Television
Birth of Ethel L. Payne
Ethel Lois Payne was born on August 14, 1911, in Chicago, Illinois. Known as the “First Lady of the Black Press,” he was the first black female war correspondent in Vietnam and the first black female commentator on a major radio and television network.
Birth of the Space Shuttle Program
On January 5, 1972, President Richard Nixon signed legislation authorizing the creation of America’s first space shuttle, the “world’s first reusable spacecraft.”
It’s Howdy Doody Time!
On December 27, 1947, Howdy Doody made his television debut on Puppet Playhouse. Howdy Doody was one of the first TV programs made for children and produced in color.
Birth of Arthur Fiedler
Famed American conductor Arthur Fiedler was born on December 17, 1894, in Boston, Massachusetts.
Debut of A Charlie Brown Christmas
On December 9, 1965, A Charlie Brown Christmas first aired on television.
Birth of Eric Sevareid
Journalist and author Arnold Eric Sevareid was born on November 26, 1912, in Velva, North Dakota.
Happy Birthday Ed Sullivan
Legendary TV personality Ed Sullivan was born on September 28, 1901, in Harlem, New York City.
America’s First Journalism School
On September 14, 1908, the University of Missouri School of Journalism became the first such school in the US, and only the second in the world. (The Superior School of Journalism of Paris opened in 1899.)
Echo 1
On August 12, 1960, Echo I, the world’s first passive communications satellite, was placed in orbit around the Earth