Larry Kane
Encyclopedia
Larry Kane is an American journalist
best known as the only American reporter whom The Beatles
let travel with them on their 1964 and 1965 North American tours. Kane authored a book about his experiences on the tour, called Ticket To Ride
, and Lennon Revealed, a New York Times and Los Angeles Times
best-seller in 2005. The Emmy Award
-winning newsman was honored by the Mid-Atlantic Emmy organization with their Governor’s Award in 2005, recognizing Lifetime Achievement, and was installed in the Pennsylvania Broadcaster’s Hall of Fame.
, New York
to Jewish-American parents as Lawrence Kanowitz. He changed his name as an adult, began his career in broadcast journalism
in Miami, Florida
, first at WQAM and later at WAME
and WFUN
. While working at WAME, Kane became the first U.S. news correspondent to break the story of the Bay of Pigs invasion
of Cuba
in 1961.
During the 1960s he was a resident of Haddon Township, New Jersey
.
Radio and as main anchor for its sister television station, which in 1970 would change its call letters to WPVI after Capital Cities purchased WFIL-TV. Kane was hired by the TV station's News Director, Mel Kampmann, as the primary anchor for the (then new) Action News
format.
In 1970, he was a part of the launch of the Action News
format on WPVI-TV
, the ABC
affiliate in Philadelphia, where he coined the phrase "Big Story" - something WPVI's Action News
still uses to this day. He was also was an anchor on New York's
WABC-TV
's Eyewitness News
for one year from 1977 to 1978.
He soon decided to quit, largely in part due to the daily commute between New York City
and Philadelphia and several altercations with Roger Grimsby
. It was rumored that Grimsby had a drinking problem and a legendary story about an altercation with Kane is still told to this day. Kane had several off air altercations with Grimsby, including one incident in 1978 where a drunk Grimsby is alleged to have challenged Kane to try to take a bottle of bourbon from him. He returned to Pennsylvania, joining WCAU
, then the CBS
affiliate, where he was the primary anchor of Channel 10 News at 6 P.M. and 11 P.M. In 1993 he moved to KYW-TV
, which became the new CBS
affiliate station in Philadelphia in 1995. He also hosted a short-time weekly program produced by KYW-TV called The Bulletin with Larry Kane (not to be confused with the defunct Philadelphia Evening Bulletin newspaper
). Kane anchored the 6 P.M. and 11 P.M. newscasts at KYW until December 23, 2002.
Kane covered local Philadelphia politics through hosting several public affairs programs. Kane was anchor at WCAU while Jay Feldman was GM and journalistic sources thought reliable tipped erroneously that Philadelphia mayor William J. Green
was subject of federal investigation for improprieties. The story was later retracted, and Green sued CBS.
Kane continues to do special reports for KYW-1060, an all-news AM radio station in Philadelphia, and hosts Larry Kane: Voice of Reason, a weekly news analysis program on the Comcast Network
. In March 2010, Kane made several appearances at the Franklin Institute
discussing his experiences touring with The Beatles.
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
best known as the only American reporter whom The Beatles
The Beatles
The Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...
let travel with them on their 1964 and 1965 North American tours. Kane authored a book about his experiences on the tour, called Ticket To Ride
Ticket to Ride (book)
Ticket to Ride is a 2003 memoir by Larry Kane. It accounts his experience as the only American reporter to travel with The Beatles' entourage in their 1964 and 1965 tours of The United States and Canada, at the height of Beatlemania. At the time the offer was given to him, Larry Kane was not...
, and Lennon Revealed, a New York Times and Los Angeles Times
Los Angeles Times
The Los Angeles Times is a daily newspaper published in Los Angeles, California, since 1881. It was the second-largest metropolitan newspaper in circulation in the United States in 2008 and the fourth most widely distributed newspaper in the country....
best-seller in 2005. The Emmy Award
Emmy Award
An Emmy Award, often referred to simply as the Emmy, is a television production award, similar in nature to the Peabody Awards but more focused on entertainment, and is considered the television equivalent to the Academy Awards and the Grammy Awards .A majority of Emmys are presented in various...
-winning newsman was honored by the Mid-Atlantic Emmy organization with their Governor’s Award in 2005, recognizing Lifetime Achievement, and was installed in the Pennsylvania Broadcaster’s Hall of Fame.
Biography
Kane was born in BrooklynBrooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
, 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...
to Jewish-American parents as Lawrence Kanowitz. He changed his name as an adult, began his career in broadcast journalism
Broadcast journalism
Broadcast journalism is the field of news and journals which are "broadcast", that is, published by electrical methods, instead of the older methods, such as printed newspapers and posters. Broadcast methods include radio , television , and, especially recently, the Internet generally...
in Miami, Florida
Miami, Florida
Miami is a city located on the Atlantic coast in southeastern Florida and the county seat of Miami-Dade County, the most populous county in Florida and the eighth-most populous county in the United States with a population of 2,500,625...
, first at WQAM and later at WAME
WAME
WAME is a radio station broadcasting a classic country format. Licensed to Statesville, North Carolina, USA. The station is owned by Statesville Family Radio Corporation...
and WFUN
WAXY
WAXY is a radio station licensed in South Miami, Florida broadcasting on 790 kHz with a sports talk format. The station is owned by Lincoln Financial Media, which was previously known as Jefferson-Pilot Communications...
. While working at WAME, Kane became the first U.S. news correspondent to break the story of the Bay of Pigs invasion
Bay of Pigs Invasion
The Bay of Pigs Invasion was an unsuccessful action by a CIA-trained force of Cuban exiles to invade southern Cuba, with support and encouragement from the US government, in an attempt to overthrow the Cuban government of Fidel Castro. The invasion was launched in April 1961, less than three months...
of Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
in 1961.
During the 1960s he was a resident of Haddon Township, New Jersey
Haddon Township, New Jersey
Haddon Township is a Township in Camden County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2010 Census, the township population was 14,707....
.
Career in Philadelphia
In 1965, he came to Philadelphia as an anchor for WFILWFIL
WFIL is a radio station and a former television station serving the city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Its transmitter is located in Lafayette Hill, Pennsylvania....
Radio and as main anchor for its sister television station, which in 1970 would change its call letters to WPVI after Capital Cities purchased WFIL-TV. Kane was hired by the TV station's News Director, Mel Kampmann, as the primary anchor for the (then new) Action News
Action News
Action News is a local television newscast format in the United States. It was conceived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, at WFIL-TV by then-news director Mel Kampmann in 1970 as a response to the "Eyewitness News" format used on rival station KYW-TV...
format.
In 1970, he was a part of the launch of the Action News
Action News
Action News is a local television newscast format in the United States. It was conceived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, at WFIL-TV by then-news director Mel Kampmann in 1970 as a response to the "Eyewitness News" format used on rival station KYW-TV...
format on WPVI-TV
WPVI-TV
WPVI-TV, channel 6, is an owned-and-operated television station of the Walt Disney Company-owned American Broadcasting Company, located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. WPVI has its studios located on the border between Philadelphia and Bala Cynwyd, and its transmitter is located in the...
, the ABC
American Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
affiliate in Philadelphia, where he coined the phrase "Big Story" - something WPVI's Action News
Action News
Action News is a local television newscast format in the United States. It was conceived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, at WFIL-TV by then-news director Mel Kampmann in 1970 as a response to the "Eyewitness News" format used on rival station KYW-TV...
still uses to this day. He was also was an anchor on New York's
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
WABC-TV
WABC-TV
WABC-TV, channel 7, is the flagship station of the Disney-owned American Broadcasting Company located in New York City. The station's studios and offices are located on the Upper West Side section of Manhattan, adjacent to ABC's corporate headquarters, and its transmitter is atop the Empire State...
's Eyewitness News
Eyewitness News
Eyewitness News is a style of news broadcasting used by local television stations in different markets across the United States. It refers to a particular style of television newscast with an emphasis on visual elements and action video...
for one year from 1977 to 1978.
He soon decided to quit, largely in part due to the daily commute between New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
and Philadelphia and several altercations with Roger Grimsby
Roger Grimsby
Roger Grimsby was an American journalist, television news anchor and actor. Grimsby is known as one of the pioneers of local television broadcast news.-Early life:...
. It was rumored that Grimsby had a drinking problem and a legendary story about an altercation with Kane is still told to this day. Kane had several off air altercations with Grimsby, including one incident in 1978 where a drunk Grimsby is alleged to have challenged Kane to try to take a bottle of bourbon from him. He returned to Pennsylvania, joining WCAU
WCAU
WCAU, channel 10, is an owned-and-operated television station of the NBC Television Network, located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. WCAU has its studios on the border between Philadelphia and Bala Cynwyd. It broadcasts a high definition digital signal on UHF channel 34 from a transmitter in the...
, then the CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
affiliate, where he was the primary anchor of Channel 10 News at 6 P.M. and 11 P.M. In 1993 he moved to KYW-TV
KYW-TV
KYW-TV, virtual channel 3, is an owned and operated television station of the CBS Television Network, located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. KYW-TV shares a studio facility with its sister station, CW flagship WPSG just north of Center City Philadelphia...
, which became the new CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
affiliate station in Philadelphia in 1995. He also hosted a short-time weekly program produced by KYW-TV called The Bulletin with Larry Kane (not to be confused with the defunct Philadelphia Evening Bulletin newspaper
Philadelphia Bulletin
For the 2004 resurrection of the Bulletin, see The Bulletin .The Philadelphia Bulletin was a daily evening newspaper published from 1847 to 1982 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It was the largest circulation newspaper in Philadelphia for 76 years and was once the largest evening newspaper in the...
). Kane anchored the 6 P.M. and 11 P.M. newscasts at KYW until December 23, 2002.
Kane covered local Philadelphia politics through hosting several public affairs programs. Kane was anchor at WCAU while Jay Feldman was GM and journalistic sources thought reliable tipped erroneously that Philadelphia mayor William J. Green
William J. Green, III
William Joseph Green, III is a former member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania. Green also served as the 94th Mayor of Philadelphia.-Youth:...
was subject of federal investigation for improprieties. The story was later retracted, and Green sued CBS.
Kane continues to do special reports for KYW-1060, an all-news AM radio station in Philadelphia, and hosts Larry Kane: Voice of Reason, a weekly news analysis program on the Comcast Network
Comcast Network
Comcast Network is a cable television station that is shown mostly in parts of Comcast Cable services in the Eastern part of the US. Viewed in four states and 20 television markets from New Jersey to Virginia on Comcast cable systems. The main focus of the network is Philadelphia although they...
. In March 2010, Kane made several appearances at the Franklin Institute
Franklin Institute
The Franklin Institute is a museum in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and one of the oldest centers of science education and development in the United States, dating to 1824. The Institute also houses the Benjamin Franklin National Memorial.-History:On February 5, 1824, Samuel Vaughn Merrick and...
discussing his experiences touring with The Beatles.