Gene On The Scene  

     I'm reading a current book from Orange Frazer Press in Wilmington, Ohio. It's written by Michael A. Banks and titled "Before Oprah:Ruth Lyons, The Woman Who Created Talk TV."
     I grew up on Ruth Lyons. My mom and most women liked her for her spunk. My dad and most men didn't because they thought she talked too much. But Ruth Lyons was an ever-present figure and force on live regional radio and television in Cincinnati, Dayton, Columbus, and Indianapolis every Monday through Friday from noon until one-thirty. Spontaneous, fearless, independent, empathic, generous, loyal, and someone you didn't cross because of her immense popularity, Ruth Lyons was also very intelligent and talented, yet humble, using her common touch to connect with her audiences. She was "Mother" to those who worked for her, a loyal friend to her employees, co-workers, and associates, as well as a superb networker.
     Ruth's audience was never sure who might show up on stage, but every show felt like a special occasion. Ruth always lived up to her opening theme "Let Me Entertain You" with music, jokes and humor with her sidekicks and audience, prizes, commercials that didn't seem like commercials, and Ruth holding forth on whatever topic struck her fancy that day. And unlike today's commentators, who often get in trouble for what they say, Ruth's shows were all live and rarely taped, so any mistakes she made were forgotten because they couldn't be played back. That might be a good idea for today's commentators, eh?