George Putnam, R.I.P.
Just heard sad news. Los Angeles TV newsman and talk radio legend George Putnam has died. He was 94. George showed me great kindness, championing my book Invasion and inviting me on his show frequently to talk about immigration enforcement and national security when few outside the border states cared. He penned a weekly online column right up until the last few months of his life. He had a rich, full, colorful career. He was a gentleman and a patriot. And I was glad and grateful to know him.
Once, during a live radio interview, my then-two-year-old daughter woke up from a nap in her bedroom next to my home office. George heard her calling for me — and so did his entire listening audience. I braced for the producer to cut off the segment and chastise me. Instead, George welcomed her to the airwaves and dubbed it my daughter’s first official radio appearance. He loved recounting that moment with me over the years and I loved recounting it to my daughter and family.
I’ll tell my daughter the story again today. With a big lump in my throat.
***
George’s radio network, CRN, has a memorial tribute here.
Here’s the obituary at my old newspaper, the LA Daily News. Excerpt:
Former Los Angeles television news anchor George Putnam, whose booming, iconic voice famously inspired the character of Ted Baxter on the classic sitcom “The Mary Tyler Moore Show,” died in his sleep Friday at a Chino hospital where he was being treated for liver and kidney ailments. He was 94.
Born in Minnesota, Putnam first worked in radio in Minneapolis before coming to Los Angeles in 1951 and moving to television. He served as news anchor at a number of Los Angeles TV stations for a quarter of a century, working from the early 1950s until 1975 at KTTV 11, KCOP 13, KTLA 5 and KHJ (now KCAL 9).
“The thing I remember most is that George had this personal contact with the viewers at home – they really would listen to him,” recalls Stan Chambers, who was news director at KTLA during Putnam’s tenure there and still works as a reporter for the station today.
“He was never at a loss for words,” Chambers continued…
…Ted Knight, who played old-school newscaster Ted Baxter on “The Mary Tyler Moore” show, based the character in part on Putnam and to a lesser extent on another L.A. newscasting icon, Jerry Dunphy. In a 1981 interview, Knight recalled encountering Putnam at a banquet, where the newsman said to him, “Hey, Ted, why don’t you get your own act?”
More about George from his Newsmax bio:
Always dedicated and hard working, George rose up from humble beginnings in St. Paul, Minnesota to build an illustrious career, which began on his 20th birthday in 1934 at WDGY, Minneapolis. Since then he has worked as a newsman, reporter and commentator for most of the major broadcasting organizations in the United States including NBC, ABC, Mutual, Dumont and Metromedia. His investigative reports influenced the exit of a district attorney, elected a mayor (Sam Yorty) and brought about the property tax saving measure Proposition 13. He’s covered crime stories over the past 68 years and actually had the scoop and broke key details on the some of the most high-profile cases in American history, including the Manson murders, Barbara Graham, L. Ewing Scott, and the Freeway murders.
During WWII, George served first in the Army and later as a First Lieutenant in the Marine Corps, winning two citations during his three-year stay. Prior to entering service in WWII, he acted as Master of Ceremonies for “The Army Hour” and he and Lowell Thomas shared the role as the voice of Fox Movietone News. While George achieved early success in New York (where Walter Winchell described his voice as “the greatest in radio and television”), he has been a fixture on the Los Angeles news scene since 1951.
He’s perhaps the one reporter who interviewed the four most decorated war heroes – Sgt. Alvin York, Audie Murphy, Joe Hooper and Col. David Hackworth. He has covered every presidency since Herbert Hoover, whom he interviewed after he was out of office and has known most of the big names in politics – Nixon and Reagan in particular – whom he knew on a first-name basis before they rose to prominence. At one point when George was the highest rated television newsman and anchor in Los Angeles, he was urged to run for governor of the state of California. He chose instead to support his friend Ronnie.
For almost a quarter of a century, George Putnam’s daily “Talk Back” program on LA’s powerhouse KRLA was a blend of two-way conversation with in-studio guests, newsmakers across the nation and his listeners who are likely to hear people of all ages and from all walks of life. Regardless of who is on the phone or in studio, George draws on his wealth of experience and instinct as a newsman to stimulate lively and thoughtful conversation on issues facing us every day… whether serious or lighthearted. Always on top of the latest happenings in the world, George’s “One Reporter’s Opinion” has become a very popular op-ed column on the Internet via top news services such as NewsMax.com.
The West’s most honored newsman, George Putnam added one more accolade to his remarkable career in 1995 – the prestigious Los Angeles Area Governors Award from the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. The award recognizes an individual who has made a special and unique contribution to LA area television. He is the recipient of four Emmys, six California Associated Press Television & Radio Association awards, eight annual Radio & Television News Club awards and over 300 other honors and citations for service to country, community and mankind.
R.I.P.
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Michelle, I had never heard of the man, but he sounds like a class act. Please accept my condolences.
RIP and prayers rising for family.
Sad news, Michelle. From his obituary, it looks like he had a full, rewarding life of 94 years. May he rest in peace, with God.
R.I.P.
Grew up with him on the Airwaves out here George Putnam was a class act.
L.A.Legend indeed.
I’ve never heard of him, either. My condolences.
So he began each of his NewsMax columns with, “It is this reporter’s opinion that…” What a pleasantly unconventional habit compared to most, ahem, unbiased reporters.
In the most recent column he wrote on the NewsMax link you provided, he included in his conclusion a Bible quote:
Another one of God’s children is knocking at His door, I presume.
Apropos, no?
Thanks for sharing this and your’s and your daughter’s part in his life. My condolences.
I really didn’t know of George Putnam but it sounds like he was a great guy and a fine human being, so I share your sense of loss, Michelle.
A bit before my radio listening time, but starting out at “WeeGee” (as we called WDGY in the 60s-70s), adds a personal-local touch to the sense of loss of his well-lived, long life. May his family and friends find comfort in the days ahead.
Dunno why, but your recounting of your daughters’ calling for you while you were on the air, brought a tear to my eye. How about a book on moments like that? You have the skills (I don’t), and it would be great watching the leftists trying to slam you after a book like that was published.
Same here.
I didn’t know that he had a mistress for decades.
I was in LA on business 24 years ago, stuck in traffic on the 405 freeway, mad at the world, mad at myself and thinking what a stupid country I lived in. I tuned on the radio in an attempt to drown out the rudeness of the people around me and there was George. Now George had the overly pompous style of talking , almost self righteous. I wasn’t in the mood to listen to how great this country was until he began responding to a caller who was talking the way I felt. The person on the radio had everything you could want in the word, just like me. George in booming cocky voice, slowly and gently reminded the caller and myself about the greatness of this country. Five minutes of hearing George that day made the remainder of the drive beautiful.
GOD BLESS YOU GEORGE
Fam man,
Next time your stuck in traffic, just think what hardships these folks had and by the time you get finished comparing how good we have it compared to them you’ll be at your destination.
R.I.P. George Putnam.
I know. We all need a reminder what a great country we live in. I work out of my home now in Idaho and have little need to travel on business. Thank God there are now more people on the radio, like old George to kick me in the face occasionally.
God Bless George Putnam, they don’t make them like that anymore.
Like some of the other commenters, I don’t recall having ever heard of Mr. Putnam but I want to extend my condolences, and to say that it is heartening to know there are lone voices in the liberal bastions of LA, NY, and others, extolling the conservative message where, though often met with hostility, it sorely needs to be said.
I grew up with him on the TV. I remember thinking of him as just another newsreader. They seemed to come and go so quickly in the L.A. market, so many TV and radio stations. I had no idea.
R.I.P.
May God the Father Almighty rest his Soul and comfort his family.
Grew up with George here in Los Angeles. If he was physical able he would always ride his horse during the Rose Parade even during his latter years. A true conservative who was a newscaster, “Back at 10, see you then.”
I used to listen to George Putnam back in the early- to mid-1990s, when I lived in the greater San Gabriel Valley.
I remember there was one holiday – maybe a July 4th, or a Labor Day, or a Memorial Day – when Putnam was the only host who bothered to come in and do a live show – at that point, he must have been about 80.
And he was all over Whitewater from Day One.
Another thing I remember from that era was a young Hugh Hewitt, on Sunday nights, on KFI, with
the most beautiful theme song – it wasn’t until years later that I realized it was from Last of the Mohicans.
Anyway, if you read Putnam’s bio, he had a truly extraordinary career:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Putnam_(newsman)
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0701216/
And just the other night, I was watching Independence Day – I think on the AMC channel – and I came up out of my chair when I noticed George Putnam in a very brief cameo appearance.
RIP and thank you for a lifetime of great commentary. The quality of his work did not drop off one bit even in his last few months.
I watched him many years in the Rose Parade. What a great man.
George had one helluva run and leaves quite a legacy of works. I join with the audience and family in mourning his passing and honoring his spirit.
RIP George Putnam
george putnam and jerry dunphy are the newscasters of my childhood. i remember that voice of strength and authoritarian knowledge like it was yesterday. God Bless Your Soul, Mr. Putnam, and may your eternity be in His Presence.
So sad. Just as I was beginning to think he would live forever…he proves me right!
The three broadcasters that I remember growing in SoCal were Jerry Dunphy (”From the desert to the sea, to all of Southern California, a good evening.”), George Putnam (”this is one reporter’s opinion”)and Hal Fishman…all were gentlemen and living legends – too bad that those in the MSM didn’t learn a damn thing from any of these men…
As like many other’s commenting here I too grew up with George. He was one of the most interesting and charismatic newsbroadcasters in the business. He is part of why I have read/watched the news since I was a kid. R.I.P. George Putnam.
One note to mention: KTTV 11 (FOX LA), KCOP 13 (FOX owned) and KTLA 5 (Tribune Co. owned are the only LA market TV/Cable news org’s to mention his passing so far today (on their web sites that is). CBS 2, KCAL 9 (CBS owned), KNBC 4 (NBC) and KABC 7 (ABC) are all silent so far on the passing of this conservative broadcasting legend. How pathetic the leftest part of the media is.
Years ago I too found George Putnam on the radio while traveling the I-405 and became a daily listener. Moved, forgot about him, then rediscovered him on Newsmax. I hope someone or some website will keep his writings available for future readers. Great insight and even in his advanced years you’d have thought he was 40 yrs. younger – due to his grasp and understanding of current issues. He was the original voice in the wilderness speaking out against illegal immigration.
Michelle, I’m so sorry for the loss of your friend. To his public, I’m sorry for a voice sadly silenced.
I have grown up in So Cal and have spent most of my life watching George. I was really suprised to find out he had passed, because none of our local network stations covered it. He was a remarkable man and I enjoyed watching him and reading his editorial on Newsmax. He will be missed.
Michelle I too mourn the loss of your friend. If he so quickly and easily recognized the greatness in you, he must have been a brilliant man, indeed!
The conservative world mourns his loss!
I grew up in L.A. and my mother used to frequently have George Putnam’s show on her radio when I later came to visit. He indeed was a favorite of conservative audiences. RIP, Mr. Putnam. And RIP, mom. I miss you, but thank you for introducing me to Rush Limbaugh and conservatism in general.