Sounds of NBC Monitor – 1969

Henry Morgan hosts Monitor ’69, part 1 — Feb. 23

Time:  one hour

Here’s Henry, hosting on Sunday afternoon, February 23, 1969, from 2 to 3 p.m. ET, as Monitor keeps us up-to-the-minute on President Nixon’s arrival in Brussels, Belgium, for his first overseas trip.  Features man-on-the-street interviews about the Nixon trip; a Richard Valeriani report about the trip; Ray Scherer reporting on Nixon’s arrival in Europe; and Dr. Joyce Brothers. (Courtesy of Ken Smith)

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Henry Morgan hosts Monitor ’69, part 2 — Feb. 23

Time: one hour

It’s no secret that Henry is one of our favorite all-time Monitor hosts (you can probably tell by the number of Henry Morgan audio clips we have.) So here’s another hour of Mr. Morgan — this one from 3 to 4 p.m. ET on Sunday, February 23, 1969. You’ll hear Monitor really “going places and doing things.”  After NBC Monitor News on the Hour, there’s a Bob Considine “On the Line” report; Ray Scherer reporting on President Nixon’s arrival in Brussels, Belgium; man-on-the-street interviews about the president’s trip; Joe Garagiola interviewing boxing great Jack Dempsey; and, of course, Henry. (Courtesy of Ken Smith)

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Brad Crandall hosts Monitor ’69 — Feb. 23

Time: one hour

Brads’ back with this excellent hour of Sunday night Monitor from 8 to 9 p.m. ET on February 23, 1969. You’ll hear an interview with a participant in the Synanon drug treatment program; Ron Nessen’s report on the surgery that former President Eisenhower was about to undergo; Brad’s look at the week ahead in sports; a “Ring Around the World” report on President Nixon’s upcoming trip to West Berlin; an announcement, just made, about the surgery former President Eisenhower faced; an interview with actor Richard Crenna; excerpts from Rowan & Martin’s “Laugh-In” TV show; and a report on the Washington football team’s hiring of Vince Lombardi.  Oh, my.  This is how really, really good Monitor was.

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Joe Garagiola hosts Monitor ’69, part 1 — March 1

Time: one hour

Here’s Joe, starting this hour from 3 to 4 p.m. ET on Saturday, March 1, 1969, with a news flash — that New York Yankee great Mickey Mantle had just announced his retirement.  Then Joe interviews a University of Notre Dame official about a controversial campus protest policy, and Monitor sports editor Len Dillon interviews a National Hockey League official about the prospect of a player strike. You’ll hear a WNBC Radio local newscast at the bottom of the hour, followed by a “Monitor on Stage” performance by comedian Bill Cosby, Peter Hackes reporting on the upcoming flight of Apollo 9, Garrick Utley reporting from France on President Nixon’s recent trip there, and a Monitor tip. Yep.  This hour’s loaded.

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 Joe Garagiola hosts Monitor ’69, part 2 — March 1

Time: one hour

Starting with NBC Monitor News on the hour, this hour from 4 to 5 p.m. ET on Saturday, March 1, 1969, is packed.  Host Joe Garagiola presides over Bob Considine’s “On the Line” piece about Vietnam; then Joe interviews, live, Yankee great Mickey Mantle, who had announced his retirement an hour earlier.  Leonard Probst reports on new Broadway plays; there’s a WNBC local newscast; and then there’s a report on the jury verdict that acquitted Clay Shaw, the man accused of plotting to kill President Kennedy; a Monitor college poll; man-on-the-street interviews about baseball; plus Joe’s national weather update and a Monitor tip.

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Joe Garagiola hosts Monitor ’69, part 3 — March 1

Time: a half-hour

This half-hour of Saturday afternoon Monitor from 5 to 5:30 p.m. ET on March 1, 1969, opens with NBC Monitor News on the Hour.  Then host Joe Garagiola presides over an interview with singer Sue Rainey, followed by her latest song; a Monitor tip; Joe’s commentary on the Major League Baseball labor settlement reached earlier in the week; Joe’s Saturday afternoon sports-score update; and comedy highlights from Rowan & Martin’s smash-hit show on NBC-TV.

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Henry Morgan hosts Monitor ’69, part 1 — March 2 (scoped)

Time: a half-hour

This is a somewhat choppy recording of Henry hosting Sunday afternoon Monitor between 2 and 3 p.m. ET on March 2, 1969. After NBC Monitor News on the Hour, you’ll hear a Len Dillon sports interview and a report from Tucson on a discovery at a Native American reservation. 

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Henry Morgan hosts Monitor ’69, part 2 — March 2

Time: one hour

This excellent hour of Sunday afternoon Monitor from 3 to 4 p.m. ET on March 2, 1969, opens with NBC Monitor News on the Hour.  Then, host Henry Morgan introduces an “On the Line” report from Bob Considine and an interview with Boston Celtics general manager Red Auerbach. A WNBC local newscast airs at the bottom of the hour, followed by more of Monitor, with Bill Ryan’s college poll; a report on the scheduled next-day flight of Apollo 9; a Joe Garagiola sports piece; a Monitor tip and Henry, ad-libbing about baseball.

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Henry Morgan hosts Monitor ’69, part 3 — March 2

Time: one hour

Here’s most of the 90 minutes of Monitor hosted by Mr. Morgan from 4 to about 5:30 p.m. ET on Sunday, March 2, 1969.  It starts with NBC Monitor News on the hour; then segues into Henry’s interview with author Leo Rosten (“The Joys of Yiddish”); a report on tensions between the Soviet Union and China; a report on the political situation in Israel; a WNBC local newscast; a report on expatriates living in Canada; a “Laugh-In” comedy track; a Joe Garagiola sports piece; Monitor tips; and Henry’s bulletin on the medical condition of former President Eisenhower.

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Brad Crandall hosts Monitor ’69, part 1 — March 2

Time: one hour

Brad presides over this fine hour of Sunday night Monitor from 7 to 8 p.m. ET on March 2, 1969, featuring a report from KNBR’s Gene D’Accardo on a missing DC-3 airliner in California with 35 on board (it would be found on August 8, 1969 — no survivors); Brad with the upcoming week in sports; Paul Duke’s “Capitol Hill Monitor”; Bob Considine’s “On the Line”; Peter Hackes, reporting on the scheduled next-day launch of Apollo 9; and a report on American deserters in Sweden.

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Brad Crandall hosts Monitor ’69, part 2 — March 2

Time: one hour

Brad’s back with this half-hour of Sunday night Monitor from 8:30 to 9 p.m. ET on March 2, 1969.  You’ll hear a report on a recent study of UFO’s; Dean Mell, reporting on the upcoming blast-off of the Apollo 9 moon mission (the next morning); man-on-the-street interviews on the upcoming baseball season; and a new Rowan and Martin laugh-track.

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Joe Garagiola hosts Monitor ’69 — March 8

Time: one hour

Saturday afternoon host Joe Garagiola is filling in for regular Saturday morning host Gene Rayburn (as he explains, they have “switched shifts” on this Saturday) in this hour from 9 to 10 a.m. on Saturday, March 8, 1969. It features Bob Considine’s “On the Line” report; Carl Stern, reporting on juvenile crime; Joe’s national weather outlook; WNBC’s newscast on the half-hour; a “Monitor on Stage” performance by comedian Jonathan Winters; a live progress report on the flight of Apollo 9; an interview with American space hero John Glenn about the benefits of the space program; and a Monitor tip.  Is this hour loaded? Oh, yes.

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Gene Rayburn hosts Monitor ’69, part 1 — March 8

Time: one hour

Here’s genial Gene — Monitor’s regular Saturday morning host — filling in for Joe Garagiola (Gene and Joe “switched shifts on this Saturday), hosting Saturday afternoon Monitor from 3 to 4 p.m. ET on March 8, 1969.  You’ll hear a report from Vietnam; “Capitol Hill Monitor,” with Paul Duke interviewing new Iowa Senator Harold Hughes; campus man-on-the-street interviews from West Virginia University about whether students think the Apollo space program is worth it; an update on the flight of Apollo 9; a report on drug abuse; and Monitor tips.

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Gene Rayburn hosts Monitor ’69, part 2 — March 8

Time: one hour

Mr. Rayburn returns with the second hour of Saturday afternoon Monitor from 4 to 5 p.m. ET on March 8, 1969.  Starting with NBC Monitor News on the Hour, this one includes an “On the Line” report from Bob Considine from the always-troubled Middle East; two Joe Garagiola sports reports; WNBC’s local newscast at the bottom of the hour; a report on the flight of Apollo 9; a man-on-the-street interview from Arkansas on whether the Apollo program is worth it; Gene’s national weather summary and a Monitor tip.

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Gene Rayburn hosts Monitor ’69, part 3 — March 8

Time: one hour

Gene’s back with the third and final hour of Saturday afternoon Monitor from 5 to 6 p.m. ET on March 8, 1969.  It begins with NBC Monitor News on the Hour.  Then you’ll hear Henry Morgan, commenting on smoking; a report on the aftermath of the U.S.S. Pueblo incident; a WNBC local newscast; Bill Ryan’s Monitor college poll; a report on the flight of Apollo 9; Leonard Probst on new Broadway plays; and a Monitor tip.

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Ted Steele hosts Monitor ’69 — March 8

Time: one hour

Ted hosts this hour of Saturday night Monitor from 8 to 9 p.m. ET on March 8, 1969, featuring an interview with comedian Jackie Vernon, followed by a “Monitor on Stage” performance by Mr. Vernon; a report on drug abuse; Ted, reading the Saturday night sports scores; a report and man-on-the-street interviews about the “worth” of the Apollo 9 mission; a live report on the flight of  Apollo 9; Leonard Probst interviews “Laugh-In” regular Arte Johnson; and Ted, with another sports report.

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Ted Steele hosts Monitor ’69, part 1 — March 15

Time: a half-hour

Ted hosts this first half-hour of Saturday night Monitor from 7:30 to 8 p.m. ET on March 15, 1969, featuring reports on post office problems in Texas and Montana (yes, it was a “post office problems” weekend on Monitor); and a “Capitol Hill Monitor” interview with California congressman John Tunney, who later would become a U.S. Senator from California. 

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Ted Steele hosts Monitor ’69, part 2 –March 15

Time: one hour

Ted’s back with this hour of Saturday night Monitor on March 15, 1969, from 8 to 9 p.m. ET.  It begins with NBC Monitor News on the Hour; then moves on to a Barbara Walters interview with actor Tony Curtis about his heading up an anti-smoking campaign; Kyle Rote’s interview with golfer Bob Goalby, the 1968 Masters champ; Ted with two Saturday night sports-score updates; reports on postal service problems in Rome and Jerusalem; and a report on drug abuse.

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Ted Steele hosts Monitor ’69, part 3 — March 15

Time: one hour

Ted returns with this hour of Saturday night Monitor from 9 to 10 p.m. ET on March 15, 1969, featuring reports on post office problems in San Juan, Puerto Rico, and Pensacola, Florida; a sports report from Joe Garagiola; Linda Sutter’s interview with a Congressman who wanted to ban the mailing of pornographic material; a “Monitor on Stage” performance with comedienne Betty Walker; and Ted, reading Saturday night sports scores.

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Henry Morgan hosts Monitor ’69, part 1 — March 16 

Time: a half-hour

Here’s Mr. Morgan, hosting this half hour from 2:30 to 3 p.m. ET on Sunday afternoon, March 16, 1969.  It features a Monitor “college poll” and two reports on problems in the U.S. post office.

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Henry Morgan hosts Monitor ’69, part 2 — March 16 

Time: one hour

We have most of this hour of Monitor that aired from 4 to 5 p.m.  ET on Sunday,  March 16, 1969, featuring an interview with a magazine publisher on the use of 3rd-class mail; a WNBC local newscast; reports on post-office conditions in Miami and Duluth, Minnesota; Guy LeBow’s interview with New York Mets manager Gil Hodges; plus Henry’s national weather update and, yes, Henry reading sports scores.

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Henry Morgan hosts Monitor ’69, part 3 — March 16

Time: one hour

Here’s Henry, back with another hour of Sunday afternoon Monitor from 5 to 6 p.m. ET on March 16, 1969.  Opening with NBC Monitor News on the Hour, it features an interview with Winton Blount, the new Postmaster General; a report on drug abuse; WNBC’s newscast at the half-hour; a report on post office issues in San Franciso; and an interview with musician Stan Kenton.

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Gene Rayburn hosts Monitor ’69, part 1 — March 22

Time: one hour

Gene energetically hosts this hour of Saturday morning Monitor from 10 to 11 a.m. ET on March 22, 1969.  It starts with NBC Monitor News on the Hour; then rolls on to Gene’s interview with newspaper columnist Sheilah Graham about the new, graphic openness of motion pictures (Monitor was focused on “new freedoms” this weekend); Gene’s national weather outlook; Bob Considine’s “On the Line” piece; WNBC’s local newscast on the half-hour; a report on glue-sniffing by Dr. Donald Luria, president of the New York State Council on Drug Addiction; a Joe Garagiola sports report; and a Monitor tip. 

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Gene Rayburn hosts Monitor ’69, part 2 — March 22

Time: one hour

Mr. Rayburn’s energy and enthusiasm are obvious in this hour of Saturday morning Monitor from 11 a.m. to noon ET on March 22, 1969.  NBC Monitor News on the Hour kicks it off; then Gene glides into a report on humorous anecdotes from the week from Washington, D.C.; an interview with “Bonanza” TV star Dan Blocker, who would take part in a powerboat-racing event later on this Saturday; WNBC’s local newscast on the half-hour; Gene’s own interview with a Fordham University official on the “new morality”; Carl Stern’s report on the legal definitions of obscenity; Chris Economaki’s live report from the Sebring 12-hour auto race in Florida; and a couple of Monitor tips. Yes, Gene was the perfect host for Saturday mornings.

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Henry Morgan hosts Monitor ’69, part 1 — March 22

Time: one hour

Henry is filling in for regular Saturday afternoon Monitor host Joe Garagiola in this hour from 3 to 4 p.m. ET on March 22, 1969.  You’ll hear a report on naked runners at the University of Maryland; an interview with an author about young people’s morality in Europe; Linda Sutter’s report on music lyrics; WNBC’s local newscast on the half-hour; Paul Duke’s “Capitol Hill Monitor”; a Joe Garagiola sports report on a basketball player who also is a poet; and some sports scores from Henry.

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Henry Morgan hosts Monitor ’69, part 2 — March 22

Time: one hour

Henry’s back with this power-packed second hour of Saturday afternoon Monitor from 4 to 5 p.m. ET on March 22, 1969.  It begins with NBC Monitor News on the Hour; then moves ahead with a compelling “On the Line” piece by Bob Considine, in which he relates just having been on board a hijacked airliner (and be sure to note who does the Mutual of Omaha commercial in that piece); an interview with an author about the increasing use of obscenity in public; WNBC’s local newscast on the half-hour; an interview with songwriter Mason Williams about his latest release, “Greensleeves,” followed by the song itself; and Henry’s national weather outlook plus sports scores.  You’ll also hear the song “Aquarius” — something you likely never thought you’d hear on Monitor.  

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Henry Morgan hosts Monitor ’69, part 3 — March 22

Time: one hour

Mr. Morgan hosts this third and final hour of Saturday afternoon Monitor on March 22, 1969, from 5 to 6 p.m. ET.  It opens with NBC Monitor News on the Hour; then moves ahead with Chris Economaki’s report on the 12-hour auto race taking place in Sebring, Florida; Monitor’s “Man on the Aisle,” Leonard Probst, reporting on new, more daring stage plays; Peter Hackes, reporting on how space-age technology will help ships; WNBC’s newscast on the half-hour; reports on the new “morality culture” in Japan and Hong Kong; an interview with Major League Baseball superstar Hank Aaron; and Henry reading the afternoon’s sports scores.  Yes, all this in just this one hour.

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Ted Steele hosts Monitor ’69, part 1 — March 22

Time: one hour

Ted — who soon would wrap up his two-year stint as host of Saturday night Monitor — presides over this hour from 8 to 9 p.m. ET on March 22, 1969. It features Henry Morgan’s commentary on taxes; a “Monitor on Stage” performance by singer Vicki Carr; Bill McCord, interviewing NFL commissioner Pete Rozelle; Elizabeth Post, discussing etiquette in this “new morality” era; a “Monitor on Stage” performance by comedian Bob Newhart; interviews with the owner of a topless place in San Francisco and with several “stars” about the “new morality”; and Ted, reading late sports scores on this Saturday night.

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Ted Steele hosts Monitor ’69, part 2 — March 22

Time: a half-hour

Here’s Ted, hosting this half-hour of Saturday night Monitor from 9:30 to 10 p.m. ET on March 22, 1969, featuring Linda Sutter’s interview with a Rabbi about the “new morality”; a report on that “new morality” in Germany; and an Elizabeth Post report.

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Ted Steele hosts Monitor ’69, part 3 — March 22

Time: a half-hour

Ted presides over this half-hour of Saturday night Monitor from 10 to 10:30 p.m. ET on March 22, 1969, featuring reports on the “new morality” or “new freedoms” in London and Scandinavia.  (You likely have the idea by now that this was “new morality” weekend on Monitor.  Well, it was.)  You’ll also hear a report on boxing; a report from Chris Economaki on the ongoing 12-hour auto race in Florida; adn Ted, reading Saturday night sports updates.

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Gene Rayburn hosts Monitor ’69, part 1 — March 29

Time: about 80 minutes

This magnificent piece demonstrates why Gene Rayburn was such a great, and beloved, Monitor host — and why Monitor was, simply, incomparable when it came to “going places and doing things,” and covering everything important or interesting in the weekend world.  This aired on Saturday morning, March 29, 1969, from 9 to 10:20 a.m. ET — the day after Dwight D. Eisenhower, our 34th president, died.  It features a moving tribute by Bob “On the Line” Considine; Peter Hackes, reporting live on Ike’s memorial; Kyle Rote, reporting on Ike’s athletic achievements; “early” NBC Monitor News on the Hour, followed by a special live report on Ike’s memorial; plus a couple of Monitor “tips” and Dr. Joyce Brothers.  Gene segues between all of this beautifully, and his tone and presentation perfectly fit the mood of each of the program’s segments.

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Gene Rayburn hosts Monitor ’69, part 2 — March 29

Time: one hour

Gene hosts this hour of Saturday morning Monitor from 11 a.m. to noon ET on March 29, 1969, featuring a report by Dr. Joyce Brothers; WNBC’s local newscast on the half-hour; a “Monitor on Stage” performance by comedian Bob Newhart; and a sports piece by Joe Garagiola.

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Gene Rayburn hosts Monitor ’69, part 3 — March 29

Time: one hour

This is one of the rarest hours on this website — a live fourth hour of Saturday morning Monitor, which aired from noon to 1 p.m. ET on March 29, 1969.  Normally, NBC Radio replayed Gene Rayburn’s first live hour (which had aired from 9 to 10 a.m. ET) from noon to 1 p.m. ET for those stations that did not clear the first hour live. But on this Saturday, the first live hour — plus the first minutes of the second hour that followed) — were taken up (as you can hear,  above) by special reports on the previous day’s death of former President Dwight Eisenhower. Because that hour-plus was “dated” by the live updates — the network decided to have Gene stick around an extra hour — from noon to 1 p.m. ET — and air the hour that producers had originally planned to air, before Mr. Eisenhower passed away.  And that’s what you’ll hear now, starting with NBC Monitor News on the Hour, followed by a tax expert on the mistakes people make in filing their taxes; a report from Boston on tax problems there; a report from London on reaction to the death of President Eisenhower; a Gene Shalit movie review; a report on drug addiction; and Monitor tips.  

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Ted Steele hosts Monitor ’69 — March 29

Time: one hour

Ted hosts this hour of Saturday night Monitor from 8 to 9 p.m. ET on March 29, 1969, featuring a Joe Garagiola sports report; a report on drug addiction in the U.S.; Leonard Probst’s report on “ticket taxes”; Paul Duke’s “Capitol Hill Monitor”; and Ted, reading late sports scores

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 Henry Morgan hosts Monitor ’69 — March 30

Time: one hour

Mr. Morgan hosts this hour of Sunday afternoon Monitor from 2 to 3 p.m. ET on March 30, 1969.  It features a report on an Internal Revenue Service computer center; an interview with the author of a book on tax evaders; an interview with Major League Baseball commissioner Bowie Kuhn on the death of former President Dwight Eisenhower; an interview with a U.S. Senator about the fight over funding for the IRS (sound familiar?); a report from Tucson on government ownership of land; and a live report from Carl Stern at the Washington National Cathedral on ceremonies for the late President Eisenhower.

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Garry Moore hosts Monitor ’69, part 1 — March 30

Time: one hour

Yes, Monitor fans, this is the first hour that longtime “I’ve Got a Secret” TV host Garry Moore ever hosted on Monitor — and it would not be the last.  In this hour from 7 to 8 p.m. ET on Sunday, March 30, 1969, Garry — filling in for regular host  Brad Crandall — presides over the audio playback of President Nixon’s eulogy that day for former President Eisenhower; a live report from NBC’s Carl Stern from the Capitol Rotunda, where French president Charles DeGaulle had just arrived; an “On the Line” piece by Bob Considine; a report from Italy on taxpayer problems there; and Linda Sutter’s “Younger Generation” report on why many young workers do not pay taxes.

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Garry Moore hosts Monitor ’69, part 2 — March 30

Time: one hour

Garry’s back with this hour of Sunday night Monitor from 8 to 9 p.m. ET on March 30, 1969.  It features Dean Mell’s extended interview with a minister who organized citizens to fight back against the Mob; a live report from Carl Stern at the Capitol Rotunda, where former President Eisenhower was lying in state;  Henry Morgan’s commentary on health; a Joe Garagiola sports report and Garry’s update on upcoming sports events; and a report from London on who would be sent to represent Britain at Ike’s funeral.

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Garry Moore hosts Monitor ’69, part 1 — April 5

Time: one hour

We are pleased to have all three hours of Garry hosting Saturday afternoon Monitor on April 5, 1969, starting with this one from 3 to 4 p.m. ET.  You’ll hear Candy Jones’ interview with a millionaire; Leonard Probst, reviewing an “off-off Broadway” play; Barbara Walters interviewing actor Tony Curtis on travel; a “Ring Around the World” report on travel in the Soviet Union; a report on the dangers of the drug LSD; and a Monitor tip.

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Garry Moore hosts Monitor ’69, part 2 — April 5

Time: one hour

Garry’s back, presiding over this fine second hour of Saturday afternoon Monitor from 4 to 5 p.m. ET on April 5, 1969.  Opening with NBC Monitor News on the Hour, Garry moves on to an “On the Line” report from Bob Considine; Chris Economaki –who used to do “Sport of Speed” on Monitor — back with a report on an international auto show; WNBC’s newscast on the half-hour; Chet Huntley’s “Focus on the News”; Richard Valeriani’s report on the upcoming Easter Egg roll at the White House; Garry’s national weather outlook; an interview with Dr. Denton Cooley of St. Luke’s Medical Center in Houston, who had just transplanted the world’s first artificial heart into a human; and other interviews about the heart procedure. And listen to the end — when Garry “reveals” his real name.

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Garry Moore hosts Monitor ’69, part 3 — April 5

Time: one hour

This third and final hour of Saturday afternoon Monitor on April 5, 1969, from 5 to 6 p.m. ET, starts with NBC Monitor News on the Hour.  Then host Garry Moore introduces two reports on that afternoon’s peace marches in Chicago and New York City; a dramatic report from Vietnam, where an NBC reporter had been in a firefight; Guy LeBow’s interview with a man who had been both a college football player and a pro baseball player; WNBC’s newscast on the half-hour; Joe Garagiola, interviewing two legendary baseball players — Satchel Paige and Ted Williams; an interview with actress Ingrid Bergman on travel; and a “Ring Around the World”  report from NBC’s Irving R. Levine in Rome, on the difficulties of travel in Italy that week.  You can catch your breath now.

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Ted Steele hosts Monitor ’69, part 1 — April 5

Time: a half-hour

This is one of Ted’s final appearances on Monitor, after hosting Saturday nights — and hosting well — for two years.  In this half-hour from 7:30 to 8 p.m. ET on  April 5, 1969, Ted introduces fellow Monitor host Henry Morgan, who delivers a commentary about traveling on American railroads (a piece that could easily play today); a report on travel in Wales; a “Ring Around the World” report from Vietnam; and Ted’s Saturday night sports update.

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Ted Steele hosts Monitor ’69, part 2 — April 5

Time: one hour

Here’s Ted, back with a full hour of Saturday night Monitor from 8 to 9 p.m. ET on April 5, 1969.  It features a report on travel in Alaska; a Joe Garagiola sports report on an up-and-coming swimming star whose name you surely will recognize; a commentary by an expert on drug abuse; Ted, interviewing an expert on drivers’ personalities (and you’ll hear how Ted and fellow Monitor hosts Gene Rayburn, Garry Moore and Henry Morgan did on the personality tests they took); and another Saturday night sports update from Ted.

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Brad Crandall hosts Monitor ’69 — April 6

Time: about 45 minutes

Here’s WNBC Radio’s Brad Crandall, hosting Monitor from 7:45 to 8:30 p.m. ET on April 6, 1969 — Easter Sunday night.  This begins “in the middle” of the half-hour that began at 7:30. You’ll hear a Ring Around the World report; NBC Monitor News on the Hour; interviews with actors Gregory Peck and Peter Falk, talking about their travel experiences; and a Joe Garagiola sports piece about the opening of the Major League Baseball season.  This is one of Brad’s last appearances on Sunday night Monitor after hosting it for about three years. And, yes, that top-of-the-hour newscast has a rather major production goof.  (Recorded off KVOO Radio in Tulsa.  Courtesy of Eric Paddon.)

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Garry Moore hosts Monitor ’69 — April 27

Time: one hour

We told you (just above) that Brad Crandall was exiting as Sunday night Monitor host.  Here’s your new Sunday night host — Garry Moore, with the first hour of Monitor from 7 to 8 p.m. ET on April 27, 1969. You’ll hear Linda Sutter’s “Younger Generation” report on young people refusing to register for the draft; Garry’s marvelous interview with comedian Alan King; Monitor sports editor Len Dillon’s interview with Buffalo Bills owner Ralph Wilson; and Garry’s Sunday night sports update.

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Gene Rayburn hosts Monitor ’69 — May 10

Time: one hour

This hour of Saturday morning Monitor on May 10, 1969, aired live on NBC Radio from 9 to 10 a.m. ET but was tape-delayed from noon to 1 p.m. on WNBC.  It begins with NBC Monitor News on the Hour.  Then Gene glides into Ed McMahon’s interview with comedian George Kirby; a Gene Shalit movie review; a Joe Garagiola sports report; WNBC’s local half-hour newscast; a “Ring Around the World” report; and a piece by Dr. Joyce Brothers.  

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Durward Kirby hosts Monitor ’69, part 1 — May 10

Time: a half-hour

Here’s Durward, your new Saturday night Monitor host, with this first half-hour of Monitor from 7:30 to 8 p.m. ET on May 10, 1969. It features a compelling interview with singer Nancy Wilson; a report from North Dakota, where violence had broken out the night before in a small town; and a “Ring Around the World” report on the Paris peace talks, which would, as we know, fall apart, leaving the Vietnam war to continue for years.

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Durward Kirby hosts Monitor ’69, part 2 — May 10

Time: a half-hour

Durward returns with this half-hour of Saturday night Monitor from 8 to 8:30 p.m. ET, on May 10, 1969, featuring more of that interview with singer Nancy Wilson that began in the preceding half-hour (above); and Len Dillon’s interview with the new coach of the Philadelphia Eagles NFL team.

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Joe Garagiola hosts Monitor ’69 — June 14

Time: one hour

Joe hosts this delightful hour of Saturday afternoon Monitor from 5 to 6 p.m. ET on June 14, 1969 — Monitor’s 14th birthday.  You’ll hear Lindsay Nelson with “Monitor Goes Fishing,” an interview on the upcoming Maccabiah Games in Israel; WNBC’s half-hour local newscast; Frank Blair, with a report on houseboat living, and Joe, with the latest Saturday afternoon sports scores.

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 Jim Lowe hosts Monitor ’69, part 1 — June 14

Time: one hour

Yes, after an absence of about six years, Jim Lowe returned to Monitor as a host.  In this absolutely powerhouse hour from 8 to 9 p.m. ET on Saturday night, June 14, 1969, Jim presides over an interview with the Fifth Dimension’s Lamonte McLemore; an interview with a conservationist who was trying to prevent the imminent slaughter of seals off the coast of Alaska; Jim’s announcement of a Life Magazine investigative report, published that Saturday night, about NY Jets’ quarterback Joe Namath’s possible connection with mobsters; Guy LeBow’s interview (recorded before the Life expose) with Buffalo Bills’ quarterback Jack Kemp about Namath; a report from Vietnam about the return home of American troops; a report on the dangers of LSD, and a report on that day’s Flag Day observance aet Fort McHenry in Baltimore.  Yes, a powerhouse hour.

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Jim Lowe hosts Monitor ’69, part 2 — June 14

Time: one hour

Jim’s back with this hour of Saturday night Monitor from 9 to 10 p.m. ET on June 14, 1969.  You’ll hear Linda Sutter’s report on discontent at Harvard University; Bill Ryan’s “College Poll”; Monitor’s musical “picks of the week”; a Bob Newhart comedy skit; and Jim, reading Saturday night sports results.

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Durward Kirby hosts Monitor ’69 — Sept. 7

Time: one hour

Yes, Durward also joined Monitor as a host for a time in 1969 — about the same time his long-time TV pal Garry Moore was handling another Monitor segment. We have most of this hour Durward hosted from 8 to 9 p.m. ET on Sunday night Sept. 7, 1969.  You’ll hear reports on inflation in Cleveland and NYC and an interview with an author about how single women are handling inflation; and NBC’s Robert McCormick, with a tribute to legendary Republican Senate Minority leader Everett Dirksen, who had passed away hours earlier. 

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 Jim Lowe hosts Monitor ’69, part 1 — Sept. 13

Time: a half-hour

Jim hosts this first-half hour of Saturday night Monitor from 7:30 to 8 p.m. ET on Sept. 13, 1969.  It features a report from NBC’s Roy Neal in California about the murders of Sharon Tate and others in Los Angeles the previous month (the Manson family did it); Guy LeBow’s sports report on the use of computers to analyze football (it was revolutionary in 1969); a report from Israel on increasing tensions in the Middle East (yes, it’s a never-ending story); and Jim’s Saturday night sports update.  Welcome back, Mr. Lowe!

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Jim Lowe hosts Monitor ’69, part 2 — Sept. 13

Time: a half-hour

Jim’s back with this half-hour of Saturday night Monitor from 8 to 8:30 p.m. ET on Sept. 13, 1969, featuring an interview with a woman from Appalachia who moved to get a better life; a report on marijuana use; and Jim’s Saturday night sports scores.

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Jim Lowe hosts Monitor ’69, part 3 — Sept. 13

Time: one hour

Jim returns with this hour of Saturday night Monitor from 9 to 10 p.m. ET on Sept 13, 1969.  You’ll hear a report from Gulfport, Mississippi — which had just been hit hard by Hurricane Camille; a report from Greenfield, Iowa, where residents were trying to stop smoking; Paul Duke’s “Capitol Hill Monitor,” and a couple of interviews about the effects of inflation.

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Durward Kirby hosts Monitor ’69 — Sept. 21

Time: about 20 minutes

Here’s Durward, on this segment of Sunday night Monitor on Sept. 21, 1969, from 9 to about 9:20 p.m. ET — a segment we like because it features our long-time friend, former Monitor engineer Gene Garnes Sr., as a reporter! (Courtesy of Gene Garnes Sr.)

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Gene Rayburn hosts Monitor ’69, part 1 — Sept. 27

Time: one hour

We are pleased to have all three hours of Gene hosting Saturday morning Monitor on Sept. 27, 1969.  This hour — from 9 to 10 a.m. ET — begins with NBC Monitor News on the Hour; then moves on to an interview with a travel expert (this was “travel weekend” on Monitor); an interview with Yogi Berra of the Mets (yes, the Mets), on that team’s clinching of a baseball division title (the Mets, incredibly, would go on to win the World Series); Henry Morgan’s humorous commentary on traveling; and Gene’s on-the-scene interview with Notre Dame’s head coach Ara Parseghian, which turns into a Ford commercial.

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Gene Rayburn hosts Monitor ’69, part 2 — Sept. 27

Time: one hour

Gene’s his usual energetic, enthusiastic self as he hosts this hour of Saturday morning Monitor from 10 to 11 a.m. ET on Sept. 27, 1969.  You’ll hear him interview the editor of “Ski” magazine; a Joe Garagiola sports report; Gene Shalit’s review of a movie he does not like; and a report from Van Patrick, interviewing Detroit Lion football player Mel Farr, as part of a piece clearly sponsored by Ford.

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Gene Rayburn hosts Monitor ’69, part 3 — Sept. 27

Time: one hour

Mr. Rayburn returns with this hour of Saturday morning Monitor from 11 a.m. to noon ET on Sept. 27, 1969. It features a report on Alaska tourism; a Joe Garagiola sports report; a WNBC local newscast at the bottom of the hour; Frank Blair’s interview with the travel editor of Esquire Magazine; and a report on tourism in Miami.  

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Durward Kirby hosts Monitor ’69, part 1 — Oct. 26

Time: 15 minutes

So, you might ask — why are we including such a brief segment of Monitor — hosted by Durward Kirby on Sunday night, Oct. 26, 1969, from 7:45 to 8 p.m. ET? Well, it’s because in addition to Durward doing the Sunday night sports roundup, Gene Shalit gives one of the most creative movie reviews we ever heard him do on Monitor.  That’s why.

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Durward Kirby hosts Monitor ’69, part 2 — Oct. 26

Time: one hour

We have most, but not all, of this Sunday night hour of Monitor hosted by Durward Kirby from 8 to 9 p.m. ET on Oct. 26, 1969. You’ll hear a report on how to make money; Dean Mell, interviewing a stock broker; Ray Farkes, reporting on humor in Washington; and an interview with the author of a book on “self-made men.”

Gene Rayburn hosts Monitor ’69 — Nov. 1

Time: one hour

Genial Gene is here with this hour of Saturday morning Monitor from 10 to 11 a.m. ET on Nov. 1, 1969.  It features an interview with a report on public bathing in Europe hundreds of years ago; Gene’s national weather report; a Joe Garagiola sports report; a “Ring Around the World” report on next year’s elections; and a piece by Dr. Joyce Brothers.

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Henry Morgan hosts Monitor ’69, part 1 — Nov. 1

Time: one hour

Okay, Monitor fans, if you’re a Henry Morgan fan (and we are), this hour is a must-hear.  He’s hosting Saturday afternoon Monitor (filling in for someone, but by this time, we’re as confused as anyone about who the regular Saturday afternoon host was) from 3 to 4 p.m. ET on Nov. 1, 1969.  You’ll hear Henry’s excellent interview with the owner of the “Flying Scotsman” train; Len Dillon’s interview with Chicago Black Hawks hockey superstar Bobby Hull; a WNBC local newscast at the bottom of the hour; Bill Ryan’s “College Poll”; Henry’s hilarious ad-lib about a ridiculous “Monitor tip” about leaves — yes, leaves — and an interview with an author who specializes in witches.  Yes, yes.  A memorable hour, indeed.

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Henry Morgan hosts Monitor ’69, part 2 — Nov. 1

Time: one hour

Here’s Henry, back with this hour of  Saturday afternoon Monitor from 4 to 5 p.m. ET on Nov. 1, 1969. You’ll hear NBC Monitor News on the Hour, followed by reports on organized crime in the United States, a report on the skyjacking of a TWA plane, WNBC’s local newscast on the half-hour, a report on President Nixon’s hopes for Latin America; a report on the fight over potato chips (yes, potato chips) in Cleveland, and Guy LeBow’s piece on the New York Knicks basketball team.

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Thanksgiving Monitor ’69 with Morgan, Rayburn, Garagiola and Murray the K (scoped) — Nov. 22 & 29 & Dec. 6

Time: about one hour

This is oh-so-good — delightful Thanksgiving-time Monitor ’69 segments, hosted by some of our very favorite people!  (Courtesy of Ken Smith)

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Christmastime Monitor ’69 with Rayburn, Morgan, Murray the K and Charlie Brown (scoped) — Dec. 13, 20 & 21

Time: about 70 minutes

This is delightful holiday listening – Monitor segments from December ’69, with plenty of Monitor Christmas jingles and some great hosts! (Courtesy of Ken Smith)