Garroway, Dave, 1913-1982

Dave Garroway was born in 1913 in Schenectady, New York. He studied astronomy, English, and abnormal psychology at Washington University in St. Louis. After graduation in 1935, he worked as a page at NBC headquarters in New York City and attended the network's school for announcers. He worked in Chicago in radio at WMAQ and had his own variety show on NBC-TV, "Garroway at Large" from 1949 to 1951 in Chicago. From there he was hired as the original host of the "Today Show", 1952-1961, broadcast live from Rockefeller Center. From 1953-1954 he was also host for the nighttime program, "The Dave Garroway Show". From 1955-1958 he hosted "Wide, Wide World". The suicide of his wife in 1961 initiated the decline of his career.

David Cunningham Garroway was the founding host of NBC's Today show from 1952 to 1961. His easygoing, relaxed, and relaxing style masked a battle with depression that may have contributed to the end of his days as a television celebrity and, eventually, his life.