George Hicks (broadcast journalist)

George Hicks (August 26, 1905 – March 17, 1965[1]) was an American broadcast journalist. He was a noted war correspondent, first with NBC and then with the Blue Network.[2]

Career

On December 27, 1934, NBC's Hicks interviewed Charles Apgar, a New Jersey radio amateur who made some of the first recordings of radio broadcasts during 1913–1915, including recordings of German spy messages during World War I.[3]

While based in London during World War II, Hicks recorded an on-the-scene report of the Normandy landings from the USS Ancon. It was broadcast on the night of June 6, 1944 over the American networks via a pool feed.[4][5] During the broadcast there were sounds of heavy bombardment. His voice was described as "modest" and "incapable of false drama" and was considered particularly well suited for covering the landings.[4] The New York World-Telegram called his broadcast "The greatest recording yet to come out of the war." [6]

Personal life

George Hicks was born in 1905. He died at the age of 59 and is buried in Flushing Cemetery, New York.[1] His only child, Robert Ivan Hicks, born in 1933 still lives in New York.

Legacy

He has star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on the 6300 block of Hollywood Boulevard.[2]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 George Hicks at Find a Grave
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Hollywood Star Walk - George Hicks". Los Angeles Times.
  3. ↑ "DOCUMENTING EARLY RADIO", A Review of Existing Pre-1932 Radio Recordings, by Elizabeth McLeod
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Erik, Barnouw (1968). A History of Broadcasting in the United States:Volume 2:. Oxford University Press. p. 199. ISBN 0-19-500475-2.
  5. ↑ "George Hicks and the network coverage of the Pool Broadcast of D-Day", Radio Days
  6. ↑ Broadcasting, Volume 26. Broadcasting Publications. 1944. p. 9.

External links