George Putnam, longtime L.A. newsman, dies at 94

Perhaps best remembered for his "One Reporter's Opinion" TV newscast segments, Putnam began his broadcast career on a Minneapolis radio station in 1934. More than 70 years later, he was still at the microphone with his weekday, noon to 2 p.m. "Talk Back with George Putnam" syndicated program.

Putnam did his last regular broadcast on May 8 but returned on July 14 for a one-hour broadcast marking his 94th birthday, during which he fielded phone calls from well-wishers, including actress Doris Day.

CRN Digital Talk Radio will present a special tribute on CRN-1 at 12 p.m. today.

When Putnam was working for NBC in New York City in the early 1940s, influential newspaper columnist Walter Winchell declared that "George Putnam's voice is the greatest in radio."

But it was on television in Los Angeles a decade later – on KTTV Channel 11 – that the tall, wavy-haired broadcaster with the rich baritone voice made his biggest mark.

"George was the great communicator, before that title was ever applied to anyone," veteran KTLA-TV reporter Stan Chambers wrote in his 1994 book "News at Ten: Fifty Years with Stan Chambers."

"His vibrant enthusiasm, commanding appearance, and booming voice blended to make him a major force in television news," wrote Chambers. "He not only delivered the news, he cared about it and got involved in his stories."

The recipient of three local competitive Emmy Awards, six California Associated Press TV and Radio Assn. awards and more than 300 other honors and citations, Putnam at one time was reportedly the highest-rated and highest-paid TV news anchor in Los Angeles.

On KTTV Channel 11 in the 1950s and early 1960s, Putnam would conclude his 15-minute 6:45 p.m. news broadcast with his signature theatrical flair.

"And that's the up-to-the-minute news, up to the minute, that's all the news," he would say, then add: "Back at 10, see you then!"

Putnam was criticized by some for stepping beyond the bounds between his role as a reporter and that of a commentator.

Indeed, when Los Angeles County Dist. Atty. William B. McKesson, who had been appointed after Dist. Atty. Ernest Roll's death in 1956, sought election, Putnam proclaimed during his news broadcast: "Many of you have asked where I stand in the race for Los Angeles district attorney. I stand for Los Angeles Dist. Atty. William B. McKesson." He then listed his reasons for endorsing the candidate.

Former President Richard M. Nixon, speaking on videotape during a 1984 roast of Putnam given by KTTV to celebrate his 50th anniversary in broadcasting, said of the outspoken newscaster: "Some people didn't like what he said; some people liked what he said. But everybody listened to George Putnam. That is why he has been one of the most influential commentators of our times."

Despite his reputation as a staunch conservative, Putnam said in a 1994 interview with The Times that he "never thought of myself as a conservative."

"I detest labels," he said. "I've been called many things in my career: right-wing extremist, super-patriot, goose-stepping nationalist, jingoistic SOB. And those are some of the nice things!

"But those people have never bothered to determine my background: Farmer-Labor Party, Socialist Party, lifelong member of the NAACP, member of the Urban League. I went through the Depression, and my father was reduced to selling peanuts door-to-door. Then, because of that, I fell in love with Franklin D. Roosevelt. I've been a lifelong Democrat. I'm a conservative Democrat."

Born in Breckenridge, Minn., on July 14, 1914, Putnam landed his first broadcasting job at age 20, on WDGY, a 1,000-watt radio station in Minneapolis. He began by answering the phone and spinning records.

By the late 1930s, he had moved to New York City, where his professional stock rose considerably after columnist Winchell praised the sound of his voice on radio.