Virgil

Paul Harvey

“Standby for news.” Ah that famous introduction to his news cast will never be heard again. Paul Harvey I’m afraid passed away yesterday at the golden age of 90. That voice, that distinct way of pausing and emphasizing words, that original way of telling a story, and that sharp sense of humor. Rest in peace my dear man.

Who is Paul Harvey? I’m sure than non-Americans have never heard of him. Actually I was surprised my wife had never heard of him. So it’s quite possible that many Americans, if not most Americans, have never heard of him either. Paul Harvey was a radio man for all his life, which means he was a radio announcer for around 70 years. As I looked through his obituaries, he had said he had practically been raised in newsrooms. But what made Harvey distinct was his voice and his organization of the news. At some point in his career he was given the freedom to tailor the news report in whatever fashion he wished and he characteristically ended the news with a story, either from history or current events. He would present the story with a some key piece of information in suspense and at the end reveal the that piece of information and conclude with, “And now you know the rest of the story.” I always associated Harvey with a contemporary O’Henry. I think that’s good comparison.

What also made Harvey great was his speech. I think if it is possible for one man to capture the speech of this huge and diverse country, it was him. He was middle America, perfect mid west, I think. I see he was born in Oklahoma, from which people tend to mix southern with mid western. But he had honed his voice for perfect articulation. He certainly wasn’t eastern or southern or western. I think he just about balanced all the elements of the country into a consolidated American. And he knew how to emphasize. He would have a staccato rhythm when he was on a roll, and then just stop for the perfect pause.

He certainly projected his values in his news. His broadcast was “News and Commentary.” He didn’t pull punches on his commentary. When he felt someone had wronged or was wrong he stated. Apparently he had turned against the Vietnam War at one point and articulated. I personally heard both pro and against commentary on the Iraqi war. On balance I think he was most on the conservative side, especially when it came to traditional values. But if so, it was just mildly over to the right. I have never heard any politician criticize his position, and he had such fine mid western manners. I can’t imagine how anyone could get angry at him.

Paul Harvey dead at 90
Radio legend Paul Harvey has died
By Gerry Smith and Phil Rosenthal | Tribune reporters
11:13 PM CST, February 28, 2009

Paul Harvey, a Chicago radio man whose melodious voice and hearty "Hello, America" were cherished by millions for more than 57 years on national broadcasts that were an entrancing mix of news, storytelling and gently persuasive salesmanship, died Saturday. He was 90.

Called "the voice of Middle America" and "the voice of the Silent Majority" by the media for his flag-waving conservatism, Harvey died surrounded by family in a Phoenix hospital, an ABC Radio Networks spokesman said. The cause of death was not immediately available.

"Paul Harvey was the most listened to man in the history of radio," said Bruce DuMont, president of the Museum of Broadcast Communications and host of the nationally syndicated "Beyond the Beltway." "There is no one who will ever come close to him."

Paul Harvey Jr., who after he was struck by a car in 1976 began writing his father's show, "The Rest of the Story," offered condolences, even amid his own loss, to those who loved to listen.

"My father and mother created from thin air what one day became radio and television news. So in the past year, an industry has lost its godparents and today millions have lost a friend," he said in a statement.

The show reached an estimated 24 million listeners on more than 1,200 radio stations nationally and 400 Armed Forces Radio stations around the world.

In Chicago, Harvey was heard on WGN-AM 720, but his local ties ran deeper.

Returning to civilian life after a three-month stint in the Army, Harvey moved to the radio big-time in Chicago.

While broadcasting the news at WENR-AM in Chicago's Merchandise Mart in 1951, Harvey became friends with the building's owner, Joseph P. Kennedy, who helped him get on ABC nationally.

Harvey's 45-minute routine started at 3:30 a.m., when the alarm clock would ring in the family's 22-room home in west suburban River Forest. It never varied: brush teeth, shower, shave, get dressed, eat oatmeal, get into car and drive downtown.

He dressed formally -- in shirt, coat and tie -- as if going to work as the president of a bank.

"It is all about discipline," Harvey told the Tribune in 2002. "I could go to work in my pajamas, but long ago I got some advice from the man who was the engineer for my friend Billy Graham's radio show. He said that one has to prepare in all ways for the show. If you don't do that in every area, you'll lose your edge."

Harvey rejected numerous offers to move his show to the East Coast so he could "stay in touch with his listeners and the American people," DuMont said.

His five-minute "The Rest of the Story" broadcasts featured historical vignettes with surprise endings like the story of the 13-year-old boy who receives a cash gift from Franklin Roosevelt and turns out to be Fidel Castro. Or the one about the famous trial lawyer who never finished law school (Clarence Darrow). He'd end each broadcast with his signature: "Paul Harvey. [long pause] Good day!"

Born Paul Harvey Aurandt in Tulsa on Sept. 4, 1918. He and his sister were raised by their mother after their police officer father was killed in the line of duty when Harvey was 3. He dropped his last name for professional reasons in the 1940s.

Harvey developed an early infatuation with the new medium of radio, picking up stations from a homemade cigar-box crystal set.

Beginning as an unpaid gofer at a Tulsa radio station in 1933, Harvey worked his way up the radio ladder.

While working in St. Louis, Harvey met Lynne Cooper, a student-teacher from a socially prominent family who read school news announcements. Instantly smitten with the young woman he nicknamed "Angel," Harvey later asked her to dinner. On the night of their first date, he proposed as they sat in her parked car. They married in June 1940.

"Since the first day of our marriage, we've worked side by side," Harvey told the Tribune. "I think that if we had not worked so closely the marriage would not have survived. There has never been the opportunity for neglect."

Lynne Harvey remained her husband's closest professional collaborator until she died last May.
[SNIP]

There is more here: http://www.chicagotribune.com/entert...,3381755.story

With the magic of the internet and youtube, you can hear some Paul Harvey’s broadcasts.

Here is Paul telling a story from history: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S6Ix56RtLNM

And an even better one: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ta9Pc...eature=related

And some clips consolidated: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GnJV_dU4bPA

And his wikipedia entry: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Harvey

Good day, Paul Harvey and may you rest in peace.