1980 in radio

Overview of the events of 1980 in radio

List of years in radio

(table)

* … 1970
* 1971
* 1972
* 1973
* 1974
* 1975
* 1976

* 1977
* 1978
* 1979
* 1980
* 1981
* 1982
* 1983

* 1984
* 1985
* 1986
* 1987
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* 1989
* 1990 …

In music
1977
1978
1979
1980
1981
1982
1983

In television
1977
1978
1979
1980
1981
1982
1983

In film
1977
1978
1979
1980
1981
1982
1983

* Art
* Archaeology
* Architecture
*   * Literature
* Music
* Philosophy
* Science+...

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1980 in radio involved some significant events.

## Events

[edit]

* 20 March – The pirate radio ship Radio Caroline sinks.
* April – WDLM, a religious station based in East Moline, Illinois, adds an FM signal at 89.3 MHz. It acts as both a repeater of WDLM's AM signal (at 960 AM, which has been on the air since 1960) and adds additional programming.
* 29 October – President Carter on a visit to Pittsburgh gives a nationally broadcast campaign interview to KDKA-AM of that city.
* 8 December – Former Beatle John Lennon is shot to death outside of his New York City apartment by the killer Mark David Chapman.

## Debuts

[edit]

* Alex Bennett returns to his native San Francisco to host a comedy-oriented morning show for album-oriented rock station KMEL. The show will last for the next 17 years on three different area radio stations.

## Closings

[edit]

* 11 February – Sears Radio Theater ends its run on CBS. Episodes are rebroadcast later in 1980 on Mutual as Mutual Radio Theater.[1]

## Births

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* 20 July – Énora Malagré, French broadcast presenter
* 9 October – Sarah X Dylan, broadcast personality in Portland, Oregon, United States, producer of The Rick Emerson Show on KUFO
* 4 November – Laura Stylez, American radio personality

## Deaths

[edit]

* 7 January – Irene Beasley, American singer and master of ceremonies best known for her work on old-time radio (born 1904).[2]
* 29 January – Jimmy Durante, American singer, pianist, comedian and actor (born 1893).[3]
* 1 February – Jack Bailey, American actor and daytime game show host (born 1907).[3]
* 4 February – Art Ballinger, American actor, announcer and commercial spokesman (born 1898).[3]
* 11 April – Florence Lake, American actress (born 1904).
* 4 May – Joe "Mr Piano" Henderson, Scottish pianist, composer and broadcaster (born 1920).[4]
* 24 July – Peter Sellers, English actor, comedian and radio personality (born 1925).
* 22 August – Norman Shelley, English radio actor (born 1903).
* 4 October – Charme Allen, American actress and pianist best known for her work on old-time radio (born 1890).[5][6]
* 20 October – Isobel Barnett, British broadcasting personality (born 1918; suicide).
* 8 December:
* Charles Parker, English documentary producer (born 1919).
* John Lennon, English musician, radio personality and member of the Beatles (born 1940; shot).

## See also

[edit]

* Radio broadcasting

## References

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1. ^ Dunning, John (1998). On the Air: The Encyclopedia of Old-Time Radio (Revised ed.). New York, NY: Oxford University Press. p. 603\. ISBN 978-0-19-507678-3. Retrieved 27 September 2019.
2. ^ "Irene Beasley Papers: Historical Note". University of Maryland Libraries. Archived from the original on 14 April 2016. Retrieved 19 March 2016.
3. ^ a b c Cox, Jim (2008). This Day in Network Radio: A Daily Calendar of Births, Debuts, Cancellations and Other Events in Broadcasting History. McFarland & Company, Inc. ISBN 978-0-7864-3848-8.
4. ^ "Joe "Mr. Piano" Henderson Songs, Albums, Revie..." AllMusic. Retrieved 28 May 2025.
5. ^ "Obituaries: Charme Allen". Variety. 29 August 1973. p. 45\. ProQuest 286057640. "Charme Allen, 89, widow of musician Joseph B. Allen, died Oct. 4 in Englewood, N.J. She was born in Dayton, Ohio. and made her professional debut with Thomas Meighan in 1908. The bulk of her career was spent performing on radio. Allen had over 40 radio credits. Among these were 'Able's Irish Rose,' 'Pretty Kitty Kelly,' 'The Goldbergs,' 'The Man,' 'Henry Aldrich,' Mr. District Attorney,' 'Perry Mason,' and 'Inner Sanctum.' She was also Aunt Polly on 'David Harum' for 15 years. During the 60's she appeared on several TV commercials. She retired to The Actor's Fund Home in 1970. She is survived by a daughter."
6. ^ Wilson, Scott (2016). Resting Places: The Burial Sites of More Than 14,000 Famous Persons, 3d ed.. Jefferson, NC: McFarland & Company. p. 15\. ISBN 978-0-7864-5098-5./

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