Lunch Break Video: “The Today Show” in the 70s

I was a news junkie even as a kid so I started watching NBC’s Today Show pretty early on. I thought Jane Pauley was smart, pretty and perfect. She was just 26 years old when she took over for Barbara Walters in 1976 and stayed for 13 years before she went to prime time with Dateline NBC.

Jane and Tom Brokaw were a great team but the road had been paved by the hard-working Walters who during her decade-plus on the show went from writer to on-air correspondent to panelist and finally, the first female co-host. There was a time when she had to wait for male co-host Frank McGee to ask three questions in an interview before she could speak. No fool she, Barbara solved the problem by going out and nabbing exclusive interviews with world leaders on location while Frank stayed in the studio.

Smart cookie!

For anyone who only knows Barbara from The View, 20-20 and her Oscar night specials, this video shows what a pioneer she is. Now, pushing 80, she’s still at it.