Press & broadcasting
Hugh Downs
1921–2020 · television host, broadcaster, author
Veteran host of Today, Concentration and ABC's 20/20 who got his early radio break at Detroit's WWJ in 1940 and studied at Wayne University.
- Born
Akron, Ohio- Died
Scottsdale, Arizona
aged 99- Birth name
- Hugh Malcolm Downs
- Detroit years
- 1940–early 1940s
- Field
- Press & broadcasting
01 / The Detroit story
The Detroit story
Downs grew up in Ohio and began in radio in 1939 in Lima. In 1940 he moved up to WWJ in Detroit, the pioneering station owned by The Detroit News, while taking classes at Wayne University (now Wayne State) during 1938–1941. Those Detroit years gave him the polished announcing style that carried him to NBC in Chicago and then New York, where he became one of the most familiar voices and faces of network television: Jack Paar's announcer on The Tonight Show, host of the game show Concentration, co-host of Today, and for two decades anchor of ABC's 20/20. For years he held the Guinness record for the most hours on commercial network television.
Highlights
- Announcer at Detroit's WWJ radio from 1940
- Studied at Wayne University (Wayne State), 1938–1941
- Co-host of NBC's Today (1962–1971) and host of Concentration
- Anchor of ABC's 20/20 (1978–1999)
- Former Guinness record holder for hours on network TV
02 / Their Detroit places
Their Detroit places 1
Where they lived, worked, performed and liked to hang out. Closed and demolished places stay here too, because they are part of the city's history.
Studied here · 1938–1941
Wayne State University
He took classes here in the years he was starting out in radio.