Tom Gregory
Encyclopedia
Thomas R. Gregory (July 26, 1927 – December 11, 2006) was an American
radio
and television
announcer
and news anchor
.
Born in Charleston, South Carolina
, Gregory served in the United States Navy
during World War II
. After the war, he went to Seton Hall University
in New Jersey
, initially as a law student. It was at that point that he began his broadcasting
career as an announcer with their radio station. He then switched majors, received a bachelor's degree
in communications, & after graduation became an announcer with WPAT
in Paterson, New Jersey
, where a few other announcers of the time later became announcers at his future employer.
In 1955, Gregory joined WABD (later WNEW-TV, now WNYW
) in New York
, as an announcer and occasional children's show host. From 1958 to 1965, he was the host of the mid-afternoon show Cartoon Playtime, on which vintage Looney Tunes
and Merrie Melodies
cartoons were shown, and also occasionally hosted Wonderama
.
Beginning in 1965, Gregory was the anchor of a late evening newscast, Faces and Places in the News, which was a predecessor to The 10 O'Clock News (now Fox 5 News at Ten). It was on this pre-1967 newscast that he coined the now-famous phrase "It's 10 P.M. Do you know where your children are?" which has been used to open the 10 P.M. newscast to this day. His on-camera career came to an end following a vicious mugging where afterward he received 200 stitches, with scarring so severe that he required massive plastic surgery
; he became an off-camera announcer full-time from there on in. His voice and delivery were so distinctive, especially on sign-offs
, that he became known among television buffs as "Metromedia
Man." He remained with the station until 1986.
Early on in his career, Gregory also appeared on other children's shows such as Captain Kangaroo
, occasionally filled in for Sandy Becker
, and appeared with the likes of Soupy Sales
, Chuck McCann
, "Officer" Joe Bolton, and others.
Gregory died of heart disease
in Sarasota, Florida
at age 79.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
radio
Radio
Radio is the transmission of signals through free space by modulation of electromagnetic waves with frequencies below those of visible light. Electromagnetic radiation travels by means of oscillating electromagnetic fields that pass through the air and the vacuum of space...
and television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
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...
and news anchor
News presenter
A news presenter is a person who presents news during a news program in the format of a television show, on the radio or the Internet.News presenters can work in a radio studio, television studio and from remote broadcasts in the field especially weather...
.
Born in Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston is the second largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. It was made the county seat of Charleston County in 1901 when Charleston County was founded. The city's original name was Charles Towne in 1670, and it moved to its present location from a location on the west bank of the...
, Gregory served in the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
during 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...
. After the war, he went to Seton Hall University
Seton Hall University
Seton Hall University is a private Roman Catholic university in South Orange, New Jersey, United States. Founded in 1856 by Archbishop James Roosevelt Bayley, Seton Hall is the oldest diocesan university in the United States. Seton Hall is also the oldest and largest Catholic university in the...
in New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
, initially as a law student. It was at that point that he began his broadcasting
Broadcasting
Broadcasting is the distribution of audio and video content to a dispersed audience via any audio visual medium. Receiving parties may include the general public or a relatively large subset of thereof...
career as an announcer with their radio station. He then switched majors, received a bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
in communications, & after graduation became an announcer with WPAT
WPAT (AM)
WPAT is the callsign of a radio station licensed to Paterson, New Jersey. Located at 930 kHz in the medium-wave AM band, the station runs paid ethnic programming....
in Paterson, New Jersey
Paterson, New Jersey
Paterson is a city serving as the county seat of Passaic County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, its population was 146,199, rendering it New Jersey's third largest city and one of the largest cities in the New York City Metropolitan Area, despite a decrease of 3,023...
, where a few other announcers of the time later became announcers at his future employer.
In 1955, Gregory joined WABD (later WNEW-TV, now WNYW
WNYW
WNYW, virtual channel 5 , is the flagship television station of the News Corporation-owned Fox Broadcasting Company, located in New York City. The station's transmitter is atop the Empire State Building and its studio facilities are located in the Yorkville section of Manhattan...
) in New York
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...
, as an announcer and occasional children's show host. From 1958 to 1965, he was the host of the mid-afternoon show Cartoon Playtime, on which vintage Looney Tunes
Looney Tunes
Looney Tunes is a Warner Bros. animated cartoon series. It preceded the Merrie Melodies series and was Warner Bros.'s first animated theatrical series. Since its first official release, 1930's Sinkin' in the Bathtub, the series has become a worldwide media franchise, spawning several television...
and Merrie Melodies
Merrie Melodies
Merrie Melodies is the name of a series of animated cartoons distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures between 1931 and 1969.Originally produced by Harman-Ising Pictures, Merrie Melodies were produced by Leon Schlesinger Productions from 1933 to 1944. Schlesinger sold his studio to Warner Bros. in 1944,...
cartoons were shown, and also occasionally hosted Wonderama
Wonderama
Wonderama was a long-running children's television program that appeared on the Metromedia-owned stations from 1955 to 1986, with WNEW-TV in New York City being its originating station....
.
Beginning in 1965, Gregory was the anchor of a late evening newscast, Faces and Places in the News, which was a predecessor to The 10 O'Clock News (now Fox 5 News at Ten). It was on this pre-1967 newscast that he coined the now-famous phrase "It's 10 P.M. Do you know where your children are?" which has been used to open the 10 P.M. newscast to this day. His on-camera career came to an end following a vicious mugging where afterward he received 200 stitches, with scarring so severe that he required massive plastic surgery
Plastic surgery
Plastic surgery is a medical specialty concerned with the correction or restoration of form and function. Though cosmetic or aesthetic surgery is the best-known kind of plastic surgery, most plastic surgery is not cosmetic: plastic surgery includes many types of reconstructive surgery, hand...
; he became an off-camera announcer full-time from there on in. His voice and delivery were so distinctive, especially on sign-offs
Sign-off (broadcast)
Sign-off is the sequence of operations involved when a radio or television station shuts down its transmitters and goes off the air for a predetermined period; generally this occurs during the overnight hours...
, that he became known among television buffs as "Metromedia
Metromedia
Metromedia was a media company that owned radio and television stations in the United States from 1956 to 1986 and owned Orion Pictures from 1986-1997.- Overview :...
Man." He remained with the station until 1986.
Early on in his career, Gregory also appeared on other children's shows such as Captain Kangaroo
Captain Kangaroo
Captain Kangaroo is a children's television series which aired weekday mornings on the American television network CBS for nearly 30 years, from October 3, 1955 until December 8, 1984, making it the longest-running children's television program of its day...
, occasionally filled in for Sandy Becker
Sandy Becker
George Sanford Becker , who was known professionally as Sandy Becker, was a television announcer, actor, and comedian who hosted several popular children's programs in New York City...
, and appeared with the likes of Soupy Sales
Soupy Sales
Soupy Sales was an American comedian, actor, radio-TV personality and host, and jazz aficionado. He was best known for his local and network children's television show, Lunch with Soupy Sales; a series of comedy sketches frequently ending with Sales receiving a pie in the face, which became his...
, Chuck McCann
Chuck McCann
Chuck McCann is a film actor, television actor, stage actor, and a voice actor from Brooklyn, New York.-Early career:...
, "Officer" Joe Bolton, and others.
Gregory died of heart disease
Cardiovascular disease
Heart disease or cardiovascular disease are the class of diseases that involve the heart or blood vessels . While the term technically refers to any disease that affects the cardiovascular system , it is usually used to refer to those related to atherosclerosis...
in Sarasota, Florida
Sarasota, Florida
Sarasota is a city located in Sarasota County on the southwestern coast of the U.S. state of Florida. It is south of the Tampa Bay Area and north of Fort Myers...
at age 79.