Ray Forrest
Announcer/ Broadcaster
About This Interview
In 1939, Ray Forrest (1916-1999) became television's very first news anchor, announcer, personality, and political commentator. In his interview, he speaks at length about the early days of NBC where he announced every show on the air as well as breaking news events. He also talks about working in the television studios with the cumbersome lights and cameras. After the war, he started one of the first children's television shows on Saturday mornings. The interview was conducted April 12, 1997 by Jeff Kisseloff.
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Chapters
- Chapter 1
- On his early years and influences; on getting a job at NBC; on meeting Albert Einstein
- Chapter 2
- On his first job as announcer for experimental NBC in New York, the early TV studios and equipment, and how the public first reacted to television
- Chapter 3
- On his work announcing every single show on the air on NBC, and how the network's regular programming began
- Chapter 4
- On some of the early mishaps of early live television; on meeting NBC head David Sarnoff; on the advent of commercials; on the on-air announcement of WWII.
- Chapter 5
- On working at NBC during WW II; on the beginning of Milton Berle's show; on the first color television system; on the start of children's TV shows
- Chapter 6
- On his work on the children's show Saturday Morning Children's Theatre; on winning a local Emmy; and leaving the television industry
Ray Forrest is a tv anchor legend. I love the highlighted quote of his. I do believe that radio announcers sounded stuffy. Television broadcasts are more relaxed. He was definitely an icon then and is still a television icon. I'm sure he has been loved and watched on many home theater systems around the nation. This was a great interview!
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