Alex Dreier
Encyclopedia
Alex Dreier was an American news reporter and commentator who worked with NBC
Radio during the 1940s, and later with the ABC Information Radio network in the 1960s and early '70s.
, he was covering Berlin
for United Press when he joined NBC in 1941. During his year in Berlin he was under surveillance by the Gestapo
, and he left the city one day before the Pearl Harbor attack
.
His commentary aired on NBC on Saturdays from 1942 to 1945 and weekdays from 1951 to 1956. Known as Chicago's "Man on the Go," Dreier was the city's top TV anchor during his years on ABC owned-and-operated WBKB-TV
. He then moved to NBC-owned WNBQ-TV
, serving as a news reporter and anchor. He also handled news for NBC-TV's Today on the Farm from 1960-61. He was replaced as WNBQ anchor by Floyd Kalber
in 1962.
From 1959 to 1964, Drier co-hosted the television program Championship Bridge with Charles Goren
. These can still be seen on the Arts Channel of TV4U.com.
Dreier showed courage at a time of racial tension on Chicago's South Side, when major streets served as defacto racial dividing lines. If a black family dared move even one block across one of these lines, the neighborhood would react as though it were under siege (in part because they knew real estate agents would quickly move in to "change" the entire neighborhood, resulting in a considerable drop in area home prices. The longer you waited to sell, the less you would get for your house).
One night, Dreier began the most memorable broadcast of his career with words like, "The streets of one South Side Chicago neighborhood are quiet tonight, because of the decision of one black family" (not to move in after all). Dreier then blasted the white demonstrators who gathered around the black family's house. Pressure was put on his sponsor, Meister Brau Beer, which was thereafter removed from many white neighborhood taverns and liquor stores in the area. The white backlash against this broadcast probably ended Dreier's a career as a news anchorman in Chicago.
and also began a career as an actor in many films and TV shows between 1968 and 1979. He served as chairman of the board for the Annenberg Center for Health Sciences and as a board member of the Eisenhower Medical Center
. In 1989, he was inducted into the Illinois Broadcasters Hall of Fame.
from heart failure. He is buried in Desert Memorial Park
in Cathedral City, California
.
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...
Radio during the 1940s, and later with the ABC Information Radio network in the 1960s and early '70s.
Early years and broadcasting
Born in Honolulu, HawaiiHonolulu, Hawaii
Honolulu is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Hawaii. Honolulu is the southernmost major U.S. city. Although the name "Honolulu" refers to the urban area on the southeastern shore of the island of Oahu, the city and county government are consolidated as the City and...
, he was covering Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
for United Press when he joined NBC in 1941. During his year in Berlin he was under surveillance by the Gestapo
Gestapo
The Gestapo was the official secret police of Nazi Germany. Beginning on 20 April 1934, it was under the administration of the SS leader Heinrich Himmler in his position as Chief of German Police...
, and he left the city one day before the Pearl Harbor attack
Attack on Pearl Harbor
The attack on Pearl Harbor was a surprise military strike conducted by the Imperial Japanese Navy against the United States naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, on the morning of December 7, 1941...
.
His commentary aired on NBC on Saturdays from 1942 to 1945 and weekdays from 1951 to 1956. Known as Chicago's "Man on the Go," Dreier was the city's top TV anchor during his years on ABC owned-and-operated WBKB-TV
WLS-TV
WLS-TV, virtual channel 7, is an owned-and-operated television station of the Walt Disney Company-owned American Broadcasting Company, located in Chicago, Illinois, USA. The station operates their full power digital operations on UHF channel 44, with their digital fill-in translator on VHF channel...
. He then moved to NBC-owned WNBQ-TV
WMAQ-TV
WMAQ-TV, channel 5, is an owned-and-operated television station of the NBC Television Network, located in Chicago, Illinois. WMAQ-TV's main studios and offices are located within the NBC Tower in the Streeterville neighborhood, with an auxiliary street-level studio on the Magnificent Mile at 401...
, serving as a news reporter and anchor. He also handled news for NBC-TV's Today on the Farm from 1960-61. He was replaced as WNBQ anchor by Floyd Kalber
Floyd Kalber
Floyd Kalber was a noted American television journalist and anchorman, nicknamed "The Big Tuna."Born in Omaha, Nebraska, he spent two years in the army during World War II and began his television career as KMTV-Omaha's first newscaster...
in 1962.
From 1959 to 1964, Drier co-hosted the television program Championship Bridge with Charles Goren
Charles Goren
Charles Henry Goren was a world champion American bridge player and bestselling author who contributed significantly to the development and popularization of the game following upon the heels of Ely Culbertson in the 1940s and rising to prominence in the 1950s to the early 1960s.-Early years:Goren...
. These can still be seen on the Arts Channel of TV4U.com.
Dreier showed courage at a time of racial tension on Chicago's South Side, when major streets served as defacto racial dividing lines. If a black family dared move even one block across one of these lines, the neighborhood would react as though it were under siege (in part because they knew real estate agents would quickly move in to "change" the entire neighborhood, resulting in a considerable drop in area home prices. The longer you waited to sell, the less you would get for your house).
One night, Dreier began the most memorable broadcast of his career with words like, "The streets of one South Side Chicago neighborhood are quiet tonight, because of the decision of one black family" (not to move in after all). Dreier then blasted the white demonstrators who gathered around the black family's house. Pressure was put on his sponsor, Meister Brau Beer, which was thereafter removed from many white neighborhood taverns and liquor stores in the area. The white backlash against this broadcast probably ended Dreier's a career as a news anchorman in Chicago.
Later years
Dreier moved to California in 1967, where he worked in Los Angeles for KTTVKTTV
KTTV, channel 11, is an owned-and-operated television station of the News Corporation-owned Fox Broadcasting Company, located in Los Angeles, California. Serving the vast Los Angeles metropolitan area, KTTV is a sister station to KCOP , Los Angeles' MyNetworkTV station...
and also began a career as an actor in many films and TV shows between 1968 and 1979. He served as chairman of the board for the Annenberg Center for Health Sciences and as a board member of the Eisenhower Medical Center
Eisenhower Medical Center
The Eisenhower Medical Center is a not-for-profit hospital located in Rancho Mirage, California. It was named one of the top one hundred hospitals in the United States in 2005 and is adjacent to the world-famous Betty Ford Center....
. In 1989, he was inducted into the Illinois Broadcasters Hall of Fame.
Death
Dreier died in Rancho Mirage, CaliforniaRancho Mirage, California
Rancho Mirage is a resort city in Riverside County, California, United States. The population was 17,218 at the 2010 census, up from 13,249 at the 2000 census, but the seasonal population can exceed 20,000. In between Cathedral City and Palm Desert, it is one of the eight cities of the Coachella...
from heart failure. He is buried in Desert Memorial Park
Desert Memorial Park
Desert Memorial Park is a cemetery in Cathedral City, California, United States, near Palm Springs. It is maintained by the Palm Springs Cemetery District...
in Cathedral City, California
Cathedral City, California
Cathedral City is a city in Riverside County, California, United States. The population was 51,200 at the 2010 census. Sandwiched between Palm Springs and Rancho Mirage, it is one of the cities in the Coachella Valley of southern California...
.