Larry Kane

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Special Contributer

Larry Kane, known as the dean of Philadelphia television news anchors, will mark 52 years in Philadelphia broadcasting in September 2018. He’s been in broadcasting since the age of 15 in 1957. After his anchoring career ended, Kane hosted the Voice of Reason program on The Comcast Network through 2014. Kane is currently a special contributor for KYW Newsradio, and is a consultant for NBC Sports Group, including NBC’S regional sports networks and the Golf Channel, where he works developing broadcaster’s careers and advising management. At the present time, Kane has a major role in Ron Howard’s film “Eight Days A Week”, The Touring Years. He was featured as an honored guest September 15, 2016 in London at the film’s premier alongside Howard, Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr.

This veteran of 23 political conventions since 1968 (including the historic. 1968, 2008 and 2012 conventions) Kane is perhaps most well known for his insight on American politics and government. Those stories were featured in 2000 in his first book "Larry Kane's Philadelphia’ (Temple Press, Foreword by Dan Rather), a regional best seller. As the only broadcast journalist to travel to every stop on the Beatle's 1964 and 1965 tours, Kane authored “Ticket to Ride” in 2003 (Running Press, Penguin Paperback, Foreword by Dick Clark) and Lennon Revealed (Running Press), a New York Times and Los Angeles Times Bestseller in 2005. Recently, he released his first novel, “Death By Deadline”, a cautionary mystery about the dangers of bad information, and the risks of out-of-control local TV News operations. Running Press, New York, Philadelphia and London released IN 2013, Kane’s book, “When They Were Boys, the True Story of the Rise of the Beatles.” Ticket To Ride became an e-book on all platforms several years ago.

The Emmy Award-winning newsman was honored by the Mid-Atlantic Emmy organization with their Governor's Award in 2005, recognizing Lifetime Achievement. In the annals of broadcast history, Kane is best known for the success of Action News at WPVI in Philadelphia, where, with some of the most innovate minds in broadcasting, he helped propel the station in one year, from 1970 to 1971, to first place in the news ratings. The Action News format changed the face of contemporary broadcasting in the early 1970's, placing the emphasis on local news connected to extraordinary community involvement by stations across the country. His success brought him to New York and ABC News and WABC TV. After 18 months, he returned to Philadelphia and completed his unique trifecta, working for the NBC and CBS stations. Kane is the only news anchor to anchor a total of 39 years at all three Philadelphia owned and operated TV stations.

His assignments have included the Middle East peace talks; the return of the American hostages from Iran to Wiesbaden, West Germany; the devastating earthquake in Naples, Italy; the 1987 Superpower Summit between Reagan and Gorbachev, seven visits to the Middle East and an in-depth interview in Poland with Solidarity Leader Lech Walesa. In 1985 he and his colleagues at WCAU TV were honored with the prestigious Alfred I. DuPont-Columbia University Award for their coverage of the confrontation between Philadelphia Police and the radical group MOVE. In 1961, as a young radio News Director, Kane broke the story of the ill-fated Bay of Pigs invasion in Cuba, a development that occurred after months of creating relationships with the Miami-based Cuban exile underground.

Kane has interviewed a virtual who's who of newsmakers, including every President from Lyndon Johnson to Barack Obama. In 1965 and 1966. Kane conducted groundbreaking radio interviews with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Recognized as a leading proponent of the rights of the disabled, Kane is campaign chairman of the Delaware Valley Multiple Sclerosis Society. Late in 2013, the National MS Society named a medical fellowship for Larry Kane, after his 41-year tenure on the MS Board, a calling he assumed after the death of his mother, because of MS, at the age of 40. For 40 years, Kane has broadcast weekly features on radio and TV in connection with the National Adoption Center to find homes for waiting children, along with many non-profit endeavors. He resides in suburban Philadelphia with his wife, Donna. They have two children and five grandchildren.

on-air

Philadelphia's Morning News with Ian Bush

audio from KYW Newsradio

K Y W Newsradio

Larry Kane