R.I.P. Skip Caray
The longtime Atlanta Braves announcer on radio and on WTBS died in his sleep Sunday. Skip Caray was the son of broadcasting legend Haray Caray (who died in 1998) and was current TBS/WPCH-TV baseball broadcaster Chip Caray’s father.
Estelle Getty, R.I.P.
With all that’s been going on the last couple of days, forgive me if I didn’t mention the passing of The Golden Girls‘ Estelle Getty. She died a few days ago at the age of 84 due to complications from dementia. Of course, Getty played Sophia on the long-running NBC hit show from 1985 to 1992, and also appeared on […]
R.I.P. Tony Snow and Bobby Mercer
Two men had different paths in life, and both die of the same disease – cancer. Former Fox News commentator and White House press secretary Tony Snow and former Yankee great Bobby Mercer both died yesterday from cancer. Snow died at the all too-young age of 53 from colon cancer. He was one of the original Fox News personalities when […]
Former WMAQ-TV news anchor Ron Hunter dies
Ron Hunter, a news anchor who made headlines as an news anchor for NBC-owned WMAQ-TV in the 1970’s, passed away at his home in Las Vegas on Tuesday. Hunter made headlines for Chicago’s TV critics, who relentlessly bashed him for his on-air persona. He succeeded Floyd Kalber at WMAQ in 1976, and lasted just two years at the station, which […]
George Carlin dies
The controversial and edgy comic – best known for his raunchy stand-up material, has passed away at the age of 71. George Carlin, of course, was cited in a U.S. Supreme Court decision in 1978, regarding indecency and his “seven words” routine.
Tim Russert dies
The Meet the Press host and Buffalo native died at NBC News bureau in Washington of a heart attack. He was 58. UPDATE: Politicians and dignitaries took time out to remember Russert, and here’s a obit from TV Barn’s Aaron Barnhart. NBC is putting together a Russert tribute on this Sunday’s Meet the Press, hosted by Tom Brokaw. Updated 9:49 […]
Sportscaster Jim McKay dies
The man best known for telling us about “the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat” passed away at his home in Maryland on Saturday.Jim McKay brought us sports of all sorts from around the world on ABC’s Wide World of Sports every Saturday for decades. Whether if it’s hitting a golf ball over the Great Wall of China, […]
Harvey Korman dies
The Chicago-born comedian, best known for his roles on The Carol Burnett Show, has died at the age of 81. The comedian died after suffering complications from the rupture of an abdominal aortic aneurysm. Korman won four Emmys and a Golden Globe award on Carol Burnett, and also appeared in numerous films, including Blazin’ Saddles and the Pink Panther movies. […]
Lynne "Angel" Harvey dies
The wife of Paul Harvey succumbs to leukemia at the age of 92. She died in her River Forest home peacefully Saturday morning. Heavily involved in the business, Ms. Harvey was a producer for her husband’s popular radio show, and became the first producer to be admitted into the Radio Hall of Fame and received a Lifetime Achievement Award from […]
More on Wally Phillips’ death
Two wonderful articles here from The Trib’s Phil Rosenthal and the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel’s Tim Cuprisin (it turned out Wally Phillips also had listeners in the Milwaukee area.)
Chicago radio legend Wally Phillips dies
Photo: Chicago Sun-Times The undisputed king of Chicago morning radio from the 1960’s to the 1980’s has passed away at the age of 82. Wally Phillips began his legendary Chicago radio career at WGN in 1956 and became the station’s morning personality in 1965 and had the market’s top rated morning show from 1968 until he left for afternoons in […]
Randy Salerno dies (Updated)
Sad news to report: Randy Salerno, who co-anchored WBBM-TV’s morning newscast, was killed in a snowmobile accident Thursday night in Eagle River, Wisconsin. Salerno was a Crystal Lake native who worked at TV stations in Albany, N.Y., Peoria, and Rockford before arriving at WGN-TV in 1994, where he was a weekend anchor and general assignment reporter. He also anchored the […]
Allan Melvin, R.I.P.
The man who provided many voices for numerous Hanna-Barbera cartoons and acted on TV series such as The Brady Bunch, The Phil Silvers Show, and Archie Bunker’s Place has passed. Kansas City, Mo. native Allan Melvin died of cancer Thursday in his Los Angeles home. He was 84. Melvin was best known for the role of Sam the Butcher on […]
A thought…
Recently, several individuals who have made contributions to their respective fields – from Donda West to Jimmy Stagg from Roger King to Mark Sullivan to Terry Armour – have passed on. They made them in their own, unique ways. One person was a very gifted and talented DJ in the 1960’s. Another wrote a column for a major newspaper and […]
Former WCKG host Terry Armour dies
More sad news: Chicago Tribune columnist and former WCKG co-host Terry Armour has died unexpectedly at the too-young age of 46. Armour was rushed to the hospital this afternoon after falling ill. He died a short time later. Armour worked at the Tribune, covering the Bulls’ championship run in the 1990’s and previously co-hosted a midday talk show with Stan […]