BARRY GRAY SHOW "WOR NYC Milton Berle"

Initially a disc jockey (a role he portrayed in the 1949 short subject Spin That Splatter), Gray was working for radio station WOR in 1945 when bandleader Woody Herman called in while Gray was talking about him. Gray broadcast the call, and the spontaneous live interview was such a hit with both his listeners and station bosses, that the talk radio format resulted. Gray subsequently began doing listener call-ins as well. However, the technical aspects of early Cold War broadcasting were challenged by the live call-in, over-the air format. U.S. government restrictions and problematic consequences could not stop Gray's talk show success in putting listeners on the air, with or without WOR and the government's permission. His audience loved it, and grew exponentially. WOR officials realized the attraction of the talk format, and Gray worked an overnight shift there from 1945 to 1949, interviewing everyone from entertainment to politics. This episode from October 14, 1949 features comedian Milton Berle and motion picture mogul Leon Friend.