60 YEARS AGO TODAY:
4/27/65 – Newscaster Edward R. Murrow dies
Murrow was one of the most respected voices on television. He was considered "The Father Of Broadcast News," credited with INVENTING the idea of broadcasting the news over the radio. He first gained prominence by broadcasting live radio broadcasts from Europe during World War II.
He spent his entire career broadcasting for CBS, first joining the network in 1935. (He eventually became Vice President of the Network.)
In addition to broadcasting The Evening News, Murrow as also known for his television series "See It Now" and "Person To Person," on which he interviewed celebrities, making him the Barbara Walters or Mike Wallace of his day.
He had been diagnosed with lung cancer sixteen months earlier, forcing him to retire. (He had his left lung removed as a result of this diagnosis.) It is believed that Murrow smoked between 60 and 75 cigarettes a day, a virtual chain smoker by all counts, rarely seen without a beloved Camel cigarette in his mouth.
Ironically, "See It Now" was the first television program to have a report about the connection between smoking and cancer. During that broadcast, Murrow said, "I doubt I could spend a half hour without a cigarette with any comfort or ease."
In 1984, Murrow was posthumously inducted into the Television Hall Of Fame ... and in 1996, he was ranked No. 22 on TV Guide's "50 Greatest TV Stars of All Time" list.
