WJTN 100th #4-Paul Harvey
April 27th, 2025 12:00am
Paul Harvey was one of the most famous and influential American radio broadcasters ever. His style was incredibly unique — he delivered news, commentary, and human-interest stories in a warm, dramatic, almost theatrical voice that millions of people grew up listening to.
Here’s the short version:
Career start: Paul Harvey Aurandt (his full name) got his start in radio while he was still in high school in Tulsa, Oklahoma, in the 1930s.
National fame: By the 1950s, he had a national audience with his show "News and Comment," which blended headlines with his personal opinions. His pauses, inflections, and catchphrases — especially "Stand by for news!" — became iconic.
The Rest of the Story: He launched "The Rest of the Story" in 1976, which told little-known facts or twists behind famous events or people, only revealing the subject at the end. That segment became massively popular on its own.
Massive reach: At his peak, he reached more than 24 million listeners every week on over 1,200 radio stations, plus 400 Armed Forces Network stations worldwide.
His style: Harvey often mixed a kind of old-fashioned optimism with conservative commentary, storytelling, and folksy humor.
Famous sign-off: He would always end his broadcasts with: "Paul Harvey... Good day!"
Paul Harvey stayed on the air for decades, and even after his death in 2009, his influence on radio storytelling is still felt today. His pacing and style were totally different from the rapid-fire, high-energy news styles that became popular later.