Happy Birthday CBS

92 years ago, The Columbia Broadcasting System, CBS was born. It began as United Independent Broadcasters Inc., established in Chicago by New York talent agent Arthur Judson in January of 1927. Three months later, the Columbia Phonograph Company became an investor, rebranding the network as the Columbia Phonographic Broadcasting System (CPBS). A year later the network was sold WCAU station owners Isaac and Leon Levy and a partner, Jerome Louchheim. William S. Paley, an in-law of the Levys, was named president and promptly shortened the network’s name to the Columbia Broadcasting System.

By 1931 CBS had 400 employees and 79 affiliates, including an innovative partnership with auto dealer and broadcaster Don Lee, that gave the network access to the west coast of the United States before AT&T completed construction of its nationwide long distance network.

With Paley at the helm, CBS grew to become second only to David Sarnoff‘s National Broadcasting Company (NBC) in size, ultimately stealing many of that network’s top acts, creating a well regarded news operation under the guidance of Edward R. Murrow and incorporating television when the medium became economically viable after World War II.

Here are a few of the notable programs from CBS radio’s golden age. Some were broadcast on other networks during the course of their run:

In 1974, the company shortened its name to CBS, Inc. When Westinghouse Electric Corporation bought the company 21 years later the corporate entity became CBS Broadcasting, Inc. and ultimately CBS Corporation.

Viacom gained control of the assets in 1971. Various incarnations operated the CBS Radio network until 2017, when the radio division was sold to Entercom.

Here’s a video look at CBS radio and television logos from 1927 through 2018.

Outta My Mind…

It is said that “Marriage is essentially two people pushing down the top of the kitchen garbage so they don’t have to take it out.” Here’s a tool to facilitate more marital bliss in that space. Via Mashable.

Do social media apologies work? We’re constantly reading about stars and companies who have offended the teeming masses, generating a viral storm of negative responses.  Here are 5 examples of corporate mea culpas that did.

Today in History:

1949, The Chinatown telephone exchange officially closes. At its height, there were over 3,000 phone numbers associated with the exchange. The all-female staff had to memorize every one because it was considered impolite not to request a person by name when calling.

1965, A memory from Lyndon Johnson’s inaugural party. Can you name the stars in this photo? Looks like Ann Margaret, Johnny Carson and Barbara Streisand. Those were the days.

1970, The 1st commercial Boeing 747 flight takes place. Pan American World Airways flies from New York City to London in 6½ hours. The airline, which pioneered overseas travel, struggled to compete domestically and filed for bankruptcy protection on January 8, 1991.

1973, Roe vs Wade is decided by the US Supreme Court, legalizing most abortions. It’s been one of our most divisive issues ever since.