NBC Monitor was a weekend radio program broadcast which ran from June 12, 1955 until January 26, 1975. Events 1381 - Peasants' Revolt: in England, rebels arrive at Blackheath. The year 1955 saw a number of significant events in Radio broadcasting. Events 1340 - King Edward III of England is declared King of France. The year 1975 in radio involved some significant events Events WLOL-FM in Minneapolis Minnesota flips from Airing live and nationwide on NBC Radio, originally beginning Saturday morning at 8am and continuing through the weekend until midnight on Sunday, it offered a magazine-of-the-air mix of news, sports, comedy, variety, music, celebrity interviews and other short segments. The National Broadcasting Company ( NBC) is an American Television network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Its length and eclectic format were radical departures from the traditional radio programming structure of 30- and 60-minute programs and represented an ambitious attempt to respond to the rise of television as America's major home entertainment medium. Television ( TV) is a widely used Telecommunication medium for sending ( Broadcasting) and receiving moving Images, either monochromatic
The show was the brainchild of legendary NBC radio and television network president Sylvester (Pat) Weaver, whose career bridged classic radio and television's infancy and who sought to keep radio alive in a television age. Sylvester Laflin "Pat" Weaver Jr ( December 21, 1908 &ndash March 17, 2002) was a former radio advertising executive who was Believing that broadcasting could and should educate as well as entertain, Weaver fashioned a series to do both, with some of the best-remembered and best-regarded names in broadcasting, entertainment, journalism and literature taking part. Monitor and the Sunday afternoon TV documentary series Wide Wide World were Weaver's last two great contributions to NBC, as he left the network within a year of Monitor's premiere. Wide Wide World was a 90-minute documentary series telecast live on NBC on Sunday afternoons at 4pm Eastern
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Monitor Beacon
The enduring audio signature of the show was the "Monitor Beacon"—a mix of audio-manipulated telephone tones and the sound of an oscillator emitting the Morse code signal for the letter "M," for "Monitor. " It was described by one source as "a tape loop made from a sequence of 1950s AT&T telephone line switching tones generated by analog oscillators. " [1]
The Beacon introduced the show and was used in transitions, for example, to station breaks, accompanied by the tag line: "You're on the Monitor beacon. " The otherworldly electronic tones of the Beacon can be heard by clicking here (in RealPlayer format).
Anchors and hosts
Monitor aired from a mammoth NBC studio called Radio Central, created especially for the program, on the fifth floor of the RCA Building in midtown Manhattan. The GE Building is an Art Deco Skyscraper that forms the centerpiece of the Rockefeller Center in Midtown Manhattan. NBC unveiled Radio Central to the national television audience during a segment in the October 16, 1955 premiere of Wide Wide World, including a Monitor interview with Alfred Hitchcock (minus audio) and a Monitor newscast (with audio). Events 456 - Magister militum Ricimer defeats the Emperor Avitus at Piacenza and becomes master of the western Year 1955 ( MCMLV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays the 1955 Gregorian calendar) Sir Alfred Joseph Hitchcock, KBE (13 Built at a cost of $150,000, the glass-enclosed studios of Radio Central were described by Pat Weaver as "a listening post of the world. "
From Radio Central, anchors and hosts, initially dubbed "communicators," presided over three- or four-hour segments of the show. Well-known entertainment or broadcasting figures, they gave Monitor an impressive marquee and included: Cindy Adams; Mel Allen; Johnny Andrews; Jim Backus; Red Barber; Frank Blair; Bruce Bradley; David Brinkley; Ted Brown; Ed Bryce; Art Buchwald; Al "Jazzbo" Collins; Brad Crandall; Bill Cullen; James Daly; Jerry Damon; Dan Daniel; Hugh Downs; Clifton Fadiman; Art Fleming; Art Ford; Allen Funt; Frank Gallop; Joe Garagiola; Dave Garroway; Ben Grauer; Peter Hackes; Monty Hall; Bill Hanrahan; Bill Hayes; Bob Haymes; Wayne Howell; Don Imus; Candy Jones; Murray the K; Walter Kiernan; Durward Kirby; Jim Lowe; Hal March; Frank McGee; Ed McMahon; Garry Moore; Henry Morgan; Robert W. Morgan; Barry Nelson; Bert Parks; Leon Pearson; Tony Randall; Gene Rayburn; Peter Roberts; Don Russell; Ted Steele; John Cameron Swayze; Tony Taylor; John Bartholomew Tucker; David Wayne; Big Wilson and Wolfman Jack. Cindy Adams (born April 24, 1925) is an American Gossip columnist and the widow of comedian Joey Adams. Mel Allen ( February 14, 1913 – June 16, 1996) was an American Sportscaster, best known for his long tenure as the primary James Gilmore Backus ( February 25, 1913 &ndash July 3, 1989) was a radio Television, Film actor, Character Walter Lanier "Red" Barber ( February 17, 1908, Columbus Mississippi – October 22, 1992) was an American Myron Bruce Bradley (born January 25, 1947) is a retired Water polo player from the United States, who competed in two consecutive David McClure Brinkley ( July 10 1920 &ndash June 11 2003) was an American Newscaster for NBC, and Arthur Buchwald (October 20 1925 &ndash January 17 2007 was an American humorist best known for his long-running column that he wrote in The Albert Richard "Jazzbo" Collins, aka Al "Jazzbeaux" Collins, (b William Lawrence Francis "Bill" Cullen ( February 18, 1920 – July 7, 1990) was an American Radio and Television James Daly ( October 23, 1918 - July 3, 1978) was an American theater film and Emmy Award-winning television Actor born H Jerome D'Amato (born August 24, 1927; died January 24, 1979) known professionally as Jerry Damon, was an American Dan Daniel ( June 6 1890 &ndash July 1 1981) born Daniel Margowitz, was an American sportswriter whose prolific contributions Hugh Malcolm Downs (born February 14, 1921) is a retired American broadcaster Television host Clifton Fadiman ( May 15, 1904 - June 20, 1999) was an American intellectual Author, Radio and Television Art Fleming ( May 1 1924 - April 25 1995) was an American television host most notably the original host of the TV Game show Allen Funt ( September 16, 1914 &ndash September 5 1999) was an American producer-director best known as the creator and host of Frank Gallop (born June 20 1900 New York City, New York USA died May 5 1988 in New York City of natural causes was an American radio and television personality For this person's son the baseball executive see Joe Garagiola Jr David Cunningham Garroway ( July 13, 1913 – July 21, 1982) was the founding host of NBC 's Today Benjamin Franklin Grauer ( June 2, 1908 – May 31, 1977) was an American Radio and TV personality following Monty Halparin, OC (born August 25, 1921 in Winnipeg, Manitoba) better known by the Stage name Monty Hall (previously William A (Bill Hanrahan (born September 14, 1918 – died August 7, 1996), was an American Radio and Television Billy Hayes may refer to Billy Hayes (composer, best known for Blue Christmas Billy Hayes (writer (born 1947 Wayne Clay Howell Chappelle ( February 16, 1921 &ndash July 8, 1993) known professionally as Wayne Howell, was a Voice-over John Donald Imus Jr (born July 23 1940) known simply as Don Imus, is an American radio host, Shock jock, Humorist Candy Jones (born Jessica Arline Wilcox in Wilkes-Barre Pennsylvania, on December 31, 1925 - January 18, 1990) was an Murray Kaufman ( February 14, 1922 &ndash February 21, 1982) professionally known as Murray the K, was a famous and influential Walter J Kiernan ( 25 January 1902, New Haven CT &ndash 8 January 1978, Daytona Beach FL was an American radio television and print journalist Homer Durward Kirby ( August 24 1911, Covington Kentucky &mdash March 15 2000, Fort Myers Florida) known professionally Jim lowe is a British Record Producer Born 1971 London He has had success with Stereophonics including No Hal March (born Harold Mendelson, April 22, 1920 in San Francisco California - died January 19, 1970 in Los Angeles Frank McGee (September 12 1921&mdashApril 17 1974 was a Television Journalist. Edward "Ed" Leo Peter McMahon Jr (born March 6 1923 is an American Comedian, Game show host, Announcer, and Television personality Garry Moore (January 31 1915 – November 28 1993 was an American Entertainer, Game show host and Comedian best known for his work in television Not to be confused with Harry Morgan, American actor of film and television who was billed as Henry Morgan in certain roles Robert W Morgan (July 23 1937 &ndash May 22 1998 was a renowned Disc jockey who was inducted into the Radio Hall of Fame in 1999 Barry Nelson ( April 16, 1917 – April 7, 2007) was an American Actor, noted as the first actor to portray Ian Bert Parks ( December 30, 1914 – February 2, 1992) was an American Actor, Singer, and Radio and Tony Randall ( February 26, 1920 &ndash May 17, 2004) was an American comic and Actor. Gene Rayburn ( December 22, 1917 &ndash November 29, 1999) was an American Radio and Television personality Sir Peter Geoffrey Roberts 3rd Baronet ( 23 June 1912 &ndash 22 July 1985) was a British Conservative Party politician Prof Edward J (Ted Steele is a controversial Australian molecular immunologist formerly with the University of Wollongong, now listed as a visiting fellow at the Australian John Cameron Swayze ( April 4, 1906 – August 15, 1995) was a popular news commentator and Game show panelist in the Antonio Nemesio (Sanchez Taylor (born December 19, 1935 in Central Alara Cuba) is a former Second baseman in Major League Baseball John Bartholomew Tucker (born April 9, 1930 in Pennsylvania) is an American Radio and Television personality as well as David Wayne ( January 30 1914 - February 9 1995) was a Tony Award -winning American Actor with a career spanning Behind the scenes, Monitor's executive producers included Jim Fleming, Frank Papp, Al Capstaff and Bob Maurer.
Features and personalities
Regular segments included "Celebrity Chef," "Ring Around the World" and "On the Line with Bob Considine. " On-the-spot live remote broadcasts from New York City jazz clubs on Saturday evenings included both jazz groups and vocalists, such as Al Hibbler. Al Hibbler ( August 16, 1915 - April 24, 2001) was a vocalist with several pop hits
In the show's early years, weather reports were delivered in a breathy, sexy voice by actress Tedi Thurman in the role of Miss Monitor. Tedi Thurman was a fashion model and actress best known for her appearances as Miss Monitor on NBC's Monitor, programmed by Pat Weaver as an Various broadcasting personalities heard delivering reports and segments included Jerry Baker (the Master Gardener), Morgan Beatty, Joyce Brothers, Al Capp, Paul Christman, Marlene Dietrich, Len Dillon, Chris Economaki; Arlene Francis, Betty Furness, Curt Gowdy, Skitch Henderson, Chet Huntley, Graham Kerr (the Galloping Gourmet), Joe Kirkwood, Jr., Fran Koltun; Sandy Koufax, Bill Mazer, Lindsey Nelson, Kyle Rote, Gene Shalit, Jean Shepherd, Jim Simpson, Barbara Walters, Ted Webbe, Tony Zappone and many NBC News correspondents. Joyce Brothers (born September 20, 1925) is an American Psychologist and advice columnist publishing a daily syndicated newspaper column since 1960 Al Capp (September 28 1909 &ndash November 5 1979 was an American Cartoonist and Humorist, best known for the satiric Comic strip Paul Joseph Christman ( March 5, 1918 - March 2, 1970) was an American football player and a member of the College Football Hall Marlene Dietrich maɐˈleːnə ˈdiːtrɪç (December 27 &ndashMay 6) was a German -born American Actress, Singer and Entertainer Arlene Francis (born Arline Francis Kazanjian; October 20 1907 - May 31 2001) was an American actress Radio Elizabeth Mary Furness, better known as Betty Furness ( January 3, 1916 &ndash April 2, 1994) was an American actress Curtis Edward Gowdy ( July 31 1919 – February 20 2006) was an American Sportscaster, well-known as the longtime "voice" Lyle Russell Cedric “Skitch” Henderson ( January 27 1918 &ndash November 1 2005) was a Pianist, conductor, and Chester Robert "Chet" Huntley ( December 10, 1911 - March 20, 1974) was an American Television newscaster Graham Kerr (born January 22, 1934 in London) is a cooking personality who gained fame through his cooking show The Galloping Gourmet. Joe Kirkwood Jr (born May 30, 1920) is a former Professional golfer on the PGA Tour, and a Motion picture Sanford Koufax (ˈkoʊfæks (born Sanford Braun, on December 30, 1935) is an American Left-handed former Pitcher in Bill Mazer (born 1920 in Kiev during the Russian Civil War) is an American TV/radio personality Lindsey Nelson ( May 25, 1919 - June 10, 1995) was an American sportscaster best known for his broadcasts of College Kyle Rote Sr ( October 27, 1928 – August 15, 2002) was an American football player and Sports announcer. Gene Shalit (born March 25, 1932 in New York City) is the film and book critic on NBC 's The Today Show. Jean Parker Shepherd ( July 26, 1921 - October 16, 1999) was an American Raconteur, Radio and TV personality Jim Simpson (born December 29, 1927) is a retired American Sportscaster, known for his smooth delivery as a Play-by-play man and his Barbara Jill Walters (born September 25 1929) is an American Journalist, writer and media Tony Zappone (born Anthony N Zappone, October 9, 1947 in Tampa Florida) at age 16 became the youngest credentialed journalist to lend press NBC News is the news division of American Television network NBC, a part of NBC Universal, which is majority-owned by General Electric
Many comedy talents appeared through the years, including Woody Allen, Bill Cosby, Selma Diamond, Phyllis Diller, Bob Hope, Ernie Kovacs, Bob Newhart and Jonathan Winters. Woody Allen (born Allan Stewart Konigsberg; December 1 1935 is an American Film director, Writer, Actor, Comedian, and William Henry Cosby Jr (born July 12 1937 is an American Comedian, Actor, Author, Television producer and Activist. Selma Diamond ( August 5, 1920 - May 13, 1985) was an Emmy Award -nominated comic actress and Radio and Television Bold text Phyllis Diller (born Phyllis Driver, July 17, 1917) is a Golden Globe -nominated American comedienne Bob Hope, KBE KCSG ( May 29, 1903 &ndash July 27, 2003) was an American comedian and actor who appeared in Ernie Kovacs ( January 23, 1919 — January 13, 1962) was an American comedian whose George Robert "Bob" Newhart (born September 5, 1929) is an American stand-up comedian and Actor. Jonathan Harshman Winters III (born November 11 1925 is an American comedian and actor The comedy team of Mike Nichols and Elaine May appeared on Monitor, as did Jerry Stiller and Anne Meara. Mike Nichols (born November 6 1931) is an American television stage and Film director, writer and producer Elaine May (born April 21 1932, Philadelphia) is a two-time Academy Award nominated Director, Screenwriter and Gerald "Jerry" Stiller (born June 8 1927 is an American Emmy Award -nominated Comedian and actor Anne Meara (born September 20 1929 is an American Comedian and actress. Bob and Ray, who won a 1957 Peabody Award for their Monitor comedy routines, often remained at NBC during the weekend to step in if technical problems developed with remote segments. Bob Elliott (born 1923 and Ray Goulding (1922–1990 were an American comedy team whose career spanned five decades The George Foster Peabody Awards, better known as simply the Peabody Awards, are annual international awards for excellence in Radio and Television broadcasting
In addition to Bob and Ray, several Monitor regulars in its early years helped the show bridge the classic and modern radio eras. Henry Morgan had been a controversial radio comedian in the 1940s. Not to be confused with Harry Morgan, American actor of film and television who was billed as Henry Morgan in certain roles Clifton Fadiman was the legendary host of Information Please, the highbrow quiz show. Clifton Fadiman ( May 15, 1904 - June 20, 1999) was an American intellectual Author, Radio and Television Information Please was an American Radio Quiz show, created by Dan Golenpaul, which aired Mel Allen and Red Barber were familiar baseball voices (respectively, the New York Yankees and the Brooklyn Dodgers) since the 1940s. Baseball is a Bat-and-ball Sport played between two teams of nine players each The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the borough of The Bronx, in New York City, New York. The Los Angeles Dodgers are a Major League Baseball team based in Los Angeles California, USA Garry Moore rose to fame as Jimmy Durante's radio sidekick. Garry Moore (January 31 1915 – November 28 1993 was an American Entertainer, Game show host and Comedian best known for his work in television Bert Parks was host of the radio hits Stop the Music and Break the Bank. Bert Parks ( December 30, 1914 – February 2, 1992) was an American Actor, Singer, and Radio and Break the Bank was a Quiz show which aired variously on ABC, CBS and NBC from 1948 through 1957
Several radio comedy shows were revived in the form of regular five-minute Monitor segments, including Duffy's Tavern. Duffy's Tavern, an American radio Situation comedy ( CBS, 1941-1942 NBC-Blue Network, 1942-1944 NBC, 1944-1952 Jim and Marian Jordan, better known as old-time radio favorites Fibber McGee and Molly, held down a regular Monitor segment and were said to be negotiating a new, long-term commitment to the show when Marian Jordan died of cancer in 1961. Fibber McGee and Molly was a radio show that played a major role in determining the full form of what became classic old-time radio. Peg Lynch and Alan Bunce, vintage radio's Ethel and Albert, also performed five-minute Monitor vignettes (1963-65). Ethel and Albert (aka The Private Lives of Ethel and Albert) was a radio and television comedy series about a married couple Ethel and Albert Arbuckle living in Peg Lynch made several of the vignettes available on compact disc for OTR collectors.
Remote segments originating from locations around the country were a regular part of Monitor, setting it apart from studio-bound broadcasts and taking advantage of network radio's reach. A weekend might include reports from a festival in Tucson, a golf championship in North Carolina, NBC's correspondent in Moscow, or on preparations for the Olympic Games in Melbourne, Australia.
Later years
The innovative approach of Monitor made it a profitable success for NBC Radio over many years, helping to sustain the network in an era when network radio was collapsing. By the early 1960s, however, the show was reduced from 40 to 16 hours each weekend, and starting in 1974 only 12 live weekend hours were aired (plus nine repeated hours). Radio stations, especially in large markets, had increasingly adopted personality-driven formats featuring local disc jockeys and sought to establish a clear-cut musical or talk identity for themselves. A disc jockey (also known as DJ or deejay) is a person who selects and plays recorded music for an audience The something-for-everyone character of Monitor often did not fit in, and fewer stations carried the program in major markets. NBC finally gave up fighting the trend, and the last show was broadcast January 26, 1975, almost 20 years after the Beacon first greeted listeners in 1955. Events 1340 - King Edward III of England is declared King of France. Year 1975 ( MCMLXXV) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar.
Listen to
- NPR: Liane Hansen talks with Dennis Hart on the 50th anniversary of Monitor (6/12/05)
- Miss Monitor (Tedi Thurman)
- Monitor (June 6, 1959, 11am to noon ET, Saturday with Bob and Ray, Ernie Kovacs, Miss Monitor, Bob Wilson, Monty Hall, Herb Kaplow, Longines Chorus and Orchestra, segment on airline ticketing via "electronic brain" in Copenhagen
- "Miss Janitor," the Joy Boys' parody of Miss Monitor (February 10, 1961)
- Monitor: Nichols and May (September, 1964)
See also
Note
References
- Hart, Dennis. Monty Halparin, OC (born August 25, 1921 in Winnipeg, Manitoba) better known by the Stage name Monty Hall (previously Radio is one of the major major mass media of the United States. Monitor (Take 2): The Revised, Expanded Inside Story of Network Radio's Greatest Program. 297 pages. New York: iUniverse, 2003. ISBN 0-595-28177-X
External links
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