CHICAGO (CBS) — Legendary talk show host Phil Donahue, who died on Sunday evening at the age of 88produced his show from Chicago for years before moving to New York – paving the way for Oprah Winfrey and every other talk show host on television.
Although he moved to New York nearly 40 years ago, Donahue is still fondly remembered by those who worked with him in Chicago.
Donahue, a Cleveland native and graduate of the University of Notre Dame, worked a number of jobs in radio and television before joining WHIO radio in Dayton, Ohio, in 1959. According to the Dayton Daily News, he hosted a program there called “The Conversation Piece.” He also worked as an anchor at CBS affiliate WHIO-TV in Dayton.
He later moved to WLWD-TV (now WDTN) and founded “The Phil Donahue Show” in 1967. Three years later, the show was broadcast nationally.
Donahue moved his show to Chicago in 1974 and began taping on WGN-TV 9. The show’s name was changed to “Donahue.” In January 1982, “Donahue” moved its Chicago base of operations from Channel 9 to CBS Chicago and taped at the station’s old studios at 630 N. McClurg Ct. in Streeterville in historic Studio 1 — which had served as the venue for the 1960 Kennedy-Nixon presidential debate.
While Donahue taped his show at CBS Chicago, guests sometimes appeared live on Channel 2 News the same day.
Channel 2 reporters also appeared on “Donahue” to discuss news topics and the network’s investigative reporting. Former Channel 2 News reporter Terry Anzur made two appearances – one to talk about the Cabbage Patch doll shortage that led to violence in stores across the country during the 1983 holiday season, and the other to talk about a series on fitness scams.
CBS even kept an old sign that asked Donahue audiences to show their tickets to get into the studio.
Penny Rotheiser worked as advertising director for Donahue for 15 years.
“Back then, the audience at home was predominantly female,” Rotheiser said. “They were women who were taking care of their children and wanted to know what was going on in the world, and we communicated it to them.”
In front of a live studio audience, Donahue focused his show on a single guest or topic and did not shy away from controversial subjects – he addressed issues such as abortion, nuclear war, the Equal Rights Amendment and LGBTQ+ rights such as the adoption of children by lesbian couples. He was also the first television host to allow a person with AIDS to speak in the early days of the epidemic.
Donahue always made it a point to involve and captivate the audience in his shows.
In order to reach an even larger audience, Donahue decided to move his show to New York City in early 1985. Shortly before, he had been in the old CBS Chicago newsroom talking with Walter Jacobson of Channel 2 News about his time in Chicago.
“We were worried when we came to Chicago whether people would like us or not,” Donahue told Jacobson. “Now, clearly, we’ve benefited greatly from being in Chicago.”
Donahue and his show were, of course, a hit in Chicago – and across the country.
Outside of his work, Donahue’s greatest love was his wife, actress and activist Marlo Thomas. Last May, they celebrated 44 years of marriage.
In the same month Donahue was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom– the highest civilian award in the United States – for individuals who have made a significant impact on society.
“For me, this is the end of an era,” Rotheiser said. “I think he was a very special man, and I think the public obviously felt that way too.”
Donahue raised five children in Winnetka while recording his show from Chicago.
Lauren Sieg
