1949 in television - Definition

See also: 1948 in television, other events of 1949, 1950 in television and the list of 'years in television'.

Events

• January 3 - Colgate Theatre premieres on NBC.
• January 11 - A 2 hour special on all networks celebrates the linking of the eastern and midwestern networks via coaxial cable.
• January 22 - The first commercial television station west of the Mississippi River, KTLA, begins operation in Hollywood, California.
• January 31 - The first Emmy Awards are presented and broadcasted on television from Los Angeles.
• May - The first telethon, benefitting the Damon Runyon Cancer Fund, is hosted by Milton Berle and lasts for 24 hours.
• August 25 - RCA announces the development of a compatible color TV system.
• December 29 - KC2XAK of Bridgeport, Connecticut becomes the first Ultra high frequency (UHF) television station to operate a daily schedule.
• First television broadcasts begin in Cuba.
• For the first time, the Sears & Roebuck catalog includes televisions.

Debuts

• January 17 - The Goldbergs, the first sitcom on American television, debuts (1949-1955)
• Martin Kane, Private Eye premieres on NBC, becoming the first detective series on television (1949-1954)
• The Voice of Firestone premieres (1949-1963)

Popular Television Shows

• Gillette Cavalcade of Sports (1946-1960)
• Picture Page (UK) (1936-1939; 1946-1952)
• Howdy Doody (1947-1960)
• Kraft Television Theater (1947-1958)
• Mary Kay and Johnny (1947-1950)
• Meet the Press (1947-present)
• Candid Camera (1948-present)
• The Ed Sullivan Show (1948-1971)
• The Texaco Star Theater (1948-1953)

Births

• January 10 - Teresa Graves, actress, comedienne (+ 2002)
• January 13 - Brandon Tartikoff, television executive (+ 1997)
• January 24 - John Belushi, actor, Saturday Night Live
• February 2 - Brent Spiner, actor
• February 9 - Judith Light, actress
• March 16 - Erik Estrada, actor, CHiPs
• March 17 - Patrick Duffy, actor, Dallas
• March 26 - Vicki Lawrence, actress, comedienne The Carol Burnett Show, Mama's Family, etc.
• June 22 - Lindsay Wagner, actress
• July 3 - Jan Smithers, actress, WKRP in Cincinnati
• August 23 - Shelley Long, actress
• September 3 - James Marcus, UK actor
• September 10 - Bill O'Reilly, political commentator
• September 16 - Ed Begley, Jr., actor
• October 6 - Les Moonves, head of CBS
• November 6 - Arturo Sandoval, songwriter
• November 28 - Paul Shaffer, bandleader, The Late Show with David Letterman, Saturday Night Live, The Blues Brothers, etc.