Mac McGarry
Encyclopedia
Maurice J. "Mac" McGarry (born June 15, 1926) is a retired game show host of the television quiz show It's Academic
, which airs in Washington, D.C.
on the local NBC
-owned WRC-TV
. He was the host of the show from the time it started airing on October 7, 1961, until June 25, 2011.
's presidential inauguration events for NBC-TV and appearing regularly on NBC's The Big Preview. Since then, he has hosted numerous talk shows, including In Our Town, the first weekly television program to be broadcast in color.
Some of McGarry's first assignments included announcing news of the start of the Korean War and introducing President Truman from the White House. In the early 1950s, McGarry was involved in the first color television experiments.
During the 1970s and 1980s, McGarry was the announcer
for NBC News
Updates that originated from Washington, and over the years also did live booth announcing work for WRC-TV.
, began filling in for him. Although McGarry's intentions were to continue hosting the 51st season of It's Academic
, he announced in early November 2011 that he would be retiring and that Hillary Howard would be taking over as host.
' (NATAS) Silver Circle. Other honors include:
It's Academic
It's Academic is a televised academic quiz competition for high school students, currently airing on two NBC affiliates in Washington, D.C. and Central Virginia and one CBS affiliate Baltimore, Maryland . The show has been on the air since October 7, 1961, making it the longest...
, which airs in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
on the local 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...
-owned WRC-TV
WRC-TV
WRC-TV, channel 4, is an owned and operated television station of the NBC television network, located in the American capital city of Washington, D.C...
. He was the host of the show from the time it started airing on October 7, 1961, until June 25, 2011.
Early life and career
McGarry joined NBC in 1950 for what was then WNBW located in the Wardman Park Hotel. There he worked as the announcer for the NBC radio show American Forum of the Air. During this time, he was also making his first forays into television covering TrumanHarry S. Truman
Harry S. Truman was the 33rd President of the United States . As President Franklin D. Roosevelt's third vice president and the 34th Vice President of the United States , he succeeded to the presidency on April 12, 1945, when President Roosevelt died less than three months after beginning his...
's presidential inauguration events for NBC-TV and appearing regularly on NBC's The Big Preview. Since then, he has hosted numerous talk shows, including In Our Town, the first weekly television program to be broadcast in color.
Some of McGarry's first assignments included announcing news of the start of the Korean War and introducing President Truman from the White House. In the early 1950s, McGarry was involved in the first color television experiments.
During the 1970s and 1980s, McGarry was the announcer
Announcer
An announcer is a presenter who makes "announcements" in an audio medium or a physical location.-Television and other media:Some announcers work in television production , radio or filmmaking, usually providing narrations, news updates, station identification, or an introduction of a product in...
for NBC News
NBC News
NBC News is the news division of American television network NBC. It first started broadcasting in February 21, 1940. NBC Nightly News has aired from Studio 3B, located on floors 3 of the NBC Studios is the headquarters of the GE Building forms the centerpiece of 30th Rockefeller Center it is...
Updates that originated from Washington, and over the years also did live booth announcing work for WRC-TV.
Later years and retirement
In September 2011, McGarry temporarily took a leave of absence when he was suffering from a lingering cold. Hillary Howard, a news anchor of WTOP-FMWTOP-FM
WTOP is an all-news formatted broadcast radio station licensed to Washington, D.C., serving Metropolitan Washington, DC area. WTOP is owned by Hubbard Broadcasting.WTOP is one of two all-news stations in the Washington, D.C...
, began filling in for him. Although McGarry's intentions were to continue hosting the 51st season of It's Academic
It's Academic
It's Academic is a televised academic quiz competition for high school students, currently airing on two NBC affiliates in Washington, D.C. and Central Virginia and one CBS affiliate Baltimore, Maryland . The show has been on the air since October 7, 1961, making it the longest...
, he announced in early November 2011 that he would be retiring and that Hillary Howard would be taking over as host.
Awards
McGarry is a charter member of the National Academy of Television Arts and SciencesNational Academy of Television Arts and Sciences
The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences or NATAS was created in 1955 to advance the arts and sciences of television. Headquartered in New York, NATAS's membership is national and the organization has local chapters around the country....
' (NATAS) Silver Circle. Other honors include:
- Emmy AwardEmmy AwardAn 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...
for Outstanding Individual Achievement - Several Mass Media Awards from the American Association of University WomenAmerican Association of University WomenThe American Association of University Women advances equity for women and girls through advocacy, education, and research. It was founded in 1882 by Ellen Swallow Richards and Marion Talbot...
- The Board of Governors Award from the DC chapter of NATAS
- The America's Role Model 2004 Award from the Olender Foundation
- Marymount UniversityMarymount UniversityMarymount University is a coeducational, four-year Catholic university that has its main campus located in Arlington, Virginia. Marymount offers bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees in a wide range of disciplines and has a diverse and welcoming academic community with approximately 3,600...
conferred the degree Doctor of Humane Letters, honoris causa, on McGarry in recognition of his commitment to academic excellence, encouragement of young scholars, and outstanding dedication to his profession and community.
External links
- http://www.nbc4.com/itsacademic/1500253/detail.html
- http://www.mdoa.state.md.us/ItsAcdemic.pdf
- http://www.thejoyboys.com/mcgarry.htm
- http://www.thejoyboys.com/henson.htm
- http://www.marymount.edu/news/2005/04/15.html
- Mac McGarry radio credits
- Video clip of 1980 NBC News Update introduced by Mac McGarry
- Another NBC News Update clip introduced by Mac McGarry, from 1980
- A 1977 McGarry-introduced NBC News Update
- A December 31, 1977 McGarry-introduced NBC News Update
- A 1978 McGarry-introduced NBC News Update with Jessica Savitch
- A 1979 McGarry-introduced NBC News Update
- A December 1979 McGarry-introduced NBC News Update with John Dancy
- A 1981 McGarry-introduced NBC News Update
- Another 1981 McGarry-introduced NBC News Update
- A George Michael Sports Machine clip with a McGarry-announced promotional consideration plug