Off Shore Muse

Dave Garroway

(1913-1982)

Garroway's signature upheld and while saying "peace" at the end of each Today Show.

Three things come to mind when you mention Dave Garroway: those horn-rimmed glasses, that bow tie and his sign-off .. an upheld hand, palm facing out, accompanied by the spoken word "peace". Where did that come from? Thanks to the Archive of American Television and an old TV Guide article, we know enough to do a little digging and come up with the likely answer!

Charlie Andrews, who was Dave's favorite writer and best friend, told the Archive that "peace" came from a preacher out of Philadelphia. Garroway took a liking to it and adopted it as his own.

Although in Garroway's post-Today years he replaced "peace" with "courage" from a poem by Amelia Earhart that included the line "Courage is the price that life exacts for granting peace." Garroway maintained that saying "peace" was supplicating for peace while "courage" was a way to find it.* Be that as it may, Garroway brought "peace" back for the Today anniversary program and officially it was the last word he spoke on national television when he gave the sign-off at the end of the 1982 anniversary show.

*The phrase suggests a distinction between passively desiring or asking for peace and actively seeking or achieving it through courageous action.

Garroway's relaxed and ironic style, along with his memorable sign-off, contributed to the show's success.

The original Today team with Jim Fleming, Dave Garroway and Jack Lescoulie.

Talking with the crowd outside the RCA Exhibition Hall on a sunny Spring morning.

Circa 1957

David Cunningham Garroway was an American television personality. He was the founding host and anchor of NBC's Today Show from 1952 to 1961. Garroway has been honored for his contributions to radio and television with a star for each on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and the St. Louis Walk of Fame, the city where he spent part of his teenaged years and early adulthood.

Garroway began his broadcasting career at NBC as a page in 1938. He attended NBC's school for announcers and following graduation, he landed a job at Pittsburgh radio station KDKA in 1939. His early reporting efforts earned Garroway a reputation for finding a good story, even in unusual palaces. The "Roving Announcer", as he was known, worked his way up to become the station's special-events director while still attending to his on-air work. After two years with KDKA, Garroway left for Chicago.

June 16, 1961 was Dave Garroway's last day on the Today Show, one of television's most enduring programs. A WWII veteran and seasoned radio reporter, Garroway became one of television's first TV personalities as host of an experimental variety show, Garroway at Large, broadcast from Chicago.

In 1952, Garroway began hosting the newly-created morning show, Today, the brainchild of NBC president and television pioneer Sylvester "Pat" Weaver. Nicknamed "The Communicator" for his ability to clearly explain complicated stories, Garroway possessed an easy-going manner that resonated with viewers. His willingness to work with his chimpanzee co-host, J. Fred Muggs couldn't have hurt, either.

During his tenure on Today, Garroway also hosted various radio and TV programs including the Sunday afternoon show, Wide Wide World.

Sadly, unbeknownst to viewers, Garroway battled depression and toward the end of his Today career, Garroway's condition reportedly worsened. Shortly after his second wife died, Garroway announced his intention to leave Today as soon as his contract ran out, if not sooner. He said goodbye a few weeks later, four months before the end of his contract.