Ed Walker (radio personality) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ed Walker
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Ed Walker in 2003
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| Born | April 23, 1932 |
| Died | October 26, 2015 (aged 83) |
| Education | American University |
| Occupation | Radio broadcaster |
| Spouse(s) | Nancy (1957–2015, his death) |
Ed Walker (born April 23, 1932 – died October 26, 2015) was a well-known American radio host. He hosted a popular Sunday night show called The Big Broadcast on WAMU-FM. This show played classic radio programs from the 1930s to the 1950s. Some of these old shows included Gunsmoke, The Jack Benny Show, The Lone Ranger, and Superman.
Ed Walker started hosting The Big Broadcast in 1990. It was already a very old show, having begun in 1964 as Recollections. It became the longest-running program on WAMU. His show was very popular, even attracting many young listeners.
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Becoming a Radio Star
Ed Walker was completely blind from birth. He often said that radio was like his "comic books, movies, everything" when he was growing up. After finishing school at the Maryland School for the Blind, he made history. He was the first blind student to attend American University in Washington, D.C.
In 1950, Ed helped start the campus radio station, WAMU-AM. This station later became WAMU-FM. The next year, another famous person, Willard Scott, joined the station. Ed and Willard became very close friends and worked together for many years. Willard Scott even wrote in his book that they were "closer than most brothers." They were also fraternity brothers at American University.
The Joy Boys Show
From 1955 to 1974, Ed Walker and Willard Scott hosted a nightly radio show called Joy Boys. It was an improvised comedy show in Washington, D.C. This meant they made up jokes and stories as they went along!
Willard would come up with ideas for characters and situations. Ed would remember them or write them down using his Braille typewriter. The Joy Boys show was incredibly popular. A newspaper article in 1999 said they "dominated Washington" with their entertainment.
After The Joy Boys
After The Joy Boys show ended in 1974, Ed Walker continued working in radio and television. He worked at stations like WJLA-TV and News Channel 8. He was married to Nancy, who could see, since 1957. They had two daughters and five grandchildren.
You can even find some of The Joy Boys radio shows from the 1960s on CDs. These were released by American University.
Ed Walker was also honored for his amazing career. In 2009, he was chosen to be in the National Radio Hall of Fame. This is a very special award for people who have done great things in radio.
Ed's Final Broadcast
In late 2015, Ed Walker became ill. He decided to retire from The Big Broadcast to focus on his health and spend time with his family. His very last show aired on October 25, 2015. It was recorded from his hospital room. Ed Walker passed away just a few hours after his final broadcast ended.
Images for kids
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Ed Walker in 2003
