Story, Ralph

Ralph Story was born Ralph Bernard Snyder on August 19, 1920 in Kalamazoo, Mich. In high school and at Western Michigan College, he worked part time as a radio announcer, and eventually left college to pursue a career in radio full time, first in Grand Rapids, Mich. and then Buffalo, N.Y. His radio career was interrupted when he joined the Air Force during World War II. After the war, he returned to Buffalo to work as an announcer and program director for CBS radio affiliate WGR. In 1948, CBS radio transferred him to Los Angeles. There, he served as program director and morning DJ at KNX and changed his name to Ralph Story. While at KNX, the Military Air Transport Service invited Story to visit and interview for broadcast servicemen and civilians from California stationed around the world. The result was California Around the World, broadcast on CBS radio. After a brief stint as host of the game show, What do you have in common?, Story moved to New York City to emcee The $64,000 Challenge from 1956-1958, when it was cancelled in the wake of the quiz show scandal. Story returned to Los Angeles and for the next 40 years hosted, wrote and produced for radio and television, exploring and shaping such formats as talk radio, news broadcasting, human interest and local color reporting, and the magazine show. The bulk of his broadcast career was spent at KNX radio and its sister television station KNXT, both CBS affiliates. However, Story also worked for KABC, KNBC, KCET, KCAL, and independent production companies including National General and O'Connor radio. In addition to his serialized weekly and daily programs and radio spots, Story hosted a variety of special programs, including prime-time specials, award ceremonies, and local events. He was also a prolific producer, writer and lecturer on local and California history, and prepared, but did not publish, a guidebook to Los Angeles. Story was active in civic and professional groups and was a fundraiser for Public Television stations KCET and KOCE, as well as a frequent speaker at community and educational meetings. Story is best remembered for his detailed research and his wry and witty observations about life in California and especially in Los Angeles. In 1984, the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences awarded Story their highest honor, the Governors Award. Other awards Story received throughout his career include numerous Los Angeles Area Emmys and Golden Mikes, two Directors Guild of America Awards, and many local and professional honors. Ralph Story died on September 26, 2006 after a long battle with emphysema at the age of 86 in Los Angeles, California.

Ralph Story was born Ralph Bernard Snyder on August 19, 1920 in Kalamazoo, Michigan. From an early age, Story was involved in broadcasting, working as a part time radio announcer during high school and college. Story dropped out of college to pursue a career in radio full time but his plans were put on hold when he joined the Air Force during World War II. Story served as a flight instructor and P-51 Pilot, flying 63 missions over Europe during the war. After the war, Story resumed his career as a radio announcer and program director working in Buffalo, New York for CBS radio affiliate WGR. In 1948, Story was transferred to Los Angeles where he was assigned the duties of program director and morning DJ at KNX. Subsequently, he changed his last name from Snyder to Story after the suggestion of the station's managers.The popular segment developed into a local program about people and places in Los Angeles called Ralph Story's Los Angeles. Ralph Story's Los Angeles was a half-hour television program broadcast on KNXT in Los Angeles from January 14th, 1964 to November 23rd, 1969. During that time, 249 programs were created from 660 segments filmed mostly in and around Los Angeles. The program immediately became the top-rated local program in Los Angeles and remained in that lofty position until its finale in 1969. Story in Hollywood aired on KABC from 1971-1973, and featured episodes about different aspects of Hollywood, including stunt women, extras, autograph collectors and celebrity photographers. In the 1970s, Story became the co-host of AM-Los Angeles, a morning news show that was the predecessor to Good Morning America. Story stayed in Los Angeles once the show moved to New York City. He continued working in the industry until the mid-1980s when he retired and moved with his wife to Los Olivos. In 1984, the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences awarded Story their highest honor, the Governors Award. Ralph Story died on September 26, 2006 from emphysema.

Biographical note

Ralph Story was born Ralph Bernard Snyder on August 19, 1920 in Kalamazoo, Michigan. From an early age, Story was involved in broadcasting, working as a part time radio announcer during high school and college. Story dropped out of college to pursue a career in radio full time but his plans were put on hold when he joined the Air Force during World War II. Story served as a flight instructor and P-51 Pilot, flying 63 missions over Europe during the war.

After the war, Story resumed his career as a radio announcer and program director working in Buffalo, New York for CBS radio affiliate WGR. In 1948, Story was transferred to Los Angeles where he was assigned the duties of program director and morning DJ at KNX. Subsequently, he changed his last name from Snyder to Story after the suggestion of the station's managers.

The popular segment developed into a local program about people and places in Los Angeles called Ralph Story's Los Angeles . Ralph Story's Los Angeles was a half-hour television program broadcast on KNXT in Los Angeles from January 14th, 1964 to November 23rd, 1969. During that time, 249 programs were created from 660 segments filmed mostly in and around Los Angeles. The program immediately became the top-rated local program in Los Angeles and remained in that lofty position until its finale in 1969.

Story in Hollywood aired on KABC from 1971-1973, and featured episodes about different aspects of Hollywood, including stunt women, extras, autograph collectors and celebrity photographers.

In the 1970s, Story became the co-host of AM-Los Angeles, a morning news show that was the predecessor to Good Morning America . Story stayed in Los Angeles once the show moved to New York City. He continued working in the industry until the mid-1980s when he retired and moved with his wife to Los Olivos. In 1984, the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences awarded Story their highest honor, the Governors Award. Ralph Story died on September 26, 2006 from emphysema.

Biography

Ralph Story (August 19, 1920 - September 26, 2006) was born Ralph Bernard Snyder in Kalamazoo, Michigan. In high school and at Western Michigan College, he worked part time as a radio announcer, and eventually left college to pursue a career in radio full time first in Grand Rapids, Michigan and then Buffalo, New York. His career was interrupted when he joined the Air Force during World War II. Already a licensed pilot, he served first as a flight instructor and then flew 63 missions over Europe as a P-51 fighter pilot. After the war, he returned to Buffalo to work as an announcer and program director for CBS radio affiliate WGR. In 1948, CBS radio transferred him to Los Angeles. There, he served as program director and morning DJ at KNX and changed his name to Ralph Story. While at KNX, the Military Air Transport Service invited Story to visit and interview for broadcast servicemen and civilians from California stationed around the world. The result was California Around the World, broadcast on CBS radio.

After a brief stint as host of the game show What Do You Have in Common?, Story moved to New York City to emcee The $64,000 Challenge from 1956-1958, when it was cancelled in the wake of the quiz show scandal. Story returned to Los Angeles and for the next forty years hosted, wrote and produced for radio and television, exploring and shaping such formats as talk radio, news broadcasting, human interest and local color reporting, and the magazine show. The bulk of his broadcast career was spent at KNX radio and its sister television station KNXT, both CBS affiliates. However, Story also worked for KABC, KNBC, KCET, KCAL, and independent production companies including National General and O'Connor radio.

In addition to his serialized weekly and daily programs and radio spots, Story hosted a variety of special programs, including prime-time specials, award ceremonies, and local events such as the Tournament of Roses Parade and Hollywood Bowl concerts. He was also a prolific producer, writer and lecturer on local and California history, and prepared but did not publish a guidebook to Los Angeles. Story was active in civic and professional groups, hosting celebrity tennis events and serving as grand marshal for numerous local festivals and functions. He was a fundraiser for Public Television stations KCET and KOCE and a frequent speaker at community and educational meetings.

Story is best remembered for his detailed research and his wry and witty observations about life in California and especially in Los Angeles. Television work includes: the "Human Predicament" on KNXT's The Big News, Ralph Story's Los Angeles, Ralph Story's AM, The Channel 2 News, It's a Nice Place..., The Sunday Show, On the Road Again, The Wine Game, Things That Aren't Here Anymore and More Things That Aren't Here Anymore .

Story's radio titles include: The Ralph Story Show, Top of the Morning, Storyline, Hollywood Today, Dimension in Hollywood, Meet the Cook, Food News, You're the Judge and an annual Christmas Morning special.

In 1984, the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences awarded Story their highest honor, the Governors Award. Other awards Story received throughout his career include numerous Los Angeles Area Emmys and Golden Mikes, two Directors Guild of America Awards, and many local and professional honors.

Ralph Story died on September 26, 2006 after a long battle with emphysema at the age of 86 in Los Angeles, California.