Dave Garroway was the first host – or “master communicator” – of NBC’s Today program, anchoring the program from its debut in January 1952 until July 1961. But while Garroway is remembered for his role on Today, his career was much more than that. Before Today he was the host of the imaginative and innovative musical variety series Garroway at Large, which delighted in demolishing the “fourth wall” of television and whose experimental, freeform style influenced countless programs that followed. Before television, Garroway was a cool-talking Chicago disc jockey who helped promote up-and-coming artists like Sarah Vaughan.
At the height of his fame Garroway was virtually the face of the National Broadcasting Company, hosting not only Today but the Sunday afternoon series Wide Wide World, and a segment of the weekend radio series Monitor. His easy charm, his erudition, his intelligence, and his offbeat sense of humor charmed viewers and made incredible profits for the network. Behind the scenes, however, Garroway fought personal issues, including depression, a dependence on Dexedrine, and exhaustion. After leaving Today and NBC in 1961, Garroway never again landed a lasting job in broadcasting, despite many efforts over the next two decades. Plagued by his chronic depression and some persistent health issues, Garroway took his own life in 1982.
Garroway’s life is the subject of my most recent writing project. With the cooperation of members of Dave’s family, I have had access to some of his personal documents, as well as the recollections of some who knew him best. I have also made extensive use of archival documents, including two drafts of his unpublished memoir. It’s a research journey that has taken me to Wisconsin, to burrow through the NBC papers at the Wisconsin Historical Society; to Florida, where I interviewed a former NBC cameraman who was on duty for that first Today broadcast; to New York, where I walked the halls of 30 Rockefeller Plaza and visited the studios that were Garroway’s professional home. I’ve talked to and corresponded with several people who have given me recollections and insights about what it was like to work with Dave. I’ve reviewed hours and hours of archival recordings, perused thousands of newspaper and magazine articles, pored over countless documents. I’ve had valuable assistance from several people, notably an associate who has helped guide the project from the beginning.
The book is the debut publication from Tyger River Books and you may purchase it (the book, not Tyger River Books itself) here. You may also read more about Dave Garroway at my tribute site, Garroway at Large. I post occasional updates on the project, along with brief pieces about interesting discoveries, on the Wide Wide Blog. My friend Mitchell Hadley interviewed me about Garroway a few years ago, and you can check that out here.