Sounds of NBC Monitor – 1968 Jan.-June

Time:  about 45 minutes

Here’s Gene, hosting Saturday morning Monitor from about 11:15 a.m. to noon ET on March 16, 1968.  It begins with NBC Monitor News on the Hour — which did not start at the top of the hour, but was delayed by NBC’s live coverage of Sen. Robert F. Kennedy’s announcement that he would run for president — a run that would end tragically less than three months later.   Then Gene presides over a “Monitor on Stage” performance by the Ramsey Lewis Trio — a “Ring Around the World” report from Peter Hackes in Washington about RFK’s announcement — and a sports report about upcoming National Invitation Tournament basketball games that night.

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Ed McMahon hosts Monitor ’68, part 1 — March 16

Time: one hour

Ed hosts this delightful hour of Saturday afternoon Monitor from 3 to 4 p.m. ET on March 16, 1968, featuring comedians Dan Rowan & Dick Martin — whose “Laugh-In” on NBC-TV was the hottest show on television —  Joe Garagiola, interviewing legendary baseball player and broadcaster Dizzy Dean; a “Ring Around the World” report; a Monitor tip; and an interview with actor James Garner. A fine hour, indeed.

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Ed McMahon hosts Monitor ’68, part 2 — March 16

Time: one hour

Here’s Ed, back with the second hour of Saturday afternoon Monitor from 4 to 5 p.m. ET on March 16, 1968.  This one features Bob Considine with an “On the Line” report; “Monitor on Stage” with singer Jerry Vale; a report from Dr. Joyce Brothers; and a report on the annual returns of buzzards to Hinckley, Ohio. In addition, Ed gives the national weather report, and Joe Garagiola has a sports piece.  Note that it’s fellow Monitor host Gene Rayburn who introduces “News on the Hour.”  The reason — the newscast was sponsored by a beer that was not Budweiser, and Ed was Budweiser’s spokesman, meaning he could not talk about other beers.

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Ed McMahon hosts Monitor ’68, part 3 — March 16

Time: a half-hour

We have only 30 minutes of this third hour of Saturday afternoon Monitor — from 5 to 5:30 p.m. ET — on March 16, 1968.  But those minutes are power-packed,  featuring an interview with legendary comedian Jack Benny, followed by Mel Allen’s live Saturday afternoon sports update — all presided over by the excellent Mr. McMahon. Oh, and you’ll hear a dog — the one belonging to Warren Gerbe, who recorded this and so many other Monitor hours off WNBC Radio in NYC.

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Ted Steele hosts Monitor ’68 — March 16

Time: one hour

Ted presides over this fine hour of Saturday night Monitor from 9 to 10 p.m. ET on March 16, 1968, featuring an interview with singer-actor Fabian; a “Monitor on Stage” comedy bit by Don Adams; a Monitor sports report about an unusual baseball story; Linda Sutter’s “Younger Generation” report; and a report on a youth project in Idaho.

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Henry Morgan hosts Monitor ’68, part 1 — March 17

Time: one hour

We are pleased to have all four hours of Mr. Morgan hosting Sunday afternoon Monitor on March 17, 1968.  In this first hour, from 2 to 3 p.m. ET — which is joined in progress — you’ll hear an interview with the Lord Mayor of Dublin, Ireland (this is, after all, St. Patrick’s Day), a Joe Garagiola sports report, an “On the Line” report from Bob Considine, and an interview with Washington Senators baseball manager Jim Lemon.

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Henry Morgan hosts Monitor ’68, part 2 — March 17

Time: one hour

Henry’s back with the second hour of Sunday afternoon Monitor on March 17, 1968, from 3 to 4 p.m. ET.  It features an interview with comedian Phyllis Diller; a Curt Gowdy interview with Boston Red Sox star Carl Yazstremski; a “Ring Around the World” report; and comedians Dan Rowan and Dick Martin, performing at a luncheon in NYC.

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Henry Morgan hosts Monitor ’67, part 3 — March 17

Time: one hour

Mr. Morgan hosts this third hour of Sunday afternoon Monitor from 4 to 5 p.m. ET on March 17, 1968.  You’ll hear a “Monitor on Stage” performance by singer John Gary;  a Joe Garagiola sports report; a “Ring Around the World” report; and Henry, interviewing the editor of Car and Driver magazine about automotive safety. 

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Henry Morgan hosts Monitor ’68, part 4 — March 17

Time: one hour

Henry hosts this fourth and final hour of Sunday afternoon Monitor on March 17, 1968, from 5 to 6 p.m. ET.  It features part 2 of his interview with the editor of Car and Driver magazine about automotive safety (the first part aired in the 4-5 p.m. hour); a Dr. Joyce Brothers report; an interview with an economist about South Asia’s economy; Mel Allen’s live Sunday afternoon sports update; and Henry’s priceless live reading of a kitty litter commercial.

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Joe Garagiola hosts Monitor ’68, part 1 — March 17

Time: one hour

Joe hosts this fine Sunday night Monitor hour from 8 to 9 p.m. ET on March 17, 1968.  He conducts an excellent interview with Olympics legend Jesse Owens, and then introduces an interview with NFL quarterback great Johnny Unitas — an interview conducted by Larry King.  The hour wraps up with Chris Economaki’s “Sport of Speed.”

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 Joe Garagiola hosts Monitor ’68, part 2 — March 17

Time: a half-hour

Joe hosts this half-hour of Sunday night Monitor from 9 to 9:30 p.m. ET on March 17, 1968 — and it’s a good one.  He interviews, live, Los Angeles Dodgers owner Walter O’Malley — and it’s delightful.  Then Jack Haskell interviews bandleader Cab Calloway — and near the end, Joe recounts — movingly — his and his wife’s invite to the White House a few days earlier.

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Ted Steele hosts Monitor ’68 —  March 23

Time: a half-hour

Here’s Ted, hosting the last half-hour of Saturday night Monitor from 10 to 10:30 p.m. ET on March 23, 1968.  It’s a fine one — featuring “Monitor on Stage” with comedians Marty Allen and Steve Rossi, followed by an interview with Rossi, followed by a live report from Chris Economaki at the Grand Prix of Endurance auto race in Sebring, Florida.

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 Jack Haskell hosts Monitor ’68, part 1 — March 24

Time: one hour

This is simply an excellent hour, from 7 to 8 p.m. ET on March 24, 1968,  hosted by Jack Haskell, filling in for regular Sunday night Monitor host Brad Crandall. You’ll hear an interview with actor Red Buttons, Mel Allen’s live Sunday night sports report, an “On the Line with Bob Considine” report, and Keith Jackson’s live “World of Wheels” report from Los Angeles.  Monitor was, simply, a great program.

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 Jack Haskell hosts Monitor ’68, part 2 — March 24

Time: one hour

Jack returns for the second hour of Sunday night Monitor from 8 to 9 p.m. ET on March 24, 1968.  This one features an interview with actress-singer Diahann Carroll, a Joe Garagiola sports report, a report on U.S Marines under siege in Vietnam, a report on studies about man’s potential for living underwater, and Chris Economaki’s “Sport of Speed” report.  This hour is, yes, loaded.

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Jack Haskell hosts Monitor ’68, part 3 — March 24

Time: a half-hour

Jack is back for this half-hour of Sunday night Monitor from 9 to 9:30 p.m. ET on March 24, 1968.  This one features an interview with actor Maurice Evans, and an interview with an expert on the rise of emphysema as an American health problem.

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