George Putnam (July 14, 1914 – September 12, 2008) was a prominent American television news anchor, radio commentator, and conservative commentator, particularly well-known in Los Angeles media circles.
Putnam began in radio in the 1930s and moved on to TV in the early days of the medium. He worked at various stations around the U.S. before settling in Los Angeles.
He became one of L.A.’s most recognizable television anchors in the 1950s through the 1970s, working at stations like KTTV, KTLA, and KHJ-TV. His polished delivery and commanding voice made him a viewer favorite.
He was known for signing off with:
“And that’s the up-to-the-minute news. Up-to-the-minute, that’s all the news. See you at ten, see you then.”
Putnam is widely believed to be part of the inspiration for the fictional news anchor Howard Beale in the 1976 film Network.
He has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.