Where have the booming voices gone?

When I was growing up I recall powerful voices on the radio and television. They were called "announcers" and I found it fascinating that these guys could get a job basically for just talking! Back in the 1940s and 50s Don Wilson was the role model on Jack Benny's shows.

Back in the 1970s Ma would turn on her am radio to WXYZ in Detroit and we would listen to Paul Harvey. His distinctive powerful voice really had a commanding presence. I guess the nation agreed as his syndicated radio news and commentary lasted until his death not too long ago.

TV shows seemed to all have powerful voices introducing them. I'll bet if you grew up in the 60s or 70s you can still hear in your mind "This is the CBS Evening News with Walter Cronkite" or envision the collage of Disney classics followed by the announcer at the highpoint proclaiming "The Wonderful World of Disney!" Of course watching TV game shows like "Family Feud" we heard the booming voice of Gene Wood who was a integral part of the show as much as the host.

Although there are still a few powerful voices out there, they seem to be being replaced by wimpy sounding guys. Listening to the opening of ABC's World News with David Muir I thought a left over hippy on drugs had taken over. I'm was surprised he didn't say "hey man, it's time for the news now..." as that is how the voice comes over the air.

There isn't much need anymore for a deep toned announcer. One of my favorites was John Doremus who hosted a syndicated radio show I listened to back in my college days. You also may have heard him in airplanes as he pioneered in flight programming. Soldiers also recall hearing him on the Armed Forces Radio Network. You can listen to one of his shows here.

Those commanding voices could really etch themselves into your memory banks...I don't think the average sounding ones of today get anywhere close to that. And as John Doremus would say "put THAT in your pipe and smoke it!"

pics of John Doremus, Don Wilson, Gene Wood, and Paul Harvey.