November 22, 2023 – Motor City Radio Flashbacks

Photo: The Associated Press *[Click over or tap on image for largest detailed, digitized view.]*

The Presidential limousine under fire in Dallas,12:30 p.m., CST. *(Photo: Mary Moorman; AP UPI)*

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WWJ NBC Detroit Radio logo, 1963

Approximately 20 minutes after NBC broke programming with a bulletin (AP; 12:40 p.m., CST) President Kennedy had been shot, the NBC Radio Network in New York took control of the news coming out of Dallas on all the NBC affiliates nationwide, including WWJ, WWJ FM in Detroit, at the top of the hour — 2:00 P.M., EST, Friday, November 22, 1963.

In this hourly segment you will hear NBC radio reports by the following correspondents:

Peter Hackus (NBC Radio Network, New York); Edwin Newman (NBC Radio Network, New York)

Robert MacNeill (Dallas); Bill Ryan (NBC TV [feed] New York); Charles Murphy (ABC-TV [feed] Dallas); David Brinkley (NBC TV [feed] Washington); Alan Bickley (WFAA Dallas); Joseph Michaels (New York); Jean Hill [eyewitness] WFAA Dallas); Frank McGee (NBC TV [feed] New York); Robert Gorawlski (Washington); Chet Huntley (NBC TV [feed] New York); John Holfin (NBC cameraman [eyewitness] Dallas); Morgan Beatty (NBC Radio Network, New York); John Lavencheck (Miami); Robert McCormick (Washington); Pierce Allman (WFAA Dallas); Irving R. Levine (Rome); Kenneth Bernstein (London)

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Note: In 1963, WWJ WWJ-FM was owned and operated by The Detroit News. The NBC Detroit affiliate was represented nationally by Peters, Griffins, Woodward, Inc.

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The Presidential limousine, with the mortally wounded President, is photo captured on the Stemmons Freeway speeding towards Parkland Memorial Hospital. It is 12:33 p.m. Dallas time.

The Associated Press wires breaks with a bulletin. President Kennedy has been shot. 12:40 p.m., CST; November 22 *(Jim Feliciano Collection)*

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WWJ NBC Detroit Radio logo, 1963

In this hourly segment you will hear NBC radio reports by the following correspondents:

Joseph Michaels (New York); Bernard Brussell (Paris); Ray Sherer (Washington); Joseph Hersh (London); Berry Simmons (San Diego); Pierce Allman (Dallas); Ian Stewart (Hong Kong); Peter Hackett (Washington); Robert Abernathy (Washington); Nancy Dickerson (Washington); Tom Petitt (Dallas) David Abernathy (Bonn); Richard Volariani (Washington); Robert Goralski (Washington); Joseph Michaels (JFK in New York; 11-15-1963)

Also, you will hear a special WWJ radio news report by: John Hultman, WWJ WWJ FM — top of 7:00 p.m. hour — NBC Radio in Detroit.

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Note: In 1963, WWJ WWJ-FM was owned and operated by The Detroit News. The NBC Detroit affiliate was represented nationally by Peters, Griffins, Woodward, Inc.

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Immediately after shots were fired, the Dallas police converge and cordon off the Texas Book Depository Building. Photo taken around 1:00 p.m., Dallas time. *(Photo: Dallas Times Herald)*

Listening to the latest news bulletins blaring from the car radio, the scene outside the emergency entrance at Parkland. The Vice-Presidential car, the convertible Lincoln Continental at left, was driven by Texas Highway patrolman Herschel Jacks. He is wearing the Stetson hat in the photograph. *(Photo: Dallas Times Herald)*

*Photo: Eanon Kennedy; Dallas Times Herald*

The Detroit Free Press Saturday, November 23, 1963

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WWJ Detroit NBC Radio logo, 1963

In this hourly segment you will hear NBC radio reports by the following correspondents:

Bob Whitten (Sacramento); Robert Goralski (Washington); Tom Perryman (Dallas); John Rich (Tokyo); Herbert Kaplow (Washington); Joseph Michaels (Interviews Carlos Bringuier, New Orleans — New York); Richard Valariani (Washington); John Chancellor (Berlin); Tom Petitt (Dallas); Robert Abernathy (Washington)

Also, you will hear a special WWJ radio news report by: Don Perrie, WWJ WWJ FM — top of 11:00 p.m. hour — NBC Radio in Detroit.

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Note: In 1963, WWJ WWJ-FM was owned and operated by The Detroit News. The NBC Detroit affiliate was represented nationally by Peters, Griffins, Woodward, Inc.

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A special thank you to Bob Pratt, of Farmington Hills, MI., for contributing these historic recordings for our Motor City Radio Flashbacks archive.

In November 1963, Bob Pratt recorded over 20 hours on reeled tapes covering the tragic four days, 60 years ago.

Some 5 hours after the NBC Radio Network first broke with stunning word President Kennedy had been shot (12:40 p.m., CST 1:00 p.m., CST) Bob Pratt proceeded recording more of the NBC radio news as they unfolded on WWJ-FM in Detroit. The evening recordings began at 6:20 p.m., running through 11:36 p.m. Friday night, November 22, 1963.

Bob Pratt also shared his personal recollections of President Kennedy’s assassination. His personal memories is featured on this site, here.

These historic Detroit radio broadcasts was never available to anyone — anywhere. Motor City Radio Flashbacks featured these historic recordings in their entirety — exclusively here — for the very first time, when this site premiered these broadcasts in November 2018, five years ago.

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A precise moment in place and time. Where Detroit shoppers were photographed reading the shocking news streaming electronically across the WXYZ-TV news ticker displayed at the Detroit Bank & Trust building. Griswold Ave., near State Street, Downtown Detroit. Friday afternoon, November 22.

Friday, November 22. The country awoke without a hint the day would be remembered.

The Detroit Free Press. The headlines Detroiters woke up to on Friday morning, November 22, 1963.

At 1:51 p.m., (Dallas Time) Friday, the Dallas police reports a suspect is picked up and placed in police custody. Escorting the suspect to Captain Will Fritz’s office is Homicide detectives Richard Sims (L) and Elmer Boyd (R). *(Photo: Dallas Times Herald)*

The above featured images was ‘clipped,’ saved, and re-imaged from the credited source by Motor City Radio Flashbacks

All photographs used in this featured presentation was randomly selected. All photographs was captioned by the author. All selected photos herein were found to be under/as ‘public domain’ and are exhibited here for educational purposes only, as stipulated under the “fair use” clause, unless specified otherwise, and having been credited, as.

For largest views — if viewing on your mobile device, tap over newspaper images. Open to second window. “Stretch” images across your device screen to magnify detailed view.

All images posted in this featured presentation was re-imaged, re-framed, and was web created for this featured presentation by Jim Feliciano. The selected ‘televised’ image was used (see top frame), having been obtained from the personal collection of the author.

AP Bulletin image: Scanned from an actual 11-22-1963 AP scroll (from author’s personal collection).

Photos featured: Associated Press; UPI (Mary Moorman)

Photo featured: by Jack Rosen (for additional content by the author further referencing the Jack Rosen photograph, above, go here)

In the Rosen photo, note the television monitors. All three major news networks were broadcasting the news out of Dallas that day. CBS, ABC, NBC, respectively.

The author purchased the Jack Rosen photograph (featured above) 15 years ago, from the official Jack Rosen (now defunct) website. This same image is available today and can now be purchased HERE

Photo featured, by Eanon Kennedy: The Dallas Times Herald

This photograph was published enlarged on the front page of The Dallas Times Herald (and was published also in other major newspaper publications) on Saturday, November 23, 1963.

For a remarkable story about this iconic November 22, 1963 photograph, and the photographer who took it, read this article, HERE.

Photos featured: The Dallas Times Herald

The alleged sniper’s view of Elm Street from the 6th. floor of the Texas School Book Depository building, Dallas. Late Friday afternoon. *(Photo: Dallas Times Herald)*

A reporter shouted, “*Did you kill the President?*” Oswald answered, his voice breaking momentarily, “*No, I have not been charged with that. In fact, nobody has said that to me yet. The first thing I heard about it was when the newspaper reporters in the hall asked me that question.*” Flanked between the accused are detectives Richard Sims (L) and Elmer Boyd (R). Oswald professes his innocence before the press during a midnight press conference, November 22-23, 1963. (Photo: Dallas Times Herald)

President Kennedy leaves the Hotel Texas for a scheduled outdoor speech before a large crowd gathered outside the hotel’s parking lot in Ft. Worth. Escorting the President is Texas Senator Ralph Yarborough, Texas Representative Jim Wright, Governor John Connally, Vice President Lyndon Johnson, Secret Service agent Rufus Youngblood, and Assistant Press Secretary Malcolm Kilduff. *(Photo: William Allen)*

Friday, November 22. 8:30 A.M., outside the Hotel Texas in Ft. Worth. President Kennedy handshakes with a receptive crowd after his speech at the hotel’s parking lot before addressing the Forth Worth Chamber of Commerce. The President’s breakfast address was scheduled for sometime after 9:00 a.m., inside the hotel’s Grand Ballroom.

President Kennedy is presented with a Washer Bros. Stetson Road Hat “*for some protection against the rain*” by Raymond Buck, president of the Ft. Worth Chamber of Commerce, before addressing a crowd of 2,000 guests gathered for breakfast in the Grand Ballroom at the Hotel Texas. (Photo: Ft. Worth-Star Telegram)

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The Dallas Morning News. Early-Friday, November 22, 1963

The morning of November 22 began as auspiciously as any day during President Kennedy’s first term in office. In Texas, having arrived on Thursday, November 21, for two pre-scheduled stops in San Antonio and in Houston, the Presidential entourage flies to Ft. Worth late that evening. At 11:50 p.m. C.S.T. President Kennedy and the First Lady was booked into Suite 850 at Hotel Texas for the night, in downtown Ft. Worth.

For Friday morning, the White House itinerary calls for two public speeches to be given by the President. One outside the hotel’s parking lot, and the second speech will be given at a Chamber of Commerce breakfast event inside the hotel’s Grand Ballroom. Thereafter, Mr. & Mrs. Kennedy will take a short 13 minute flight from Carswell AFB to Lovefield in Dallas for a scheduled motorcade through the city, before an afternoon luncheon and a major speech Mr. Kennedy will give at the Trade Mart. President Kennedy and his party will then fly to Austin for a late-evening Democratic fundraising dinner event at the ranch of Vice-President Lyndon Johnson.

The marque at Hotel Texas welcomes President Kennedy’s arrival there in Ft. Worth. November 21, 1963

Meanwhile, in the day’s national news, the “Soviet staff” abruptly was ousted in the Congo. Debris from a crashed U2 plane was found in the Gulf north of Havana. South Africa rejects UN compliance to end racial bias. Bobby Kennedy stated he will not direct the Presidential campaign in 1964. Robert Stroud, the “Birdman of Alcatraz” is dead. While in Dallas, Richard Nixon tells the press JFK “will drop LBJ” from vice presidential contention in 1964. In Viet Nam news, the Detroit Free Press reports (United Press International) the Kennedy administration, under Secretary of State Dean Rusk and Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara — ‘Confirmed: 1,300 Viet GIs To Leave Within 2 Months’.

The Detroit Free Press. Early-Friday, November 22, 1963

In Detroit, in local news. Due to the 1963 auto boom, Lansing reports the state’s jobless rate dips to 3.9 percent, a 7-year low. An investigation of Teamsters union pension funds revealed 20 million dollars was appropriated for Vegas “gambling enterprises.” Another headline reads, “Hoffa Unaware of ‘Fix’ Try.” In money markets, the ‘Detroit Stock Exchange’ volume in trading reports a significant October markup. In sports, the Detroit Red Wings are 6-8 in NHL standings. In the theater district downtown, the Fox theater marquee reads, now showing, “The Man With The X-Ray Eyes.” At the Olympia, through Sunday, tickets were available for the ‘Ice Follies of 1964’. The Tigers trade Rocky Colavito to Kansas City. For Saturday collegiate football, it will be Michigan State versus Illinois. Also reported in the morning Free Press, Detroiters read, “JFK Walks Into Texas Party Fight”. And the day’s newspaper retail ads reminds Detroiters — 33 shopping days left until Christmas.

For SE Michigan and the Detroit metro area, the day’s weather forecast calls for above average ‘mild’ temperatures. Friday’s highs, 60s. Evening lows, 40s.

In Ft. Worth and in Dallas, the biggest story of the day is President Kennedy’s 2-day whirlwind trip to Texas. At 7:00 a.m. C.S.T., Ft. Worth ABC News affiliate WBAP 570 news anchor Norwood McClendon reports the day’s morning news with ‘Morning Edition.’ And from New York, it is ‘News Around The World’ with ABC News anchor, Don Gardiner. The same ‘News Around The World’ segment you will hear in this presentation aired 8:15 a.m. [E.S.T.] that Friday morning at ABC affiliate WXYZ Radio 1270 in Detroit.

This was the news. On this day, sixty years ago. It is early Friday morning, November 22, 1963. — Jim Feliciano

Audio was digitally remastered by Motor City Radio Flashbacks

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Dallas. 12:20 p.m. The presidential motorcade on Main Street west heading towards Houston and Elm, then it’s on to the Stemmons Fwy. for a state Democratic luncheon at the Dallas Trade Mart, scheduled for the 1:00 p.m. hour.

If viewing on your mobile device, tap over the images. Open to second window. “Stretch” images across your device screen to magnify detailed print and view. On your PC, click on images 2x for largest detailed view.

The selected audio file in this featured presentation was obtained by the author and selections were culled and were combined from 20 hours of actual WBAP radio programming the station aired (and recorded) during that tragic weekend, November 1963.

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All photographs selected herein for this feature presentation was found to be in the public domain. All photos were captioned by the author. The selected photos displayed in this presentation are used as historical references and are used for educational purposes only.

The photographs (including the newspaper images) was digitally re-imaged, re-framed by Motor City Radio Flashbacks