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

by Michael A. Banks

She was an up-front, real woman who rose from humble beginnings. Her daily live television show drew millions of viewers. Her mere mention of a product could turn it into a household name.This may sound like Oprah Winfrey, but it s a description of Ruth Lyons, a pioneering broadcaster whose audience in 1960 equaled that of Winfrey s today. With a mix of sentimentality and caustic commentary she ad-libbed her way through commercials and interviews with Hollywood stars. She ruled a broadcast empire and a famous charity all the while maintaining that she was simply a normal housewife and mother who happened to have a radio show. National magazines labeled her The most influential housewife in America. Her fame was such that throughout the 1950s and '60s, tens of thousands showed up for her remote broadcasts and other personal appearances. 100,000 people tried to get tickets for a 1957 event in her honor.Before Ruth Lyons, The Woman Who Created Talk TV, is th

260 pages, Hardcover

First published October 1, 2008

About the author

Michael A. Banks is the author of 43 books, the most recent of which is Blogging Heroes: Interviews with 30 of the World's Top Bloggers. He also wrote the New York Times bestseller CROSLEY: Two Brothers and a Business Empire that Transformed the Nation, The eBay Survival Guide, and several science fiction novels, as well as a number of other non-fiction books.

Also credited as Michael Banks.

Reviews

[Dee Renee Chesnut · Rating 3 out of 5]

Until I was fifteen years old on weekdays at noon, tv sets were turned to watch the 50-50 Club and if you did not want to sit quietly and watch, you were sent outside. Ruth Lyons was a major influence on every woman I knew during my childhood. Ruth's endorsements meant we slept on Serta Mattresses, shopped at Shillito's when we were in Cincinnati, washed our clothes in Fels Naptha, ate Roman Meal bread with Nu-Maid margarine. Women could converse about topics from her shows, knowing any other woman in this tri-state area had seen the show. Sympathy was extended to those who had to miss a show.
Two of my brothers and my own daughter received gifts from the Ruth Lyons Christmas Club during their hospitalization. This occurred over a time span of 30 years and 25 years after her show stopped broadcasting.
People who remember her show and her influence on Cincinnati, northern Kentucky, Dayton, Columbus, and Indianapolis will probably enjoy this book more than others who did not know of her.

[Carol C · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. When I rate a book, I usually take into consideration how engaging I found it, how much I learned, and how well-written it is. I'm a Cincinnati girl, and I've heard about Ruth Lyons my whole life. I watched the Bob Braun Show with my mom while she ironed in the afternoons. I even received a gift from the Ruth Lyons Christmas Fund when I had an hospital-based outpatient procedure done as a child. I'm familiar with the geography of many of the areas discussed. For these reasons, this book was very engaging to me. I learned a lot about Ruth Lyon's life and career. It made me think a lot about my grandmother who would have watched and listened to Ruth Lyons through much of her young adult life. The book wasn't fantistically well-written, but it was OK. There was some repetition, and a couple of passages were confusing. Using Oprah in the title and including the few paragraphs comparing Ruth Lyons to Oprah seemed forced and unnecessary - like there had to be a connection to someone like Oprah to make people notice this book.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ruth Lyons on the 50/50 Club was a bit before my time, of course, but I quite enjoyed this book. What an inspirational story! She worked hard, took every opportunity, held her ground when she knew she was right, and stayed on the forefront of emerging media. Along the way, I've learned some interesting Cincinnati history.

[Lillian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Since I grew up in Ruth Lyons' old neighborhood and remembered her from her radio days on through television, I found the book very interesting and enlightening. Also, a lot of old rumors that had hung over the neighborhood were cleared up after all these years. A good look at Cincinnati, the East End in particular, early radio and TV, and, of course, Ruth Lyons and her family.

[Ryan M. Hanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Five stars for the topic (Ruth Lyons—an amazing woman) and three stars for the writing.