Chet Huntley facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Chet Huntley
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Huntley in 1968
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| Born |
Chester Robert Huntley
December 10, 1911 Cardwell, Montana, U.S.
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| Died | March 20, 1974 (aged 62) Big Sky, Montana, U.S.
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| Alma mater | University of Washington |
| Occupation | News anchor |
| Years active | 1934–1970 |
| Spouse(s) |
Ingrid Rolin
(m. 1936; div. 1959)Tippy Stringer
(m. 1959) |
| Children | 2 |
Chester Robert "Chet" Huntley (December 10, 1911 – March 20, 1974) was a famous American television newscaster. He is best known for co-hosting The Huntley–Brinkley Report on NBC for 14 years, starting in 1956. This show was one of the most popular news programs in the United States.
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Chet Huntley's Early Life
Chet Huntley was born in Cardwell, Montana, on December 10, 1911. He was the oldest of four children. His family had roots in Scotland. Chet's father worked as a telegraph operator for the Northern Pacific Railway. Because of his father's job, the family moved around a lot. They lived in many different towns in Montana.
Chet graduated from Whitehall High School. He then went to Montana State College. He also attended Cornish College of the Arts in Seattle. In 1934, he graduated from the University of Washington. He earned a degree in speech and drama.
Starting a Career in News
Chet Huntley began his career in radio news in 1934. His first job was at a radio station called KIRO AM in Seattle. He later worked at other radio stations in Spokane and Portland. In Portland, he worked for KGW-AM. He was a writer, newscaster, and announcer there.
In 1937, he moved to Los Angeles and worked for KFI. He then joined CBS Radio in 1939. He stayed with CBS until 1951. After that, he worked for ABC Radio from 1951 to 1955. In 1955, he joined the NBC Radio network. NBC executives saw him as a rising star in news.
The Huntley–Brinkley Report
In 1956, major political events were happening. News organizations wanted to show off their reporting skills. NBC News wanted to compete with CBS and their popular anchor, Walter Cronkite. NBC decided to replace their current news anchor, John Cameron Swayze. They chose Chet Huntley and David Brinkley to share the job.
Their teamwork on air was clear right away. Huntley was known for his direct and clear way of presenting news. Brinkley added a clever and sometimes funny touch. This successful partnership led them to co-anchor NBC's nightly news program.
The Huntley-Brinkley Report started in October 1956. Huntley reported from New York City, and Brinkley reported from Washington, D.C.. The show quickly became very popular. Their famous closing line was "Good night, Chet"—"Good night, David... and good night for NBC News." This sign-off became well-known. Huntley and Brinkley became very famous. Many people knew them even more than movie stars or music groups like the Beatles.
In April 1956, Huntley also began hosting a new show called Outlook. This program often covered important topics like racial segregation and civil rights. It later changed its name to Chet Huntley Reporting.
Chet Huntley wrote a book about his childhood in Montana. It was called The Generous Years: Remembrances of a Frontier Boyhood. It was published in 1968.
Huntley's last NBC News broadcast was on July 31, 1970. After retiring, he moved back to Montana. There, he helped create Big Sky Resort. This is a ski resort located south of Bozeman. It opened in December 1973.
Family Life
Chet Huntley was married twice. His first marriage was to Ingrid Rolin. They had two daughters together. This marriage ended in 1959. Later that same year, Huntley married Tippy Stringer.
Later Years and Passing
Chet Huntley passed away from lung cancer on March 20, 1974. He was 62 years old. He died at his home in Big Sky, Montana. His death happened just three days before the official opening ceremonies for Big Sky Resort.
Huntley was honored with a special memorial at Soldiers Chapel at Big Sky Resort. He was buried at Sunset Hills Cemetery in Bozeman, Montana.
Awards and Recognition
Chet Huntley received several important awards for his work.
- In 1956, he was given the Alfred I. duPont–Columbia University Award.
- In 1988, after his death, Huntley was honored. He was inducted into the Television Hall of Fame.
Chet Huntley's Legacy
Just before he retired, Chet Huntley shared his thoughts in an interview. He said that he believed in being fair and unbiased in his reporting. He made sure his personal opinions did not affect the news he shared.
In 2003, a book about Chet Huntley was published. It was titled Good Night Chet and was written by Lyle Johnston.
