Garroway at Large
Encyclopedia
Garroway at Large was an experimental musical variety show program with the host Dave Garroway
in the Golden Age of Television
. It was telecast at 10pm on Saturday (and later on Sundays and Fridays) on NBC
from April 1949 to 1954. Garroway at Large aired with a full symphony orchestra conducted by Alfredo Antonini. There were two female singers, Betty Chapel and Connie Russell
and a male singer, Jack Haskell. In addition, the Hamilton Trio, a contemporary dance group, appeared each week, along with comedian Cliff Norton.
The show had only one local Chicago broadcast on April 8, 1949 before becoming an NBC Network program.
The series is notable for introducing an innovative presentation and staging to television. When television began in New York
, the shows adopted the familiar theatrical proscenium
concept, separating the stage from the audience area. After World War II
, several programs originated from Chicago
, where Garroway was a disc jockey
on radio station WMAQ.
When Garroway was assigned to host on television, he abandoned the usual conventions for a more casual approach in which the reality of the studio was acknowledged. Followed by a single camera, he walked around the entire large studio space and simple abstract sets as he talked to guests and the TV viewer directly. This live staging technique, known as the "Chicago Style", was developed further on Garroway's next show, Today.
Dave Garroway
David Cunningham "Dave" Garroway was the founding host of NBC's Today from 1952 to 1961. His easygoing, relaxed, and relaxing style belied a battle with depression that may have contributed to the end of his days as a leading television personality—and, eventually, his life...
in the Golden Age of Television
Golden Age of Television
The Golden Age of Television in the United States began sometime in the late 1940s and extended to the late 1950s or early 1960s.-Evolutions of drama on television:...
. It was telecast at 10pm on Saturday (and later on Sundays and Fridays) on NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
from April 1949 to 1954. Garroway at Large aired with a full symphony orchestra conducted by Alfredo Antonini. There were two female singers, Betty Chapel and Connie Russell
Connie Russell
Connie Russell was an American movie actress. Born in New York City, she appeared in seven films from the 1930s through the 1950s. She played a lead role in the 1956 movie, Nightmare.-External links:...
and a male singer, Jack Haskell. In addition, the Hamilton Trio, a contemporary dance group, appeared each week, along with comedian Cliff Norton.
The show had only one local Chicago broadcast on April 8, 1949 before becoming an NBC Network program.
The series is notable for introducing an innovative presentation and staging to television. When television began in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, the shows adopted the familiar theatrical proscenium
Proscenium
A proscenium theatre is a theatre space whose primary feature is a large frame or arch , which is located at or near the front of the stage...
concept, separating the stage from the audience area. After World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, several programs originated from Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
, where Garroway was a disc jockey
Disc jockey
A disc jockey, also known as DJ, is a person who selects and plays recorded music for an audience. Originally, "disc" referred to phonograph records, not the later Compact Discs. Today, the term includes all forms of music playback, no matter the medium.There are several types of disc jockeys...
on radio station WMAQ.
When Garroway was assigned to host on television, he abandoned the usual conventions for a more casual approach in which the reality of the studio was acknowledged. Followed by a single camera, he walked around the entire large studio space and simple abstract sets as he talked to guests and the TV viewer directly. This live staging technique, known as the "Chicago Style", was developed further on Garroway's next show, Today.