Tex McCrary facts for kids

John Reagan "Tex" McCrary Jr. (October 13, 1910 – July 29, 2003) was an American journalist. He also worked in public relations. Tex McCrary became famous for helping to create the talk show style for television and radio. He did this with his wife, Jinx Falkenburg. Together, they hosted the first radio talk show, Meet Tex and Jinx. They also had other popular shows like Hi Jinx and At Home.

Tex McCrary's Story

Early Life and Education

Tex McCrary was born in Calvert, Texas. He went to a school called Phillips Exeter Academy. He finished there in 1928. Later, he studied at Yale University, graduating in 1932. At Yale, he was in charge of the school's humor magazine, The Yale Record. He was also a member of a special club there.

Starting a Journalism Career

After college, Tex McCrary was hired by a newspaper editor named Arthur Brisbane. He started working for the New York Daily Mirror in 1932. In 1934, Tex married Sarah, who was Arthur Brisbane's daughter. While on their honeymoon, Tex helped design how the Daily Mirror newspaper would look. He worked as an editor for the paper for some time.

Serving in World War II

Tex McCrary joined the United States Army Air Forces during World War II. He worked in public relations for the military. He flew many missions in bomber planes. He was part of important events during the war, like the invasion of Sicily. Tex became a captain in the Air Force.

Reporting from the War Zone

After the war in Europe ended (V-E Day), Tex McCrary put together a team of reporters. They traveled across Europe in a special plane. This plane had powerful radio equipment. They saw the damage from bombings in cities like Hamburg and Dresden.

In September, they were among the first Americans to visit Hiroshima after the atomic bombing. Tex McCrary thought it was too difficult for Americans to hear about the bombing's effects. He advised reporters not to cover it. However, one journalist, John Hersey, still wrote a famous story about it. Over the next few months, Tex and his team also visited places in Asia, like China and Thailand.

Inventing the Talk Show

After the war, Tex McCrary and his wife, Jinx Falkenburg, became very famous. They created the first radio talk show, Meet Tex and Jinx. This show was a new idea where they would chat and interview guests. They also hosted other popular radio and TV shows, making the "talk show" a popular type of program.

Later Life and Politics

Tex McCrary was a strong supporter of the Republican Party. He played a big part in convincing Dwight Eisenhower to run for president in 1952. He also helped with other important business and political projects. For example, he helped promote Freedomland U.S.A., a popular theme park in New York.

Tex McCrary passed away in New York City in 2003.