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Graham McNameeAmerican sports commentator
Date of Birth: 10.07.1888
Country:  USA |
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Biography of Graham McNamee
Graham McNamee, an American sports commentator, was born on July 10, 1888, in Washington, D.C. He grew up in St. Paul, Minnesota, where his father, John McNamee, worked as a lawyer, and his mother, Anne, took care of the home and family while also singing in a church choir. McNamee's early desire to become an opera singer may have been influenced by his mother's singing.
Discovery of Radio
In 1923, while on his way to the courthouse for his duties as a juror in New York City, McNamee passed by the studio of WEAF radio station and decided to meet the station manager on a whim. He was immediately given an audition and hired as a staff announcer. At that time, radio coverage of sporting events was a novelty, and the descriptions provided by the announcers were often dull. McNamee's talent lay in his ability to vividly describe the smallest details of the game and convey his enthusiasm to the listeners. He became the first sports commentator who brought the game and its sounds directly into the homes of the audience.
Radio Career
On WEAF and later on the national NBC radio network, McNamee served as a commentator for various sports events, including multiple World Series, Rose Bowl football tournaments, boxing championships, national political conventions, presidential inaugurations, and aviator Charles Lindbergh's arrival in New York after his transatlantic flight to Paris in 1927. In the same year, McNamee's photograph appeared on the cover of the October issue of "Time" magazine. In 1925, he was awarded a gold microphone-shaped trophy at the Radio World Fair, recognizing him as America's most popular announcer with 189,470 votes out of 1,161,659 cast.
Later Career and Personal Life
In the 1930s, McNamee continued his radio appearances, serving as an announcer in weekly programs featuring comedian Ed Wynn and actor/musician Rudy Vallee. He also worked in the film industry, providing voiceovers for films such as "Krakatoa" (1933), Universal Newsreels, and the short film "Camera Thrills" (1935), which was nominated for an Oscar. McNamee was married twice. His first marriage was to concert soprano Josephine Garrett in 1921, and they divorced in 1932. In 1934, he married Anne Lee Sims.
Legacy
Graham McNamee passed away on May 9, 1942, at the age of 53, due to a brain embolism after a week of illness. In 1984, he was honored with induction into the American Sportscasters Association Hall of Fame.
