RADIO was the number one form of family entertainment for a quarter century. In a dazzling step back in time veteran broadcaster John Rayburn talks about the fantastic era of broadcasting in fascinating interviews with a sterling list of guests, including Durward Kirby (Garry Moore Show), Parley Baer (original “Chester” on radio’s Gunsmoke), Arthur Anderson (Let’s Pretend), Carmel Quinn (Irish singer on Arthur Godfrey), Ezra Stone (Henry Aldrich), Minnie Pearl (Grand Ole Opry), Fred Foy (Announcer on The Lone Ranger), Gale Gordon (I Love Lucy, Our Miss Brooks), Charles Correll (Andy of Amos ‘n’ Andy), Himan Brown (Inner Sanctum, Grand Central Station), Chet Lauck (Lum of Lum and Abner), Frankie Carle (Big band leader).
There are great stories about Red Skelton, Jack Armstrong, Lights Out, Quiz Kids, Little Orphan Annie, Jimmy Durante, Time Marches On, Hindenburg disaster, President Roosevelt’s December 8, 1941 declaration of war against Japan and many, many more.
About the Author
John Rayburn is a veteran of 62 years in broadcasting and is a member of a Broadcast Pioneers Hall of Fame. He served as a news/sports anchor and show host, and his TV newscast achieved the largest Share of Audience figures of any major-market TV newscast in the nation.
His network credits include reports/appearances on The Today Show, Huntley-Brinkley News, Walter Cronkite News, NBC Monitor, NBC News on the Hour, et al. He recorded dozens of books for the National Library Service and narrated innumerable Radio/TV recordings. He had conversation/interviews with Ronald Reagan (then President of the Screen Actors Guild), John F. Kennedy (U.S. Senator at the time), Jimmy Carter on the campaign trail, special coverage with Presidents Richard Nixon and Harry Truman, and many more with major personalities in business, education, politics, sports, entrainment, literature, et al.
Rayburn has traveled extensively, gaining information and making observations about our national foibles. He is well suited to bring fascinating stories to life concerning the people, places and things that combine to present lively observations of our day-to-day lives.