On This Day: The television classic that almost didn’t survive

A television series that became part of a generation’s viewing habits made its debut, an acclaimed Australian war cameraman lost his life, and the first Space Shuttle was unveiled. September 17 has delivered some memorable moments.

M*A*S*H arrives on television

On September 17, 1972, American television audiences were introduced to the doctors and nurses of the 4077th Mobile Army Surgical Hospital when M*A*S*H premiered on CBS.

Set during the Korean War, the series mixed comedy with increasingly serious stories about the human cost and absurdity of war. But Hawkeye, Hot Lips, Radar and company weren’t an instant hit. Ratings during the first season were poor enough to put the show’s future in doubt.

It survived, and went on to run for 11 seasons, becoming one of television’s most loved series. Its 1983 finale attracted an enormous US audience and remains one of the most famous television finales ever broadcast.

Australia loses an extraordinary cameraman

On September 17, 1944, Australian war cameraman Damien Parer was killed while filming US Marines during fighting on Peleliu in the Pacific.

Parer had already become famous for his extraordinary footage of Australian troops in New Guinea.

His film Kokoda Front Line! won an Academy Award for best documentary in 1943, bringing images of Australian soldiers fighting along the Kokoda Track to audiences back home.

Parer was just 32 when he died.

A new kind of spacecraft appears

On this day in 1976, NASA publicly unveiled Enterprise, the first Space Shuttle orbiter.

Its name came after thousands of Star Trek fans campaigned for NASA to call it Enterprise rather than the planned Constitution.

The following year, it became the first shuttle to fly freely during atmospheric testing.

Born on this day

Country music legend Hank Williams was born on September 17, 1923.

His life lasted just 29 years, but songs including Your Cheatin’ Heart, Hey, Good Lookin’ and I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry helped shape modern country music.

Do you remember?

Were you a M*A*S*H household? Who was your favourite — Hawkeye, Radar, Hot Lips, Klinger or Colonel Potter? Tell us in the comments.