-67), born in Montreal, Quebec
  • 1931-06-21 Lawrence K Grossman, American news president (PBS, NBC-TV), born in Brooklyn, New York (d. 2018)
  • 1932-02-01 John Hart, American TV journalist (CBS News Retrospective, NBC News), born in Denver, Colorado
  • 1933-12-28 Jack Perkins, newscaster (Prime Time Sunday, NBC Magazine), born in Cleveland, Ohio
  • 1935-01-09 Richard "Dick" Enberg, American sportscaster (NBC, CBS, ESPN), born in Mt Clemens, Michigan (d. 2017)
  • 1935-06-20 Len Dawson, American Pro Football HOF quarterback (Super Bowl MVP 1970 KC Chiefs; AFL Championship MVP 1966; AFL MVP 1962; First-team All-AFL 1962, 66) and broadcaster (HBO, NBC), born in Alliance, Ohio (d. 2022)
  • 1935-09-10 John Palmer, American news anchor (NBC Weekend News), born in Kingsport, Tennessee (d. 2013)
  • 1936-03-12 Lloyd Dobbins, newscaster (NBC News Overnight), born in Newport News, Virginia

John Madden (1936-2021)

1936-04-10 American Pro Football HOF coach (Oakland Raiders 1969-78; Super Bowl 1976) and sportscaster (16X Emmy Award winner; CBS, FOX, ABC, NBC; Madden NFL video games), born in Austin, Minnesota [1]

  • 1936-05-12 Tom Snyder, American television and radio interviewer (Tomorrow, 1973-82; The Late Late Show, 1995-99), and news anchor (NBC Weekend News; WABC), born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin (d. 2007)
  • 1936-10-12 Tony Kubek, American baseball shortstop (MLB All-Star (1958, 59², 61, 61²; World Series 1958, 61, 62; NY Yankees) and sportscaster (NBC-TV, Madison Square Garden), born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin
  • 1937-09-13 Fred Silverman, American broadcasting executive and producer (ABC, NBC and CBS), born in NYC, New York (d. 2020)
  • 1938-09-20 Pia Lindström, Swedish-American broadcast journalist and arts critic (WNBC-TV; Rusar i hans famn), and first child of Ingrid Bergman, born in Stockholm, Sweden

Jackie Stewart (84 years old)

1939-06-11 Scottish auto racer (27 x F1 Grand Prix wins, World F1 C'ship 1969, 71, 73), team owner (Stewart GP) and broadcaster (ABC's Wide World of Sports, NBC Sportsworld, BBC), born in Milton, Scotland

  • 1939-08-28 [Catherine] Cassie Mackin, American newswoman (NBC TV) and 1st woman to regularly anchor an evening network newscast alone, born in Baltimore, Maryland (d. 1982)
  • 1939-11-19 Garrick Utley, American newscaster (1st Tuesday, NBC Weekend), born in Chicago, Illinois
  • 1940-02-03 Jim Hartz, American journalist and newscaster (NBC-TV Today, 1974-77; PBS - Innovations), born in Tulsa, Oklahoma (d. 2022)

Tom Brokaw (83 years old)

1940-02-06 American TV news anchor (NBC Nightly News 1982-2004), journalist and author (The Greatest Generation), born in Webster, South Dakota

  • 1940-02-25 Billy Packer, American college basketball broadcaster (Raycom Sports, NBC, CBS), born in Wellsville, New York (d. 2023)
  • 1940-07-23 Don Imus, American radio talk show host (WNBC), born in Riverside, California (d. 2019)
  • 1940-12-15 Nick Buoniconti, American NFL linebacker (Miami Dolphins) and sportscaster (NBC), born in Springfield, Massachusetts (d. 2019)
  • 1941-06-12 Marv Albert, American "Yes!" sportscaster (NBC-TV)/back biter, born in NYC, New York
  • 1942-12-09 Alex Gilady, Israeli journalist (VP NBC Sports; Chairman IAAF Television Commission; 7 x Emmy Awards) and sports official (IOC), born in Tehran, Iran (d. 2022)
  • 1944-08-15 Linda Ellerbee, American journalist (Weekend, NBC Overnight), born in Bryan, Texas
  • 1946-07-22 Steve Friedman, American Emmy Award-winning TV news executive (NBC, 1977-87, 1990-95; CBS, 1997-2002), born in Chicago, Illinois
  • 1946-08-20 Connie Chung [Constance Yu-Hwa Chung Povich], American news anchor (NBC, CBS), born in Washington, D.C.
  • 1946-10-30 Andrea Mitchell, American newscaster (NBC-TV, Summer Sunday USA), born in NYC, New York
  • 1947-04-04 Ray Fosse, American baseball catcher (MLB All-Star, Gold Glove Award 1970, 71 Cleveland Indians; World Series Oakland A's 1973, 74) and broadcaster (Oakland A's NBC), born in Marion, Illinois (d. 2021)
  • 1947-09-04 Bob Jenkins, American television and radio sports announcer (IndyCar & NASCAR telecasts for ESPN/ABC, NBC Sports), born in Richmond, Indiana (d. 2021)
  • 1947-10-12 Chris Wallace, newscaster (NBC Weekend News), born in Chicago, Illinois
  • 1948-02-02 Jessica Savitch, American broadcast journalist and pioneering female news anchor (NBC Weekend), born in Wilmington, Delaware (d. 1983)
  • 1948-10-23 Brian Ross, American Emmy and Peabody Award television journalist (NBC, 1974-94; ABC, 1994-2019), born in Chicago, Illinois
  • 1949-01-13 Brandon Tartikoff, American TV executive and president of NBC (1981-91), born in Freeport, New York (d. 1997)
  • 1949-03-12 Mary Alice Williams, American television news reporter and anchor (CNN; NBC; WNET; CBS; NJN), born in Minneapolis, Minnesota
  • 1949-10-27 Robin Miller, American motorsports journalist (Indianapolis Star, Autoweek, Car and Driver, ESPN, Speed, NBCSN), born in Anderson, Indiana (d. 2021)

Tim Russert (1950-2008)

1950-05-07 American television journalist and host of NBC's Meet the Press, born in Buffalo, New York

  • 1950-08-27 Cynthia Potter, American diver (Olympic bronze 3m springboard 1976) and broadcaster (NBC Sports), born in Houston, Texas
  • 1950-10-31 Jane Pauley, American newscaster (Today, NBC Weekend), born in Indianapolis, Indiana
  • 1950-11-03 Bob Neumeier, American sportscaster (WBZ-radio, TV Boston; NBC Sports), born in Weymouth, Massachusetts (d. 2021)
  • 1951-07-02 Anne Garrels, American broadcast journalist (ABC; NBC; NPR), born in Springfield, Massachusetts (d. 2022)
  • 1953-02-26 Bree Walker, American news anchor (WNBC TV, KNBC TV), born in Oakland, California
  • 1953-12-27 Arthur Kent [The Scud Stud], American newscaster (prominent Gulf War coverage for NBC), born in Alberta, Canada
  • 1954-08-20 Al Roker, American weatherman (NBC, Today), born in Queens, New York
  • 1954-12-02 Stone Phillips, American news host (NBC Dateline), born in Texas City, Texas
  • 1955-11-03 Phil Simms, American NFL quarterback (Super Bowl 1986 [MVP], 90; NY Giants) and broadcaster (ESPN, NBC CBS), born in Springfield, Kentucky
  • 1956-08-03 Todd Christensen, American football tight end (Super Bowl XV, XVIII; First-team All-Pro 1983, 85, 86; 5 × Pro Bowl; Oakland/LA Raiders) and sportscaster (NBC Sports, ESPN, CBS Sports Network), born in Bellefonte, Pennsylvania (d. 2013)
  • 1956-11-19 Ann Curry, American journalist (NBC), born in Agaña, Guam
  • 1956-11-26 Dale Jarrett, American auto racer (Daytona 500 1993, 96, 2000; NASCAR Winston Cup Series 1999) and broadcaster (ESPN, ABC, NBC), born in Conover, North Carolina
  • 1958-08-13 David Feherty, Irish golfer, broadcaster (5 European Tour titles, CBS, NBC), born in Bangor, Northern Ireland
  • 1959-02-17 Rowdy Gaines, American swimmer (Olympic gold 100m, 4x100m relay, 4x100m medley 1984; 5 x World C'ship gold 1978, 82) and broadcaster (NBC), born in Winter Haven, Florida
  • 1959-03-08 Lester Holt, American journalist and news anchor (NBC Nightly News, 2015-present), born in Hamilton Air Force Base, California
  • 1959-03-26 Chris Hansen, American reporter and correspondent (Dateline NBC: To Catch A Predator, 2004-07), born in Chicago, Illinois
  • 1962-03-24 Star Jones, American attorney and legal analyst (NBC; Inside Edition), TV host (The View, 1997-2006), and author, born in Badin, North Carolina
  • 1962-06-13 Hannah Storm, American sports journalist (CNN, NBC), born in Oak Park, Illinois

Tracy Austin (60 years old)

1962-12-12 American tennis player (US Open 1979, 81; Tour Finals 1980; Federation Cup 1978, 79, 80) and broadcaster (NBC, USA Network, 7 Network, Tennis Channel), born in Palos Verdes Peninsula, California

  • 1964-08-09 Hoda Kotb, American television news anchor (Dateline NBC), born in Norman, Oklahoma
  • 1964-08-23 Ray Ferraro, Canadian ice hockey center (Hartford Whalers, New York Islanders) and broadcaster (TSN Radio, TSN, NBCSN), born in Trail, British Columbia
  • 1964-09-19 Bob Papa, American sportscaster (NBC Sports), born in Dumont, New Jersey
  • 1965-04-09 Jeff Zucker, American television executive (CEO of NBC Universal), born in Homestead, Florida
  • 1965-10-16 Tom Tolbert, American sports broadcaster (KNBR SF-'The Razor & Mr. T'; NBC, ESPN, ABC) and basketball forward (GS Warriors, Orlando Magic, LA Clippers), born in Long Beach, California
  • 1965-10-19 Brad Daugherty, American basketball center (5 x NBA All-Star; Cleveland Cavaliers), NASCAR team owner (JTG Daugherty Racing, winner Daytona 500 2023) and broadcaster (ESPN, NBC, CBS), born in Black Mountain, North Carolina
  • 1968-11-08 Keith Jones, Canadian NHL right wing, 1992-2000 (Washington Capitals, Philadelphia Flyers, and 1 other team), broadcaster. 2005-23 (NBC, Philadelphia Flyers), and team executive, 2023-present (Philadelphia), born in Brantford, Ontario

Weddings in Film & TV

  • 1983-06-24 American "NBC Sports" sportscaster Bob Costas (31) weds Carole Randall Krumenacher (28); divorce in 2001
  • 1986-11-28 NBC's Ahmad Rashad marriage proposal is accepted by Phylicia Ayers-Allen during halftime of Det Lions-NY Jets football game

Alan Greenspan

1997-04-06 Federal Reserve chairman Alan Greenspan (71) weds NBC News correspondent Andrea Mitchell (50) at Little Washington in Washington, Virginia

  • 1999-06-13 CNBC anchor-reporter Maria Bartiromo (31) weds son of multimillionaire financier Saul Steinberg, Jonathan Steinberg (34) in Long Island, New York
  • 2004-07-24 Former MSNBC news anchor Ashleigh Banfield (36) weds real estate financier Howard Gould (31) in Kenora, Ontario
  • 2005-10-09 "The O.C." writer and talk show host Regis Philbin's daughter Jennifer Joy Philbin (31) weds NBC comedy series "The Office" writer Michael Schur (32) at St. Ignatius Loyola Church in New York City
  • 2005-12-03 NBC correspondent Hoda Kotb (41) weds New Orleans tennis coach Burzis Kanga in the Dominican Republic
  • 2006-01-02 NBC correspondent Chip Reid weds Nina Block in Hawaii
  • 2006-04-02 NBC "Weekend Today" anchor Campbell Brown (38) weds FOX News contributor Dan Senor (34) at the Beaver Creek Chapel in Beaver Creek, Colorado
  • 2006-11-04 Radio and television journalist Alison Stewart (40) weds MSNBC vice-president of prime-time programming Bill Wolff (40) at the stylish New York restaurant Cipriani 23rd Street
  • 2008-09-19 NBC's The Biggest Loser contestant Matt Hoover (30) weds Suzy Preston (30) at the Grand Lido Negril resort in Jamaica
  • 2014-06-07 Good Morning America's meteorologist Ginger Zee (33) weds NBC news correspondent Benjamin Aaron at beachfront ceremony in Petoskey, Michigan

Divorces in Film & TV

  • 2012-06-05 NBC musical drama series "Smash" actress Debra Messing (43) divorces actor and producer Daniel Zelman (44) by their mutual decision after 10 years of marriage

Deaths in Film & TV

  • 1956-01-27 Erich Kleiber, Austrian-Argentine conductor (Teatro Colón, 1937-49; NBC Symphony, 1947-48), dies at 65

Arturo Toscanini (1867-1957)

1957-01-16 Italian cellist and conductor (La Scala, 1898-1908 & 1921-29; Metropolitan Opera, 1908-15; New York Philharmonic, 1926-36; NBC Symphony Orchestra, 1937-41 & 1944-54), dies after a stroke in NYC at 89

  • 1962-06-04 Clem McCarthy, American sportscaster (NBC Radio; RKO newsreels), dies at 79
  • 1967-12-04 Harry Wismer, American sports broadcaster (NBC Blue Network, ABC, voice of Washington Redskins) and AFL team owner (New York Titans), dies after a fall at 54
  • 1971-12-12 David Sarnoff, American radio and television pioneer (RCA, NBC), dies at 80
  • 1972-01-10 Al Goodman, Russian-American orchestra leader (NBC Comedy Hour), dies at 81
  • 1974-03-20 Chet Huntley, American newscaster (NBC Huntley-Brinkley Report), dies at 62
  • 1974-04-17 Frank McGee, American news anchor (NBC Evening News), dies of cancer at 52
  • 1977-03-22 Hymie Shertzer, American jazz and session saxophonist (Benny Goodman; NBC's Tonight Show), dies at 67
  • 1982-11-20 [Catherine] Cassie Mackin, American newswoman (NBC TV) and 1st woman to regularly anchor an evening network newscast alone, dies of cancer at 43
  • 1983-10-23 Jessica Savitch, American broadcast journalist and pioneering female news anchor (NBC Weekend), drowns in a car accident at 36
  • 1984-12-15 Jan Peerce [Jacob Pincus Perelmuth], American tenor (NBC Symphony, 1938-55; NY Metropolitan Opera, 1941-67; "Bluebird of Happiness"), dies at 80
  • 1985-09-04 Robert McCormick, American NBC newscaster (Current Opinion), dies at 74
  • 1990-02-18 Hulk, fictional character in "Death of Incredible Hulk" on NBC, dies
  • 1990-05-09 Pauline Frederick, American journalist and author (NBC), dies at 84
  • 1991-08-14 Douglas Kiker, American newscaster (NBC-TV), dies of a heart attack at 61
  • 1992-08-22 Paul Winter, American classical and session violinist (NBC Orchestra, 1937-58), dies at 78
  • 1994-04-03 Pat Harper, American NYC news anchor (WPIX, WNBC), dies of a heart attack at 59
  • 1994-04-17 Peter Hacker, American journalist/actor (NBC, Broadcast News), dies at 69
  • 1994-05-31 [Emmanuel] "Mannie" Klein, American swing jazz and session trumpeter (Frank Trumbauer; NBC Orchestra), dies at 86
  • 1995-06-02 Harper MacKay, American orchestra leader (NBC Follies), dies at 73
  • 1996-07-12 John Chancellor, American journalist and news anchor (Voice Of America, 1965-67; NBC Nightly News, 1970-82), dies at 68
  • 1997-08-27 Brandon Tartikoff, American TV executive and president of NBC (1981-91), dies from Hodgkin lymphoma at 48
  • 2002-08-15 Kyle Rote, American college football HOF halfback (SMU; 4 × Pro Bowl; NY Giants) and broadcaster (WNEW, NBC, WNBC New York), dies at 74

David Brinkley (1920-2003)

2003-06-11 American NBC news anchor (The Huntley-Brinkley Report), dies at 82

  • 2005-11-01 (Lyle) "Skitch" Henderson, British-American pianist and orchestra leader (NBC Radio; NBC Television; New York Pops), dies at 87
  • 2007-07-29 Tom Snyder, American television and radio interviewer (Tomorrow, 1973-82; The Late Late Show, 1995-99), and news anchor (NBC Weekend News; WABC), dies of complications from leukemia at 71
  • 2008-03-14 Melville "Mel" Brandt, American actor and NBC staff announcer (Faraway Hill), dies at 88

Tim Russert (1950-2008)

2008-06-13 American television journalist and host of NBC's Meet the Press, dies at 58

  • 2009-03-27 Irving R. Levine, American journalist (NBC News), dies at 86
  • 2011-02-17 Bill Monroe, American newscaster (NBC-TV, Congressional Report), dies at 90
  • 2012-07-22 Nan Merriman, American-Dutch singer (Arturo Toscanini NBC Orchestra), dies at 92
  • 2013-11-13 Todd Christensen, American football tight end (Super Bowl XV, XVIII; First-team All-Pro 1983, 85, 86; 5 × Pro Bowl; Oakland/LA Raiders) and sportscaster (NBC Sports, ESPN, CBS Sports Network), dies from complications during liver transplant surgery at 57
  • 2016-11-28 Grant Tinker, American TV executive (Chairman of NBC), dies at 90
  • 2017-11-12 Liz Smith [Mary Elizabeth], American journalist and gossip columnist known as "The Grand Dame of Dish" (WNBC, NY Daily News), dies at 94
  • 2017-11-16 Ferdie Pacheco, American physician (cornerman for Mohammad Ali) and boxing analyst (NBC, Showtime), dies at 89
  • 2017-12-21 Richard "Dick" Enberg, American sportscaster (NBC, CBS, ESPN), dies of a heart attack at 82
  • 2018-03-24 Lawrence K. Grossman, American news executive (PBS, NBC-TV) and author (The Electronic Republic), dies of Parkinson’s disease and cancer at 86
  • 2019-07-30 Nick Buoniconti, American NFL linebacker (Miami Dolphins) and sportscaster (NBC), dies at 78
  • 2021-03-09 Roger Mudd, American Emmy and Peabody Award-winning journalist and TV news anchor (CBS Weekend News; NBC Evening News; Meet The Press), dies of kidney failure at 93
  • 2021-08-06 Herbert Schlosser, American television executive (NBC - hired Johnny Carson; championed Laugh-In; conceptualized Saturday Night Live), dies at 95
  • 2021-08-09 Bob Jenkins, American television and radio sports announcer (IndyCar & NASCAR telecasts ESPN/ABC, NBC Sports), dies from brain cancer at 73
  • 2021-08-25 Robin Miller, American motorsports journalist (Indianapolis Star, Autoweek, Car and Driver, ESPN, Speed, NBCSN), dies from leukemia at 71
  • 2021-10-13 Ray Fosse, American baseball catcher (MLB All-Star, Gold Glove Award 1970, 71 Cleveland Indians; World Series Oakland A's 1973, 74) and broadcaster (Oakland A's NBC), dies of cancer at 74
  • 2021-10-23 Bob Neumeier, American sportscaster (WBZ-radio, TV Boston; NBC Sports), dies from heart disease at 70

John Madden (1936-2021)

2021-12-28 American 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 [1]

  • 2022-04-13 Alex Gilady, Israeli journalist (VP NBC Sports; Chairman IAAF Television Commission; 7 x Emmy Awards) and sports official (IOC), dies at 79
  • 2022-04-17 Jim Hartz, American journalist and newscaster (NBC-TV Today, 1974-77; PBS - Innovations), dies of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) at 82
  • 2022-08-24 Len Dawson, American Pro Football HOF quarterback (Super Bowl MVP 1970 KC Chiefs; AFL Championship MVP 1966; AFL MVP 1962; First-team All-AFL 1962, 66) and broadcaster (HBO, NBC), dies at 87
  • 2022-09-07 Anne Garrels, American broadcast journalist (ABC; NBC; NPR), dies of lung cancer at 71
  • 2023-01-26 Billy Packer, American college basketball broadcaster (Raycom Sports, NBC, CBS), dies of kidney failure at 82