I wonder who started the idea of Desert Island Discs. For many years, the now-defunct Tower Records had a Desert Island Discs list in its monthly Pulse Magazine. Tower is probably the most famous thing ever to come out of Sacramento, California - and now it's gone.
Wikipedia says Desert island Discs was first broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 1942. Russ Solomon founded Tower Records in Sacramento in 1960, so I guess that answers my question. The Brits win.
-Joe-