Ray Forrest

In his three-hour interview, Ray Forrest (1916-1999) recalls how he became television's very first news anchor, announcer, personality, and political commentator in 1939. He discusses how he got his start as a page/guide at NBC and worked his way up to junior radio announcer before becoming an announcer for NBC experimental television. He speaks at length about the early days of NBC where he announced for shows of all genres as well as breaking news events -- including the outbreak of World War II. He talks of serving in the Signal Corps during World War II, getting injured while serving in the OSS, and returning to NBC after the war. He describes what it was like to shoot remotes, for sporting events and political conventions (including the 1940 Republican convention -- the first ever televised), and recounts working in the television studios with the cumbersome lights and cameras. He recalls how, after the war, he started one of the first children's television programs, Children's Theater, and reminisces about many of his fellow colleagues during the early days of NBC television. Jeff Kisseloff conducted the interview on April 12, 1997 in New York, NY.