Customer Reviews

Before Oprah: Ruth Lyons, the Woman Who Created Talk TV

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I worked for Ruth as one of her secretaries from 1963 until I married in 1967. She was one of the great influences in my life with her kindness, compassion, wicked sense of humor and love for all. She was a "Mother" to me, as well as her millions of fans throughout the Tri-State Area. It was a privilege to be a small part of her life.

Andrea

For anyone who remembers Ruth Lyons and her TV show, this book is an excellent read. It is very detailed and factual. It brings back so many memories about so many other people, such as Paul Dixon, Bonnie Lou, Bob Braun, Peter Grant and others.

Today's enduring popularity and success of female hosted television talk shows is due to a woman by the name of Ruth Lyons. She was a pioneer in radio and television broadcasting whose audiences in the 1960s were block-buster successes, making her justifiably considered as being the single most influential housewife in America. Her amazing story is told in wonderful detailed by Michael Banks in "Before Oprah: Ruth Lyons, The Woman Who Created Talk TV", a 260-page biography of a woman who, in her day, was as popular and influential as Oprah Winfrey and Martha Stewart are in ours. Superbly written and totally engaging from first page to last, "Before Oprah: Ruth Lyons, The Woman Who Created Talk TV" is strongly recommended for both academic and community library 20th Century American Biography collections.

This book was a real treat to read, and tribute to a great American story and legend. I grew up in Cincinnati in the 50's and 60's. I remember that The Ruth Lyons show was on daily in our house, and I remember a couple trips downtown to see the show. I also have a very vivid recollection of recieving a toy from the Ruth Lyons Christmas fund during a brief hospital stay befor christmas one year. This lady truly had an amazing connection with her city, and her fans, was a giant in the early days of TV, and a real social force. I am glad some of the history was put to print to preserve her contributions.

If you grew up in the WLW world, or just have an interest in the history of radio and TV, I would highly recommend this book. Very easy to read, and very moving - If I have any complaint, it probably could have been longer, and more detailed for my tastes, since so manyh of the people and places are so familiar.

As a kid growing up in Cincinnati, "Mother" as she was called by just about everyone, was the go-to person on snowy days or absent days from school. The book is an accurate trip down memory lane for those who knew Cincinnati. The facts are there and some I didn't remember came back in a flash. She was radio & TV wrapped up in a big bow. It is an easy read and even if you didn't grow uo in Cincy or know anything about the city, it is enjoyable.

This is a well written autobiography of a very intelligent business woman, a grat humanitarian, and a popular entertainer in the tri-state area of Ohio, Indiana, and northern Kentucky in the early days of radio and television until the late 1960's.

Great book about Ruth Lyons. If you are familiar with her and her TV show, it is a great read.

I grew up watching Ruth Lyons on TV and she was the good talk host in Cincinnati, Ohio