Dave Garroway facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Dave Garroway
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Dave Garroway
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| Born |
David Cunningham Garroway
July 13, 1913 |
| Died | July 21, 1982 (aged 69) |
| Occupation | Television journalist |
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Notable work
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The Today Show Anchor (1952–1961) Wide Wide World Host (1955–1958) |
| Spouse(s) | Adele Dwyer(1945–1946) Pamela Wilde (1956–1961) Sarah Lee Lippincott (1980–1982) |
| Children | David Garroway, Jr. Paris Garroway Michael Garroway |
David Cunningham "Dave" Garroway (born July 13, 1913 – died July 21, 1982) was the first host of NBC's famous Today program. He hosted the show from 1952 to 1961. Dave was known for his calm and friendly style on television. Even though he seemed relaxed, Garroway faced personal challenges with his mood.
He is remembered for his important work in radio and television. He has stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and the St. Louis Walk of Fame. St. Louis is a city where he lived during his teenage years and early adulthood.
Contents
Growing Up and Early Career
Dave Garroway was born in Schenectady, New York. His family moved many times before they settled in St. Louis, Missouri when he was 14. He went to University City High School (St. Louis). Later, he studied abnormal psychology at Washington University in St. Louis.
Before becoming a broadcaster, Garroway tried different jobs. He worked as a lab assistant at Harvard University. He also sold books and piston rings. When these jobs didn't work out, he decided to try a career in radio.
Garroway started his broadcasting journey in a small way. In 1938, he began as an NBC page (like an intern). He then graduated from NBC's school for announcers. In 1939, he got a job at Pittsburgh radio station KDKA (AM).
A "Roving Announcer"
As a reporter for KDKA, Garroway became known as the "Roving Announcer." He would go to unusual places to find stories. He reported from a hot-air balloon and even from inside a U.S. Navy submarine in the Ohio River. He also reported from deep inside a coal mine. His unique reporting style helped him become the station's special events director. After two years, Garroway moved to Chicago.
Radio Days
When the United States joined World War II in 1941, Garroway joined the U.S. Navy. While he was stationed in Honolulu, he hosted a radio show in his free time. He played jazz music and shared stories about Chicago.
After the war, Garroway became a disc jockey at WMAQ (AM) in Chicago. He hosted several radio shows, including The 11:60 Club and The Dave Garroway Show. He had a unique habit on his shows: instead of clapping, his studio audience would snap their fingers after a song. Garroway also helped organize jazz concerts in 1947. This helped bring back interest in jazz music. Other disc jockeys voted him the best in the country in 1948, 1949, and 1951.
In 1955, Garroway moved to New York. He became the first host of NBC Radio's Monitor program. He continued to host the Sunday evening show until 1961. He also worked on other radio stations later in his career.
Television Career
Dave Garroway first appeared on national television as the host of Garroway at Large. This was an experimental musical variety show broadcast live from Chicago. It aired on NBC from 1949 to 1951.
Garroway's calm and friendly style became his signature. A reviewer from The New York Times once wrote that he didn't burst into homes with loud jokes. Instead, he was pleasant, serious, and smart-looking. On television, Garroway was famous for his goodbyes. He would say "Peace" while raising his hand.
Garroway was one of the first people to host a television talk show. He helped create a new, more relaxed way of talking on TV. Before him, many broadcasters sounded very formal. Garroway made it feel like viewers were sitting in the studio with him. For example, he once started the Today show by saying, "And how are you about the world today? Let's see what kind of shape it's in; there is a glimmer of hope."
Hosting the Today Show
In 1951, NBC president Sylvester "Pat" Weaver chose Garroway to host a new morning show. This show would combine news and entertainment. It was called the Today show and first aired on January 14, 1952. Garroway was joined by news editor Jim Fleming and announcer Jack Lescoulie.
At first, critics didn't like the show. But Garroway's easygoing style quickly attracted many viewers. His co-host, a chimpanzee named J. Fred Muggs, also made the show popular. Garroway was also serious about news stories. He could explain difficult ideas clearly. This earned him the nickname "The Communicator." Soon, both critics and viewers praised him.
While hosting Today, Garroway also hosted other shows. He had a Friday night variety series called The Dave Garroway Show from 1953 to 1954. From 1955 to 1958, he hosted NBC's Sunday afternoon documentary series, Wide Wide World. He also hosted a radio show called Dial Dave Garroway every morning after Today finished.
Garroway took the Today show to many different places. He broadcast from Paris in 1959 and Rome in 1960. He visited car shows, technology expos, and even flew aboard an Air Force B-52 for a practice bombing run. Through his show, Garroway introduced viewers to many interesting people. These included politicians, writers, artists, scientists, and musicians.
Leaving Today and Later Work
Dave Garroway faced challenges with his mood. Towards the end of his time on Today, he sometimes had disagreements with staff. Some days, he would even leave in the middle of the live broadcast. In April 1961, his second wife, Pamela, passed away. This was a very sad time for Garroway. He decided to resign from Today to spend more time with his children. His last Today show was on June 16, 1961.
After leaving Today, Garroway returned to television in 1962. He hosted a science series called Exploring the Universe on National Educational Television (which later became PBS). He also went back to radio, hosting shows in New York. Garroway tried to start a magazine about FM radio, but it was not successful. He realized he was not meant to be a businessman.
While working on his magazine, Garroway read many law books to understand his lawyer better. His attorney joked that he had read enough to pass the New York State bar exam. Garroway took the exam as a bet and passed the written part!
Garroway continued to appear on local radio and television shows. He also made appearances on Today anniversary shows. His last appearance was for the 30th anniversary show in 1982.
He was very interested in astronomy. During a trip to see Russian telescopes, he met his third wife, astronomer Sarah Lee Lippincott. In his final years, he attended astronomy meetings and spent time at Sproul Observatory.
Other Projects
As the host of Today, Garroway also promoted some of the show's sponsors. These included Admiral television sets and Sergeant's dog food. Most of these promotions were in print ads. In 1960, there was even a board game called "Dave Garroway's Today Game."
Garroway loved music and played the drums as a hobby. He lent his name to several music recordings in the late 1950s and early 1960s. These included jazz, classical, and pop music albums. He also narrated special albums, like The Great Campaigners, 1928–1960.
In 1960, Garroway wrote a children's activity book called Fun on Wheels. It was for kids on road trips. The book was updated and reissued in 1962 and 1964.
Towards the end of his life, Garroway planned to write his autobiography. He gathered many notes and recordings for it. After his death, these materials were given to the Library of American Broadcasting.
Later Life and Legacy
Dave Garroway passed away on July 21, 1982, at his home in Swarthmore, Pennsylvania. He had undergone heart surgery. He had a son, David Jr., and a daughter, Paris. When he married Pamela in 1956, he adopted her son, Michael, and raised him as his own.
The Today show on July 22 was a special tribute to Garroway. His colleagues, like Jack Lescoulie and Frank Blair, shared their memories of him. His passing was also noted on NBC Nightly News. The host of NBC News Overnight, Linda Ellerbee, ended her program by saying "Peace," just like Garroway used to do.
Because Garroway cared deeply about mental health, his third wife, Sarah, helped create the Dave Garroway Laboratory for the Study of Depression at the University of Pennsylvania. Garroway is buried in West Laurel Hill Cemetery in Pennsylvania.
Fun Facts and Appearances
- A 1960 cartoon called Wild Wild World featured a character named "Cave Darroway."
- Mad made fun of him in one issue, calling him "Dave Garrowunway."
- In the 1994 film Quiz Show, Garroway was played by Barry Levinson.
| Preceded by None |
Today Show Host January 14, 1952–June 16, 1961 |
Succeeded by John Chancellor |
Images for kids
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Garroway's signature upraised hand while saying "Peace"
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Garroway and crew on the Today show set (1952)
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Garroway as host of Wide Wide World (1957)
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The Garroways at home in 1960. From left: Garroway with David, Jr., wife Pamela, daughter Paris, and son Michael seated on the floor
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Garroway at the wheel of his favorite car, a 1938 SS Jaguar 100, which he restored
See also
In Spanish: Dave Garroway para niños
