Rooting around in the DC archive, I noticed that six years ago today we were blogging about legendary American broadcaster Edward R Murrow and his blue plaque.
Here's the post from the archive…
Edward R. Murrow (1908 – 1965), the American broadcast journalist who worked at CBS for his entire career, moved to London in 1937 to head up the network’s European operations.
During the war he reported on air from Blitz-beleaguered London. He is famed in both broadcasting circles and the folklore of World War Two for his famous intro and sign off.
His broadcasts always began with the words “This… is London” – always with a slight, but dramatic pause after the word “This”.
There were few places more dramatic than London in 1940.
His sign off is equally famous: “Good night. And good luck.”
Murrow’s ear had been caught with the oft-repeated simple phrase “good luck”, which was appended to many a conversation at the height of The Blitz – a time when Londoners knew not what the night would bring, or indeed if that would ever usher in a morning. Even Princess Elizabeth (the future Queen Elizabeth II) had used it in a radio broadcast (“good night and good luck to you all”). Murrow incorporated it as an off the cuff ad-lib in 1940 and a catchphrase was born.
Find his plaque here…
And here's his most famous London broadcast, from the steps of St Martin in the Fields as the bombs fall on London…
A London Walk costs £10 – £8 concession. To join a London Walk, simply meet your guide at the designated tube station at the appointed time. Details of all London Walks can be found at www.walks.com.
