Tour the Original TODAY Studio with Host Dave Garroway in 1952

As TODAY marks its 75th anniversary, the TODAY Archive is revisiting legendary interviews, stories that moved us and other iconic moments from our 75 years on the air. These are the segments that shaped TODAY and created a lasting legacy. Today, we look back at original host Dave Garroway taking viewers on a tour of the studio during TODAY’s first episode on Jan. 14, 1952.

How times have changed.

When TODAY premiered Jan. 14, 1952, the set looked just a wee bit different from what we all know today. At the time, the newsgathering operation included electric typewriters, telephoto machines, chalkboards and a wall of newspapers.

During that premiere episode, the program’s first anchor, Dave Galloway, took viewers behind the scenes to see how TODAY came to life.

What Did Dave Garroway Show Viewers?

In the black-and-white clip, Garroway gave “a little tour,” showcasing how the news program got up and running.

“Let me take a little tour with you, if you’re not busy for a second, and find out some of the tools and some of the people who work on the news as it comes in,” Garroway said. “This is in no sense a studio. This is really a working news center. The news actually is written and put together here in front of your eyes, and will be every morning.”

Garroway then made the rounds, introducing announcer Jack Lescoulie, who was armed with a cigarette while sitting at a desk where some of the news and features were created by “pretty girls like Mary Kelly,” who was on the phone with the weather bureau.

Garroway also marveled at an innovation in front of Kelly that we know as an electric typewriter.

“This is a fantastic machine,” he said before hitting keys that he said made it sound like a machine gun.

Dave Garroway Talked to Overseas Reporters

The tour went on to show tape recorders and a telephoto machine before Garroway said hello to overseas news editor Buck Prince, who revealed calls from London and Frankfurt were standing by. This prompted Galloway to chat with correspondent Romney Wheeler in Britain.

“Here in London, we are pleased and proud to be part of this exciting new experiment,” Wheeler said as he talked about some ships in a storm on the English coast.

Galloway then talked with a Frankfurt reporter, who said the snow in that part of the world was a big story.

Dave Garroway Shared the Goal of TODAY

After hanging up, Galloway reminded viewers that “we can take you to anyplace in the world.” He then introduced news editor Jim Fleming, who he said would provide updates 15 minutes before and after the hour.

Garroway revealed machines that took in the news that appeared on the set, as well as newspapers from all over the nation hanging up to explain just what TODAY’s mission is.

“This is not a program from New York to you someplace, if you don’t live in New York,” he said. “This is a program from America, to America, so that the guy in one city knows what the people in other cities are feeling and thinking. That’s why we fly in the newspapers from most important American cities every day.”