Comments? Questions? Your personal memories about Monitor?

E-mail me, and I will add your entry to the Guestbook or to the Monitor Memories Page!

Latest Entries

Comments: This post isn't exactly about "Monitor", but it is NBC Radio Network-related and is something I think visitors to this website will be interested in.

Last year, through "inter-library loan" (where a patron of one public library could borrow a book from the collection of a neighboring library), I was able to borrow a book titled The Fourth Chime, published by NBC News in 1944.

The book's layout and typefaces are very similar to the wartime Life magazine (although there is no evidence to suggest that anyone other than NBC News had a hand in publishing the book), especially since it has lots of photos, including a couple of rare shots of the NBC newsroom with newsmen "at work".

The book looks at some of the major news events from 1931 through D-Day in June, 1944. Since that was the last event covered in the book, I suspect that it was published that summer, prior to the liberation of Paris that August.

The highlights of the book have to be a map showing the NBC Radio Network affiliates as of 1944 (this was shortly after NBC divested itself of the "Blue" network) and profiles of NBC News anchors and correspondents of the era.
Several of these correspondents would later contribute to "Monitor" in it's early years.

I strongly recommend this book. If you can find a copy at a yard sale, an antiquarian bookstore or on E-Bay, go for it!


Joseph Gallant
Norwood, MA

August 22, 2008

Comments: Dennis,

My mother, Bee Baxter (radio name) was a Midwest broadcaster who made  her first appearance on radio on WOW Omaha at the age of 17 (in 1930).  After less than two tumultuous years, she took a breather, returned to her Minneapolis roots, and in 1935 joined the talent staff of KSTP-AM (1500), one of the most innovative (and first) commercial broadcasters in the NBC chain.  Bee Baxter had her own show on KSTP  -- The Household Forum -- and later became host of a late WWII program -- The Saturday Smorgasbord.  At the end of WWII she left KSTP for Sioux Falls South Dakota where she couldn't resist staying off the air, and wangled an hour's mid-morning air time daily on KSOO (1440) --  then a Mutual Broadcasting System affiliate -- to broadcast from our family kitchen on a dedicated line to the downtown studio.  Her RCA 44B microphone stood on our kitchen counter right next to the telephone transmitted and the Mixmaster. 

In 1952, she returned to the Twin Cities and to KSTP-TV.  By the mid-1950's, she was back on AM radio, and became one of the earliest local features contributors to NBC Monitor.  At the age of 13, I became her location recording engineer, and over the next three or four years, she submitted series of three-minute local color features to NBC Monitor.  When they were played (and many were) she was paid the princessly sum of $33.00 per feature, and I got pocket change for each feature that made it on the national airwaves.  At that time, there was just the beginning of high quality, affordable tape recording equipment , and we had one of the first Tandberg 3B's in the Midwest, and with a trusty Shure S55 microphone, and a small battery and inverter setup. On some occasions, KSTP was kind enough to loan us one of their Ampex 600's for our location recordings. Since we didn't have a second recorder at home, I edited all the original takes, spliced them together, and sent the masters to NBC in New York.  (At the time of their broadcast locally, I didn't have the presence of mind to record them off the air.)  It was enough to hear them, once again.  We recorded under the power generation tunnel of the Ford Plant locks and dam on the Mississippi River , from hayfields with the accompaniment of steam powered belt-driven farm equipment,  from the Minnesota State Fair (with the requisite barnyard animal, carnival, and motor racing sounds in the background), and from an echoey building's enormous scale model of the US Army Corps of Engineers engineering projects on the Mississippi river from their start in Northern Minnesota down to St. Louis .

Baxter remained active in one way or another in community radio and television as a programmer, fund raiser, or talent until shortly before her death in 1983.

In addition to the fabulous national talent, the early days of NBC Monitor would not have gotten their local affiliates to buy in
without the opportunity for local and stringer talent to submit small featurettes, and I was proud to be a part of that network of local submissions.  I haven't had the opportunity, yet, to read the second edition of your book, but I do hope that somewhere in the dusty records may be lists of local talent who also contributed to one of the greatest national broadcast ideas ever concocted during the "better days" of AM network broadcasting.

Thank you for the great archives and your work as curator of a wonderful collection.

Roger N. Meyer
Serendipity Sound (and much more)
Portland, OR

August 10, 2008

Comments:  Dear Dennis,

“Monitor” brings up wonderful word pictures in my mind. What a time that was! It’s great that you provided a plethora of pictures. And it looks like all the air talent used good old RCA BX 77 mics, aka “The Johnny Carson Mic.”

I was a radio guy in the upper Midwest for around 15 years, with some TV thrown in. So “Monitor” represents radio at its finest. The closest we have today is National Public Radio. But the “Monitor” spirit is one-of-a-kind. And gosh, the hosts looked so young in the photos.

Can’t it all come back? We can only hope!

Thank You!

Best Regards,

Jim Stokes

June 17, 2008

Comments:  I was an NBC Page, then a desk assistant. I remember the 5th floor Radio Central studios very well.

One of my duties as a desk assistant was to work with the Saturday or Sunday Monitor talent. When the late Ted Brown anchored, we had to bring him Giants football scores. Finally the engineers hooked up a TV feed for him, so he could watch the games on Sunday afternoons. When Monitor left the air, I remember the Hourlies using the empty large radio area, until NIS took over, and filled it with production people.

Comments: Hi,

I was thrilled to find your web site about Monitor. I remember it well, and was tickled that there is a site out there that memorializes it.

I have a question about one of the 1950's programs.  I understand that on Nov. 15, 1958, Monitor aired a taped conversation with Tyrone Power and Ted Richmond – which was Power's last interview before his death. I've always wanted to hear that interview…Is there any way it might be added to the site's clips any time soon?

Thanks for your time, and again, for keeping the memory of Monitor alive and well!!

Charles Culbertson

Bridgewater, Virginia

May 16, 2008

Editor's note: I would love to add the interview Charles refers to, above, but I do not have it. I'm always looking for new Monitor clips, so if anyone out there has any, or you know of someone who does, please have them contact me. Believe me, we can work out a trade.

Comments:  Dennis,

It was interesting to read Jake Rees' e-mail post to the Guestbook (just below). It echoes what I was just thinking about recently: that 1963-1969 was the prime of Monitor.

The Monitor I remember is best typified by the 1964 Barry Nelson segment I sent you (you can hear it on the "Sounds of Monitor" page). I guess that's why I kept it without taping over it all these years. It had everything. But that was typical of Monitor in the mid-60s. Sorry I didn't keep more of those.

Every hour was packed with features of one type or the other. The sound was consistent throughout the weekend, although each segment had a different color. Maybe that was because of the different hosts, maybe it was me. There was that anticipation on Saturday morning and the melancholy of Sunday night and the end of another weekend. But it was always fascinating to me when a host turned up outside of the usual shift. And, of course, Saturday morning and afternoon had to make certain allowances for commercial load.

Of course, those years coincide with the presidency of Steve Labunski who protected the network from the TV guys as long as he could.

The problem is that guys like us didn't keep the usual stuff. A lot of the segments that still exist are specials and tributes (which, while good, aren't really representative of what the program was like weekend after weekend. Like the Joni Mitchell song says: “You don't know what you've got till it's gone.” Well maybe we knew what we had, but we figured it would always be there, so we kept recording over it with the next week's version. Beware the allure of novelty.

I guess we just should be happy we have something.

Louis Castaing

Baton Rouge, Louisiana

April 22, 2008

Comments: Hi, Dennis,

I listened to NBC Monitor mainly during the years 1964-69 from a small town in Florida . I was age 15-20 (now 59) and listened via WJAX Jacksonville, FL which broadcast with only 5 Kw of power and was about 50 miles away so the signal was not the best.

I think it was 1964 (maybe 1963) when I began to discover the world of radio beyond the local powerful 50 Kw pop/rock station and a few other locals. I had a transistor portable radio with an AM and shortwave band. It was quite a fascination to me, that so many far away places could be heard at night on the AM band (northern US cities mainly) and on shortwave, places scattered throughout the world although Europe was most notable. I became an AM and shortwave DX'er collecting QSL cards, etc. and purchased a better radio receiver.

During that period, I sometimes listened to NBC Monitor weekend afternoons. I definitely remember two of the hosts being actors Barry Nelson and James Daly. Monitor was an alternative; different from other AM programming. It had a sense of immediacy with live NBC news, music, topical interviews, commentary and all, with famous hosts and of course, came out of one of the world's most exciting cities, NYC. Monitor was part of my personal discovery of the extended world of radio.

This interest in radio as a listener (and TV as a viewer) seemed to get me thinking about trying to perhaps make it a career. I always thought, broadcasting seemed more interesting than say, toothpick manufacturing, so why not work towards that end...? So I went in the direction of electronics education always hoping to get into broadcasting as a technician. I never worked in radio but moved to California and in 1973, became a technician at NBC-TV Burbank lasting for 33 years until retirement. Who would have thunk it (as Dizzy Dean used to say).

I certainly would not have, listening to NBC Monitor in the sixties. Your site is fantastic. I've listened to and looked at most everything (and saved it all). The Monitor programs are so great; time travel of a sort; music rarely heard anymore. Some of them with the news included give it an extra historical value. Please keep putting more and more of them on the site. I hope some more might be from 1963-1969 but any are appreciated.

Thank you. We're on the Monitor Beacon..........

Jake (Owen) Rees

April 17, 2008

Comments: As a young 10 and 11 year old (I'm 62) I used to listen to the local NBC affiliate here in Detroit, which was then WWJ on a home made regenerative receiver. Late at night I could be found under the covers listening to WWJ with my receiver next to the bed.   My love for radio turned into my Amateur Radio hobby when I received my license at age 11 and later into job in broadcasting and later into a career in professional audio.

I must attest that many of the great  production values of MONITOR have had a great influence on how I edit and mix today.

Not long ago I told Elaine Hewitt, a writer/producer that I was working with, about the great  NBC Radio MONITOR  series that  I remembered as a youth and how the production we were working on then about the Detroit Woodward Cruise resembled MONITOR elements.

What a great find when I searched for NBC Monitor and found this site.  It has been forwarded to her, and my wife and business partner (Elaine's friend also)  was forced to listen today.  She commented, "What great radio.  Why does this not happen today?"  She asked to hear more.

All this points out, sadly, what radio has declined to today.  With all the great technology, which I have been a part of, we have no MONITOR and no great radio at all.

Ed Wolfrum (K8HJU)
Royal Oak, Michigan

March 19, 2008

Comments:  I grew up in Greenwood, Mississippi , where WGRM AM 1240 was the local NBC affiliate.

Growing up in the late fifties and early sixties, my Dad took me to the barber shop--no such thing as hair stylists in those days, at least not for men--where Monitor was being broadcast. Little did I realize then that I was listening to history .

Comments: I love your website.

Monitor was a big part of my teenage listening days…do you have any audio or any information about Fibber McGee and Molly's involvement with the program in the late 1950's?  There is a web site that has played little 5 minute routines that they did for Monitor.  I understand that they did those until Molly's [Marian Jordan's] health began to fail.

One memorable Monitor week-end that I remember is on a Sunday afternoon we were driving back from my grandparents and it was announced on the news that Judy Garland had died.

Keep up the great work! 

Thanks, 

Mike Baker

January 14, 2008

Comments:  What a great website!

I have been a radio fan in the TV age since I was about 10. I am 62. I typed in NBC Monitor on my computer one night not long ago. Funny thing, I was not a regular listener to Monitor as I was into rock and roll at a young age, but I also tuned into Monitor from time to time in the '60s and '70s.

The "Sounds of Monitor" page is a real time capsule of  all the personalities from '55 to '75 who were hosts. Henry Morgan, Gene Rayburn, Frank Blair, Ted Brown, Big Wilson, to name a few, were terrific!

I live in NYC and work in Rockefeller Center, and I am often in the GE Building.  As I walk thru it, I have fond memories of WNBC Radio, the NBC Radio Network, and now the great Monitor broadcasts!  So much radio history, I can't get enough of it!

Comments: I have so much enjoyed reading and listening to the website today! 

I have memories of listening to Monitor growing up in Alabama . The local NBC station was 50,000 watt powerhouse WAPI out of Birmingham, and when we made trips to Atlanta to visit the grandparents, WSB's clear-channel signal would pump out the show on the radio.  All of it brings back great memories of my late Dad, who loved Monitor.  All of it helped lead me to work in the radio business.  I spent 12 years fulltime there and still work parttime in the business. 

Thanks for this wonderful memory-maker of a website!

January 2, 2008

Comments: I am 78 now and still vividly remember two Monitor bits as the most wonderful  ever.  They are "Rivers" and "Bells" in or about the late 1957s. 

Rivers includes, "I babble babble as I flow to join the brimming river. For men may come and men may go but I go on forever."  And "Bells" includes church, cathedral, synagogue and ritual, all types of bells from around the world, and , of course, Poe's classic, "The bells." 

I wanted to use them at my funeral - many years hence?  At any rate, could never locate recordings. 

Comments: Happy New Year to you, Dennis! I hope you are enjoying the last of the holidays.

My wife gave me for Christmas Jay Babree's memoirs of his fifty years of covering the space program for NBC . In April 1959, as the original astronauts were going through the tortuous selection process, NBC decided to put Jay through the same rigors at Wright Pat AFB in Ohio .

On page 32 of his book he states that he survived and " NBC got its twelve hour 'How I Became an Astronaut' reports for our old weekend radio show Monitor..." How about that! Sad to think these reports probably no longer exist (unless Mr. Barbree himslf has his own copy of the tapes??)

Tom Frieling

Athens, Georgia

January 1, 2008

Comments:  Dennis,

It always amazes me how the computer has become so much a part of our lives, especially because I spent more than half my life without one and now I can’t think of how I’d get along without it. (We really have let our inventions take us prisoners. Just look at the recent ice storms in Oklahoma and the Midwest to how dependent we’ve all become on electricity.)

Funny thing is that Monitor never mentioned the personal computer (because, of course, it didn’t exist at the time). But now Monitor is on the computer and the Web doesn’t mean NBC. And, if you think about it, who would have imagined that you could listen to Monitor or anything else (or watch video) on a computer 10 or 15 years ago? Now radio and the computer have merged. We even have radio-on-demand.

More remarkably, people all over the country who have never met each other but have the same common interests, such as Monitor, are meeting on the Web to discuss their experiences and memories, generally by the lost art of writing through e-mails and blogs. Without the Web, I would have never met you or the other Monitor listeners (and even staff). I would have probably thought my experience and interest was unique. Of course, without your site as a meeting place and the Internet search engine, that would still be the case. (And I imagine the Monitor staff would have no realization that Monitor touched so many lives and that their efforts were so appreciated.)

What started me on this line of thought was seeing the post to the Guestbook from John Bachelder. It got me wondering how he found the site. Did he do what I did one day seven years ago and type “Monitor” into a search engine? Or perhaps he typed “Bud Drake.” Was John an avid Monitor listener or just a friend of the Drake family? Does he know he is the envy of former little boys (such as me) who listened every weekend?

Anyway, here we are seven years from the beginning of your Web site and new people are still coming aboard. And, it occurred to me that your computer whiz who helped you launch the site has probably spent almost a third of his life keeping the site going. How old was Bradley in October 2000? I figure he must have been a teenager. I wonder if I would have been able to get a Web site going when I was 14.

Louis Castaing

Baton Rouge, Louisiana

December 15, 2007

Editor's note: My son Bradley was 15 years old in October 2000, when he told me over the dinner table one night that he "thought" he could create a website (this, in response to my question -- born out of frustation -- that I had some Monitor audio, but no way to share it with anyone).  The result of our conversation is this site -- created, maintained, and improved upon many times, by Bradley -- and visited, as of this writing, by almost 164,000 people in seven years. Bradley is now attending graduate school overseas -- and I miss him terribly -- and so does this website, which owes everything to his creative genius.

As for Louis Castaing -- he is this site's best friend and contributor. Just browse through the "Sounds of Monitor" page -- and see how many of those hours he donated. Thank you, Louis -- and thanks to all of you Monitor fans who have supported, and continue to support, our efforts to keep alive the memory of the progam that had such a big impact on the lives of millions of Americans. 

Comments: Dennis:  

I'm not sure if you remember me, but a few years ago, I'd requested you post any Monitor shows on your website featuring Arlene Francis or Henry Morgan because GSN had removed " What's My Line ?" from its daily schedule.  Now the good news:  thanks to the support of fans who enjoy a style of broadcasting that's practically gone, and a change in GSN management, not only will WML return to the nightly schedule on 12/31/07, but so too will Henry's show, " I've Got a Secret ."

We only know that the move is described as being "at least temporary," who knows how long it may last. 

But thanks again for all you do to keep the memory of Monitor alive. I'm listening to Henry circa Christmas 1967 (when I was two months old), while writing this.

Thanks again, and I hope this is good news for you!

David Ballarotto

December 15, 2007

Comments: Dennis -- Great site !

December 12, 2007

Comments: Hi, Dennis: 

Congratulations on the Monitor Beacon web site.  It is fantastic, especially for people like me.

I was one of those weekend staff announcers who worked at the local NBC affiliate (WIKB-Iron River, Michigan ), so I listened for the sound of the Beacon cue because I knew I had to do “something” to fill the gap.  The aspects I particularly enjoyed were the “sounds”-the Monitor and NBC jingles that I found on your “Sounds of Monitor” site.  So now, when I'm working on my computer, I plug in the “Sounds” and enjoy the 75 “little concerts”. 

After checking out your web site, I just had to have your book, which I ordered from Amazon .  I read it in a few days, and enjoyed every page.  It is very insightful.  I was a little disappointed that there was only one page (194) that mentioned the jingles/themes, but it was still great reading. 

Again, congratulations from the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.

Bill Leonoff

Staff Announcer (retired)

WIKB-AM

Iron River, MI

November 21, 2007

Comments: Great Web Site.

Bruce Ornsten, my friend who lives in California, sent me the book, Monitor (Take Two) by Dennis Hart. I have begun to read it and find it most interesting and entertaining.

I have read 30-40 pages in Monitor, and wonder when I will finish the book. It's fascinating and pretty well written. The names - my gawd. As a radio-phile at an early age, I remember those names as tho' it was yesterday. I was at NBC during the summer of 1956 as a member of a class in radio and television that was sponsored by Barnard college and by NBC. There were 50 of us from all over the country. I had finished my junior year at the University of Denver, and believed that the experience would help me in the decision-making about a career in broadcasting.

Monitor was about a year old. We had no classes on Friday, Saturday or Sunday, so I would spend a lot of time on the weekend up on the fifth floor. I remember a huge glass-walled studio, but I really remember a room off to the left that contained a bank of 20-30 audio tape machines - Ampex-style equipment - that lined the walls. Above each machine was a clock, and underneath the clock was the name of a foreign NBC bureau - London, Paris, Rome, Moscow, etc. And, I remember how impressed I was that the network had the resources to have a piece of equipment like that on standby for a correspondent who would feed the net a story from that part of the world. It was really an eye-opener. I hope my memory is close to being correct after all of the years.

Reading about Dave Garroway and his experience as an NBC Page, I was reminded that I had the name of the head page and was urged to sign up to be a page. But, then I learned the kind of money they were offering and I also remember why I didn't sign up. But, I was told, I could count on tips from all of the biggies. Also there were a two year limit on the amount of time you could spend as a page. But, thanks to some advice from personalities I met - Red Barber, Bill Cullen, John Cameron Swayze, Elizabeth Montgomery, Clifton Fadiman, Fred Waring, et al - I decided that I would rather spend those years back in Denver finishing school and working full-time at decidedly more money - not much, but indeed more.

Radio Ron it is...or was...
Cape Elizabeth, Maine

October 16, 2007

Comments: THANK YOU for your efforts with this site -- you've given me the opportunity to remember great weekends during my childhood!

Mark Rozwell

October 8, 2007

Comments: Recently, I was having dinner with a bunch of baby boomer contemporaries of mine (we are all in our early 50's.)  Though we all grew up in diverse parts of the country, we all agreed that one of the common memories of our respective 1960s childhoods was riding with our parents and hearing that distinctive Monitor beacon on the car radio.  The vehicle was inevitably a Detroit-made land yacht. The season seems always to be summer or fall.  The destination was usually some parentally-supervised weekend activity or chore -- boy scouts, little league, the car wash, etc -- or maybe a family vacation.  

Last week, sleepless in the middle of the night, I recalled that dinner and conversation.  I opened my laptop and googled my way to your website.  It was a real trip through a time warp to lie there in the darkness at 3 a.m. and listen to those old episodes on your "Sounds Of Monitor" page.  Funny how everyone had recalled the show, the theme, etc, fairly accurately, even after all those years.  

Thanks for the great job you've done with this website.  Any chance you will be adding any more mp3s of shows from the 1960's?  

Steve Thomas
Los Angeles, California

September 30, 2007

Editor's note:  Steve's listening experience with Monitor really sums it up for millons of us during the '50s, '60s and '70s, doesn't it?   We may have first heard Monitor on our parents' car radio -- and we continued listening until NBC Radio made the mistake of taking it off the air in 1975. As for your question about new Monitor audio, Steve -- I'm always looking for Monitor material, and when I get it, it will appear on this site.

Comments: I very much enjoyed listening to the Jim Lowe hour from a Sunday night broadcast about the Mafia.

It's too bad there's nothing on the radio like that now. Radio is so fragmented. Either a station plays a lot of music (with maybe an obnoxious and offensive morning zoo program) or it's all TALK with opinionated hosts sounding the same old themes day after day after day. That's the deal you get with the syndicated hosts anyway. No feature stories.

I'll reveal myself as a total "Radio Geek" with this question. But did Monitor continue to play their music (songs) directly from vinyl on a turntable to the end? Many stations started putting songs on Cartridge tape (carts) in the 1970's. Just wondering.

Bill Walter, KVNU

Logan, Utah

September 14, 2007

Editor's note: We put that question to former Monitor engineer Gene Garnes Sr.  Here is his response:  "As far as I recall we always played the songs from Vinyl records as that was part of my job when assigned to "TT" duty (Turntable duty, usually three!) I also inserted the commercials (most were vinyl) which were usually in a "Super Market Style Cart" as dispensed to me by the "AD"! (Assistant Director) One of which was on duty for each segment and prepared the Cart in advance. "Backtiming" was a big part of the AD job also. This was to ensure the Music would end on time! The AD would utter me a cue at the appropriate time, (usually a girl!) (Each TT had it's own fader {and earphone for cueing purposes} that was kept closed till needed). The "boardperson" was, ultimately, responsible for all audio levels as he, or she, had a TT "Master".

Comments: I toured 30 Rock last week, and asked the NBC pages about radio facilities, knowing the answer.  I told them about the website and they seemed interested. 

However, I forgot to ask about what's now located on the 5th floor, former home of Radio Central.  Does anybody else know? 

Editor's note:  My son Bradley and I were privileged to have former Monitor engineer Gene Garnes Sr. give us a personal, behind-the-scenes tour of 30 Rock back in July 2003. At that time, what used to be the great Radio Central, on the fifth floor, had been broken up into offices. The glass had been replaced by a wall with giant posters of NBC shows on it. Yes, I was heartbroken.

Comments: Greetings,

August 6, 2007

Comments: Dennis,

Thanks so much for making the long Monitor shows available in .mp3 format for July and August.

I've been quite busy on web projects, but wanted to assure you that I have been enjoying listening in my car to about 10 of the shows! My favorite? { Remember, I liked the music...} It's Monitor '69 with Kirby because: the song "Odds & Ends" performed by Billy Vaughn--it's absolutely hi-fi!!!

This song alone was worth the wait--I had a very poor quality version of it on my tape snippets.

Best wishes, and I'll stay in touch.

Andy Mickel

Minneapolis, Minnesota

July 29, 2007

Comments: This is a wonderful site.

I have been a radio buff since I was a kid in the 1950's - and listened to Monitor every week. You have captured the magic that was Monitor. I was a quality operation with quality announcers, news people and production staff. - probably the best in the business.

I used to stand outside Radio Central when I was a teenager and press my nose to the window like other kids did with toy store windows.

Ron Rogers

Staten Island , NY

July 6, 2007

Comments: Dennis,

I love the new audio pages! Thanks for the great update.

I have a question. I noticed on the earlier airchecks, the announcer says “Take 1” or “Take 2” over the beacon. Do you know what this means? Was it intended to air or was it a signal to affiliates? Just curious.

Thanks and keep up the good work!

Mark Jones

July 4, 2007

Editor's note: In the early years of Monitor, program hosts used to signal local-station cutaways by saying either "This is Monitor, going places and doing things, Take 1," or "You're on the Monitor Beacon, Take 1." It took a few years before the immortal "You're on the Monitor Beacon" became the standard cue for local stations to insert their commercials.

Comments:  Hey, Dennis,

Fontana, California

June 10, 2007

Comments:  Dear Dennis,

Comments: Hi, Dennis,

The new (audio) updates are great.  I listened briefly to Ted (Brown) and believe it or not, I actually remember that segment because it was the 2nd week he was back after Samantha was born!

Hope you are all well and enjoying the summer.

Suzanne Bothamley

June 4, 2007

Editor's note: Suzanne is a former Monitor production assistant. You can see pictures of her and other P.A.'s on the Monitor Photo Album page.

Comments:  Your work is greatly appreciated, Dennis!

Bill Bro

June 1, 2007

Comments:  Dennis,

Editor's note: What John and the five letter-writers below are referring to is our new and vastly expanded "Sounds of Monitor" page, which as of June 2007, has more than 20 hours of Monitor audio on it, with audio from almost all of the program's 20 years on the air, and with more than two-dozen of its great hosts. Check it out!

Comments: Thanks so much, Dennis.

This is great!

May 30, 2007

Comments: Hello, Dennis:

Fine job on the Monitor website. I truly miss GOOD radio. I agree with your view that Monitor is the best of the network radio programs.

Hell come to think of it...NBC radio doesn't even EXIST anymore. I wonder if Westwood One bought all their audio archive stuff or if somebody elese got it?

Paul Sullivan

Fresno, California

May 30, 2007

Comments: Dennis,

As always, no way to ever thank you enough! As long as I can (while still teaching), as an assignment, I will be asking my students to tour the Monitor site and give me a critique regarding what they have learned.

That famous broadcast is part of our American media history and young people should know and appreciate it (even though they probably won't care!). We can only try to keep the Monitor memories alive!

Best wishes,

Doug Spero

(Associate Prof., Meredith College, Raleigh)

May 30, 2007

Comments:  This is awesome!  I can't wait to start “monitoring” all the new audio, especially the complete final broadcast.

Thanks again for all you do, Dennis.

Randy Krakower

1450 WILM Newsradio

May 30, 2007

Comments: Dennis:

Thanks for the info on the newly expanded audio section of the "Monitor" Tribute Pages.

Lots of audio to try to listen to (or download onto CD's and MP3's) this Summer.

A great early birthday present for "Monitor" fans since June 12th is the 52nd anniversary of "Monitor"'s debut.

I only wish that I could be able to tune-in "Monitor 2007" somewhere on the radio this weekend, and hear such modern-day "Monitor" communicators such as Matt Lauer , Lester Holt,  Campbell Brown , Meredith Vieira , Bob Costas , and others providing us with a rewarding experience all weekend, every weekend.

In a parallel universe, that's happening. Too bad it's not in this one.

Joseph Gallant

May 30, 2007

Editor's note: How about it, Monitor fans?  If Monitor returned to the air this weekend, who would you like to have as its five hosts (in order -- for Saturday morning, afternoon and evening, and Sunday afternoon and evening?) How would this sound, for a starting roster --Pat Sajak, Bob Costas, Lester Holt, Alex Trebek and Matt Lauer?

Comments:  Dear Dennis,

Just wanted to let you know how much I enjoy the Monitor site, and to pass along the link to a blog post of mine about Monitor . . . which links to your website.

And I think I've officially run out of airchecks to listen to since first discovering the Monitor Tribute Pages. Sigh.

Here's the link:

http://revolution-21.blogspot.com/2007/04/im-on-monitor-beacon-nbc-monitor-beacon.html

James Freeman
Omaha, NE

April 26, 2007

Editor's note:   Not to worry, James. Over the next few months, we are planning to upload nearly two-dozen full-hours of Monitor to the website. So keep comng back, and thanks.

Comments: Hi, Dennis, 

I was always a fan of Ted Brown.  I remember when he hosted Monitor.  He was very creative. He continued to do radio with excellent humor for many years.

Comments:  Hi, Dennis,

I am saddened by the death of Barry Nelson, who contributed so much to making Monitor a great radio program. While I've enjoyed his performances in various media, I'll always remember listening to him on Monitor. He was indeed a wonderful host.

Thanks for the Monitor Web site!

Sincerely,

Mike Holston

April 14, 2007

Comments:  Dennis,

I was sorry to learn this morning of the death of Barry Nelson.

And also sorry to see, at least in the New York Times obiturary, that his work for Monitor was not mentioned--all the more reason for you to keep doing a great job with this site in preserving the great program's memory for all of us who so fondly remember Monitor, but even more so for the youngsters too young to remember great newtwork radio programming so sadly lacking today.

Tom Frieling

Athens, Georgia

April 14, 2007

Comments: Hi, Dennis,

Two nice little surprises in just the first half-hour of Big Wilson's show on Monitor's last day (on the "Sounds of Monitor page).

The first was the instrumental "Theme from M*A*S*H", right out of the NBC News On the Hour. I haven't heard it since 1973, when I used to play it at my first radio job. Unfortunately, Big didn't back-announce the artist, so if you or any of the site visitors happpen to know, feel free to share. I doubt that it's on CD, but you never know. In any event, knowing the artist might help me find it on vinyl.

Suprise number two was Don Imus and Dr. Joyce Brothers - in more innocent times! Speaking of Biggie and the I-Man, didn't Imus take Big's place when he first landed at WNBC? I know Big did mornings there at one point and I seem to recall that it was around then.

Thanks for the memories and all the hard work on the Monitor Tribute website!

Scott Marinoff

Imperial Beach, CA

April 14, 2007

Editor's note: Imus did mornings on WNBC Radio when Biggie did mid-days. WNBC got rid of Biggie in '74, and the very next ratings book showed Biggie was No. 1 in his time slot. Radio was just as messed up then as it is now, huh?

Comments: Dennis,

I have had tears of joy for about an hour, just having discovered the Monitor Beacon website and reading the content and listening to some of the sound clips. My spirits are really lifted today!

I fondly remember Monitor; I grew up in a household without TV and my family and I listened to Monitor when I was ages 8 - 21: in New Orleans [WDSU 1280] (1957-1960), Baton Rouge [WJBO 1150] (1960-1962) and Austin, TX [WOAI 1200, San Antonio ] (1962-1970). My most vivid memories are of Gene Rayburn , Frank McGee , Nichols & May, the jingles ("Monitor Themes") and the music.

I particularly liked the "cosmopolitan" sophistication of Monitor fueling my imagination about "sublime New York culture" from my Austin, Texas vantage point. Thanks again for such a fine and simple radio history website.

Andy Mickel

Minneapolis, Minnesota

April 11, 2007

Comments:  I just listened to Nelson Riddle and the Route 66 theme and immediately thought about how Monitor would use it for buffer music or as we use to call it "out-tro" music for the local stations.  How many times did we hear that theme with the talent announcing, "you can hear the Monitor Beacon on great radio stations just like this one throughout the country, such as .....(various stations were then listed). 

March 19, 2007

Comments: Mr Hart,

Hats off to a wonderful tribute to Monitor. I remember listening to the show while I was in college and afterwards and being impressed with the variety and quality of the programming. I have a question for you. Who has or where are the recordings of the Monitor radio shows?

Jim Kay

March 2, 2007

Editor's note: Unfortunately, out of the 20,000 hours that Monitor aired on NBC Radio, precious few are in existence. The Library of Congress has "snippets" of Monitor -- but not the full-hours that would show "everything" Monitor offered. If anyone has Monitor hours you've kept over the years -- please contact me, and we'll set up a "trade."

Comments: Hi,

Just happened upon this site and was enveloped by a flood of memories. I was a newscaster on Monitor during its final years.  I was hired by Bob Kimmel, having worked with him at WINS radio.

I believe I was on the schedule on Saturday of the final weekend as the News and Information Service folks prepared to take over the studios. I was also Editorial Director at WNBC-TV, preceeding Joe Michaels.

Henry Marcotte aka Mark Henry

February 3, 2007

Comments: Dennis,

Comments: Greetings from St. Louis!

I should let you know first that I'm 42 (just turned 42 on 25 November), used to work in radio, and in the corner of my memory remember NBC Monitor. It was a show that my parents listened to, but I suspect was on in the background in the car. The show probably aired on KSD, which was our NBC radio affiliate in the 1970's. KSD and KXOK were usually on the car radio on the weekend here, and I would go downtown to stores like Famous-Barr and Stix-Baer & Fuller to shop (before the malls took over) with the program on those Saturday afternoons.

I have to admit as a kid I didn't really listen to the show in depth--the features and music that were played weren't of interest to me (cut me some slack, I was under 10). As an adult though, I think this show is great. Strangely enough, I became a fan of full-service radio not long after this show ended its run in 1975, finding it in smaller markets, on clear channel AM's at night, and on short wave services like the BBC World Service, and Radio Australia (one of the best practicioners of this kind of radio in my opinion). This kind of radio connects with people better than any other kind, and I can't believe the business moves away from it.

Last night I learned that Bruce Bradley worked as a Monitor host. I worked with Bruce for two years at WIBV. He never mentioned that he hosted this. In fact, he often distanced himself from his past work to the point of not wanting to talk about it (with the exception of his work on KMOX in the 1980's). I don't know where he is now but I enjoyed working with him.

It has been mentioned about "bringing back" NBC Monitor. Obviously these things can't be brought back, much like bringing back WLS, KHJ, CKLW, or any other radio station or programs in their heyday. However, sites like yours (and reelradio.com) show examples of radio used to its greatest potential and advantage. Shows like this can inspire other people to use these elements and create something greater in the future. Shows like "Saturday Night Live" were inspired by comedy writers and live programming that dated back 20 years earlier to create a whole new idea. I'm sure NPR took a few pages out of the NBC Monitor playbook to create the programming they have today. Who knows, webcasting may create an interactive style of programming we have yet to see. I'd like to be a part of that.

Paul Harner

December 8, 2006

Comments:  Dennis,

Comments:  Dennis,

This month's Frank McGee audio (December 2006) was a great selection.

I always looked forward to listening to Frank McGee on Sunday night. He was a great interviewer. He probably wouldn't have worked well on Saturday morning with all its interruptions but he was perfect for Sunday night.

I think Sunday night Monitor with McGee was very close to what Jim Fleming thought Monitor should be like. A lot more newsy, a lot more talky. More philosophical.

Louis Castaing

Baton Rouge, Louisiana

December 3, 2006

Comments: Dennis: 

As you know, many well-known names who have never done radio before and think they can don't really manage to successfully pull it off when they go on the air.  We have seen this happen over the years.

Comments: I have certainly enjoyed reliving some of the great programming moments of broadcasting with these NBC Monitor recordings. 

Comments: I only briefly was aware of Monitor in 1973, but have discovered your website, and heard your interview on WGN with Tom Petersen.

Thanks for the great web site tribute.

John Herrbach

October 23, 2006

Editor's note: John is referring to our live interview about Monitor on the "Tom Petersen Show" on WGN Radio in Chicago on Sunday night, October 22. Many thanks to Tom for his interest in Monitor.

Comments: Dennis:

Thanks for the birthday tribute to Groucho Marx. As a fan of both Monitor and the Marx Brothers, it was a double treat for me. It was interesting to hear the voices of Zeppo and Allan Jones, so many years after they appeared in the movies.

It was especially interesting to hear Margaret Dumont, Groucho's foil in so many Marx Bros. films, since this program was aired only a year or two before she died. I had never heard Margaret Dumont speaking out of character before, although I have to admit she sounded pretty much the same way as she did when she was speaking IN character.

Jim Dexter

Atlanta

October 19, 2006

Comments:  I am a middle-aged, totally blind woman and have only had my computer for less than a year.  I first want to thank you for making your fantastic site accessible to people like me who use screen readers and must use arrow keys to enter your links!

October 2, 2006

Comments: Dennis:

As a fan of your great site and wonderful book which I've read and re-read many times, I wanted to thank you for helping to remind us what a great program "Monitor" was.

I'm also a member of a Yahoo group focused on "What's My Line?" where we're facing the fact that as of this weekend, "What's My Line?" will  be leaving GSN's daily line-up and will return as only a weekly program  come October.

So as a fan of "Monitor" and "What's My Line?" I was wondering (as were others) if it might be possible that the sample of "Monitor" you'll  post in September could include Arlene Francis, or maybe Henry Morgan, or anyone else with ties to "What's My Line?" as we deal with withdrawal symptoms :-)

Even if you can't, I just want you to know how much I look forward to visiting your site every month to hear the "Monitor" sample. You're  doing a great service and you've written a great book!

David Ballarotto

August 19, 2006

Comments: Nice Sounds of Monitor this month from Feb. 26, 1967. 

It is of particular interest as KFI, Los Angeles, was menitoned at the break.  It would be just a little over a year later that KFI would be the first major market station to drop Monitor.  

August 18, 2006

Editor's note: Don was the first person to write to this website when it premiered in October 2000. He was, and is, a big fan of Monitor -- and has kindly kept in touch with us over the years.

Comments: Hi. I just came across your website accidentally while Googling Charlie Garment's name.

I was a production assistant with Monitor during the last year.  I had worked in Spot Sales at NBC on the third floor when I read the in-house employment listings and applied for the job to Steve White, up on the eighth floor.  By some great stroke of luck I got the job. I worked for Pauline Barfield. I just saw her photos at your sight.  She and I were good friends at the time, but as she learned the show was moving on, she did too and we subsequently lost track of each other.

I still have my NBC stopwatch, which I put to good use over the years. I went on to become an associate director at ABC Radio Networks. Then worked as a press secretary for NY State Assemblyman/Borough President. I was hired in 1977 as the first female staff announcer in New York at WOR-TV and followed that with news reporter/anchor at WNBC-AM. I've been a news anchor in Dallas and in Chicago at WLS.  I currently do voiceover work from my in-house studio in Scottsdale, AZ and my husband is one of the main jingle producers for station IDs in the US.

I worked on the Saturday shows, coordinating the music intros, outros the movie critic spots with Shalit, the interviews and the news. It was a blast.  I was in my early twenties back then and I learned so much.  Even the perfume I use to this day, was influenced by Cappy who gave me her secret address to a small perfumerie in Paris on Rue de la Paix. (Which I've since visited several times.) Christian Dior Diorella became my favorite scent....  she was my role model for women in broadcasting.

Thanks for more memories,

Jesse Elin Browne
(formerly Jesse Elin Itkin)
August 16, 2006

Comments: I have only recently learned of the Monitor website through my membership in Sperdvac and, have just paid my first visit which included Bill Cullen's interview of Sterling Holloway. 

I particularly enjoyed the 1936-46 decade of NBC's first 50 years as hosted by Bob Hope and have passed on the site to friends who I think will also enjoy it.

July 31, 2006

Comments: What a delightful site!

MONITOR was every bit as fascinating to me as early radio serials during WWII. The interesting thing was that it was the first piece of "mass media" which was tailored to rapidly evolving short-attention-span of the American radio listener. The "magazine concept" teased the listener with short, varied pieces of program material. And it was presented in an immediate way, from the fast pace of the material, to the signature electronic beeps ... speeding the program on to the listener.

It really was the Great Radio Program in so many ways. It cemented my love of broadcasting and was responsible for a lifetime in and around media. Thanks for the great look back.

Dan Beach
Orlando, FL

July 31, 2006

Comments:  I've enjoyed the Monitor web site for several months now. It's especially interesting to hear the monthly program excerpts, which really show how the presentation evolved and became more informal over the years.

My early exposure to Monitor was rather limited, mainly hearing the beacon and short bits on the car radio on WMAQ, when I was growing up in Chicago. I got more interested in the program in the early 1970's, when NBC had already bumped Monitor from WMAQ-AM to WMAQ-FM. I recall one afternoon when the host – it may have been Ted Brown – stopped a group going through Rockefeller Center , and had them sing (hum?) the NBC chimes.

I hold an annual trivia contest for friends – usually, about 20-25 people show up, generally ranging in age from the 30’s to the 50’s. For the purposes of the contest, we divide them into teams of four to five persons each. This year, one of the questions I asked was about Monitor.

I played the Monitor beacon (recorded from your web site, natch!) and told them it identified a nationwide, weekend-long radio program that ran from 1955 to 1975, and I asked them to name the show. I was curious to see how many folks would know the answer. As it turned out, three of the five teams identified the program as Monitor. I found at that on at least one of the teams, it was a group effort. One of the people on that team associated the beacon with NBC, but didn’t remember the program name. Another member of the team didn’t remember the beacon, but did remember that NBC’s weekend program was named Monitor, so they put it together! Nice.

Anyway, keep up the great work. It's sad that there's no program like Monitor around anymore. It's uplifting, inclusive tone was a far cry from today's AM radio, which seems designed to promote anger and divisiveness.

Jim Dexter

Atlanta

July 26, 2006

Comments: Hi,

Wanted to tell you how much I have enjoyed the Monitor web site.

I remember a car trip with my dad in the mid 60s from Milwaukee up to Oshkosh Wisc. & back. I remember Ed McMahon & Monitor & not being bored even at that young age. Think they were on WTMJ. the 50,000 watt Milwaukee flame thrower, as the signal was strong & clear the whole way.

We listened to Monitor quite a bit on weekends as I recall. I always wondered why such a wonderful program went away & now I know, thanks to you.

I'm looking forward to listening to the Bill Cullen half hour & any future clips you post. Thanks again for the wonderful web site.

Steve Atkinson

Eagle, Wisconsin

July 15, 2006

Comments: Dennis,

Comments: Dennis:

Comments: Dennis:

To hear new audio of Bill Cullen on Monitor, I will endure sitting in a house with an air conditioner on the fritz on a hundred-degree day.  Even with the dicey audio quality, it's worth it.  And to get revealing personal gems, such as Bill's bouts with worry and self-confidence (something he once admitted on "To Tell the Truth"), it's priceless.  Besides, to my knowledge, that barely more than doubles the total of Cullen-Monitor audio that exists, right??

Comments: A good friend tipped me off to Monitor and I have enjoyed the links you provide to check out.

Comments: Hey, Dennis,

I definitely enjoy your website. Monitor, for sure, had an all-star lineup over the years. The audio clips were a blast!

If I only knew then, what I know now. I'm 48 years old but even so, I did not listen to Monitor that much. In listening to the clips, I like how the producers ran the programming like a Rolex (the real one). Of course, there was the occasional goof, but heck that's live radio. I like the goof-ups. That makes it fun.

Monitor worked because it brought a slice of American life into our radios. Thanks for this contribution you've made to us on how radio should sound.

Comments: Dennis,

I really enjoyed this month's audio clip on the website, especially the live remote featuring the Jonah Jones Quartet from the Embers nightclub. What I wouldn't give to spend an evening at this venerable jazz club, that is no more. I'm sure a live remote like this provided a vicarious thrill for the millions of Monitor listeners who themselves could not pop into The Embers, then located at 161 E. 54th St in Midtown Manhattan.

In doing a little Google research, this 1959 broadcast must have been near the end of the Embers tenure on West 54th St. Apparently in the early '60s, this part of Manhattan declined and became home to more strip clubs than jazz clubs and at some point, the Embers closed.

Thanks once again to Monitor for preserving a moment of this club's history!

Tom Frieling

Athens, Georgia

June 12, 2006

Comments: Hello,

What a treat to find your web site. My co-anchor and I are alums of WPOP/Hartford from its days as an all-news station and NIS affiliate. We are now at the NBC O&O in Hartford, WVIT-TV.

Thanks for the trip down memory lane with Monitor. I remember it well since my dad wouldn't let us listen to rock and roll in the car.

Best Wishes,
Joanne Nesti
WVIT-TV
West Hartford, Connecticut

May 23, 2006

Comments: Dennis:

Comments: Dennis,

Athens, Georgia

April 3, 2006

Comments: Thank-you for this great website dedicated to one of the best radio shows in my lifetime.

Growing up in Pittsburgh in the 1960's, I used to listen to Monitor with my Dad on the Saturday trip to see my Grandad. I remember autumn rains, a 1963 Buick and wonderful times with my Dad as we listened to Bill Cullen, Gene Rayburn, Mike Nichols and Elaine May,and the whole cast, particularly Bob and Ray.

Monitor was a unique, informative, educational and entertaining program for years. Now in my 50's, I have never bought a television, I am a radio person and would love to have a Saturday or Sunday afternoon of Monitor to play back.

Thanks again, wonderful job.

Frank Smith

Cheyenne, Wyoming

March 20, 2006

Comments: Thanks for all of your work on the Monitor Tribute site. I grew up listening to Monitor in the 60's, a lot of while riding in the car with my folks, and really enjoy all the information and audio that's on the site!

Comments: Hi, Dennis,

Comments: Hi, Dennis,

February 21, 2006

Editor's note:  We have been saddened to hear of Curt Gowdy's passing.  Many of us grew up and older, watching and listening to him announce the great sports events of the '60s and '70s. Next month (March 2006), this website will feature audio from Curt, both hosting Monitor and doing his "Monitor Outdoors" feature.

Comments: Dear Dennis:

Yesterday, Saturday morning, I listened to the two hours of Gene Rayburn hosting Monitor that you have on the Sounds of Monitor section of the site. It was all too easy to think myself back thirty seven years and imagine I was back in high school listening to Monitor once again on that little RCA transistor radio I had back then.

If only I could have turned on the radio afterwards and tuned in to Monitor 2006. Let's keep hoping!

Tom Frieling

Athens, Georgia

February 12, 2006

Comments: Dennis:

You do a terrific job. I wish I had known this site existed before. It was a pleasure hearing the beacon again. I think I caught Monitor from the second show on and listened Saturday mornings and studied to it on Sunday evenings. That could account for my problems with algebra.

I'm retired now, and my interest is in the 1930s and 1940s. My project is to recreate events from those days as if Monitor had been there. I've been researching for 7 years now, and decided I will arbitrarily to cut off the research and start producing something by next January so I can listen to real radio again.

Keith Jones

February 10, 2006

Comments: I am a new convert to Monitor. I was too young to hear the original show.

I heard a tribute Jim Lowe did on his show that airs on the station I work at KTXR-FM in Springfield MO. Jim is featured in Wayne Glenn's The Ozark's Greatest Hits book. You can order this book through the website, www.radiospringfield.com . I also am a big fan of Bob and Ray, Don Imus, the Wolfman, Al Capp, Gene Rayburn and the original James Bond, Barry Nelson.

Comments: In 1956-66 while stationed at Fort Gordon, CA doing my two years in the Army, Weekend Monitor broadcasts were my best link to civilization.

I particularly remember Al Capp, the "talking cartoonist." The identifying sound of the Monitor "beacon," still haunts me. I use the term that announcers used, "You're on the Monitor Beacon," to this day. As a teacher, when my students were close or had the answer to questions, I would say, "You're on the Monitor Beacon." They instinctively seemed to know what I meant, although none of them could have possibly ever heard it, being too young.

Wyatt Newman

Bend, Oregon

January 21, 2006

Comments: Hi, Dennis. 

I can't believe that on the 26th of this month, it will be 31 years since Monitor left the air.  It does not seem that long ago.

Comments: Hi!

You've made me a hero to one of my friends – Bill Bales, who's contacted you. His dad worked for Monitor for many years, and when Bill and his wife were here for dinner one night and he mentioned Monitor, I said, “Boy, have I got a book for you,” and went and got my copy of “Monitor Take 2,” which Bill took with him that very night.

Don Brockway

January 19, 2006

Comments: Thank you for this page.

Marty

January 19, 2006

Comments: Hi, Dennis!

On this date (Jan. 14th) in 1957, NBC inaugurated hourly TOH newscasts, the first national network to do so. The casts also used live on the spot reporting. Maybe NBC will return to that news programming in 2008 to replace the current part time joint venture with WW1. All the best!

Terry Morgan (GEC)

January 14, 2006

Editor's note: Monitor was doing news on the hour from the program's debut in June 1955 -- though it was introduced as "Five minutes of Monitor news, brought to you by...." So what NBC did in '57 was add news on the hour to its weekday schedule.  By the '60s, Monitor's top-of-the-hour newscasts would be introduced as "NBC Monitor News on the Hour."

Comments: Hello,

I learned of your site from the Michigan Radio and TV Buzzboard forum.
http://mibuzzboard.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=7038&start=105

I have only a vague recollection of Monitor, being born in 1958 and living in a one-radio household (besides my transistor radio, of course). I recall hearing Monitor on the weekends, after (for whatever reason) my mother changed the untouchable radio dial setting from WCAR 1130 to WWJ 950, which was the NBC affiliate here in Detroit. That would have been around 1971-2, as I remember Gene Rayburn and Bill Cullen hosting.

Anwyay, the point of this note is regarding the final hosts. When I was attending the University of Miami (1981-4), Big Wilson was the host of the "Big, Big Movie", a late night movie on an independent station (Channel 6?). (It may have also been called "Nite Owl Movie" at some point, or perhaps that was his competition.) I had never heard of Big Wilson before -- or since. I recall he also appeared on commercials for a local pizza chain.

As for John Bartholomew Tucker, I still recognize his voice on some TV commercials, and remember his TV game show from 1968. It was called Treasure Island or Treasure Hunt or something similar. The contestants had to paddle between small islands in a large pool or lagoon and dig for prizes .....

Your site is a wonderful tribute. My favorite thing about the internet is how devotees of all different subjects can share their knowledge and preserve history.

Warren in Michigan

January 14, 2006

Comments: Wow, thanks loads for this great website! 

Those famous Monitor beeps brought back memories of Saturday mornings as a kid. That famous  bumper music (I can't name it, you know that dah did a dah, dah dah dah. fast tempo one) Is imprinted in my brain to this day.  Bill Cullen, Henry Morgan, really literate stuff.