Today In Entertainment History Vol. 8

JULY 1st

The first television commercial to be certified by the FCC (Federal Communications Commission) aired on NBC during a Dodgers-Phillies game on this day in 1941. The FCC had only just begun issuing licenses the previous May, and gave the first one to NBC. The ad was for Bulova watches, who paid $9.00 for the spot.

It was on this day in 1995, that the world lost Wolfman Jack, a legendary radio disc jockey. Born Robert Smith in Brooklyn, NY, the Wolfman got his famous start in Mexico in the 1960s. At the time, Mexican radio broadcasted with five times the power as stations in the U.S. so a large chunk of North America was able to pick up the Wolfman Jack show each night, during which the DJ played blues and early rock and roll.

In 1973, the Wolfman appeared as himself in the George Lucas directed movie, American Graffiti.

Wolfman Jack died in North Carolina at the age of 57.