Customer Reviews

Remember with me

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Ruth Lyons was the definition of a pioneer in radio and television. This book, written by the lady herself, is very simply relayed in a conversational, yet formal (due to her era of upbringing and overall sense of professionalism), way. Her achievements as a television personality were mammoth and she doesn't shy away from acknowledging them, yet somehow still comes across as rather humble. Considering the impact she had in her region (including meeting countless movie and music stars and politicians of the day), she could easily have morphed into some sort of heady monster, but her staff remained eternally devoted to her, even after she was no longer on the air and they could have trashed her. Most of them called her "Mother," even when they were close to her age themselves. It seemed as if Ruth Lyons could have continued being a TV juggernaut as she was so incredibly popular and seemingly strong. However, a crushing personal blow occurred around the twenty-five year mark of her TV show and, though she lived on for many years afterwards, it was all over and she was never the same. The final section of this book is heartrending. It's PACKED with great photos and funny anecdotes and insights. She did have a nemesis or two through the years, but she doesn't name names and, of course, she showed them all who had the right stuff. A sadly unsung hero of Cincinnati (there used to be a dingy alley named for her, which is now gone... No other tributes exist, streets or otherwise, except for her Christmas Fund, which is now gargantuan), this is a must read for people who are fans of early and/or local broadcasting or of women who blazed a trail.