I Have a Lady in the Balcony: Memoirs of a Broadcaster in Radio and Television

I Have a Lady in the Balcony: Memoirs of a Broadcaster in Radio and Television

On Friday, May 18, 1934, radio columns in the New York press announced that Bert Parks of CBS would be "relinquishing his status as N.Y.'s youngest Network Staff Announcer to the newly appointed George Ansbro on the NBC Announcing Staff." From his role as an NBC page in 1931 to his career as a network announcer, Ansbro recalls an era that includes a who's who of early radio and Hollywood stars, and a transition from what was known as the Blue Network and its beginnings at Rockefeller Center to the massive radio and television organization now known as ABC. “a record of six decades as an announcer with NBC and ABC”― Classic Images ; “filled with anecdotes and inside stories of literally hundreds of other radio personalities...gives insight into some of the operations of the broadcast industry and has a number of interesting photos”― North American Radio Archives ; “should delight any nostalgia fan.... Musicologists will be especially fascinated by his big band remote broadcast history. It is a lot of fun especially for the radio buff! Highly recommended”― The Illustrated Press. On May 18, 1934, the New York press announced that George Ansbro would become the city's youngest network staff announcer. Ansbro's successful audition at ABC led to a career that included work on Young Widder Brown, Manhattan Maharajah and Dr. I.Q., the television show from which the book's title is taken. Fifty-five years after his broadcast beginning, he was hailed as a pioneer and held the honor of being the oldest employee of any network. From his role as an NBC page in 1931 to his career as a network announcer, Ansbro recalls an era that includes a who's who of early radio and Hollywood stars, and a transition from what was known as the Blue Network and its beginnings to the massive radio and television organization now known as ABC. Along with such names as Howard Cosell, Bob Hope, and Mary Pickford, Ansbro helped shape the modern entertainment world. On May 18, 1934, the New York press announced that George Ansbro would become the city's youngest network staff announcer. Ansbro's successful audition at ABC led to a career that included work on Young Widder Brown, Manhattan Maharajah and Dr. I.Q., the television show from which the book's title is taken. Fifty-five years after his broadcast beginning, he was hailed as a pioneer and held the honor of being the oldest employee of any network. From his role as an NBC page in 1931 to his career as a network announcer, Ansbro recalls an era that includes a who's who of early radio and Hollywood stars, and a transition from what was known as the Blue Network and its beginnings to the massive radio and television organization now known as ABC. Along with such names as Howard Cosell, Bob Hope, and Mary Pickford, Ansbro helped shape the modern entertainment world. George Ansbro was an announcer for the NBC and ABC networks for six decades. He worked in both the live radio era of big bands and soap operas and the television era, retiring from ABC in 1990. He lives in Spring Lake, New Jersey.