Herbert Morrison (announcer) - Aftermath

Aftermath

An urban legend has it that Morrison was fired by WLS for his emotional reaction, but according to the station's weekly magazine and Morrison himself, this is not true. In fact, he was highly praised by station management, and the story of how he and Nehlsen made the recording was described in detail. It is possible that the story of him being fired came about because Morrison left WLS a year later to work for the Mutual Broadcasting System and that network's New York flagship station, WOR.

Morrison served in the United States Army Air Forces during World War II, and later became the first news director at WTAE-TV in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. In the 1975 motion picture The Hindenburg, Herbert Morrison was employed as a technical adviser. He was portrayed by actor Greg Mullavy in the movie, but his recording was used in the film. He was also sent across the country by Universal Studios to promote the film.

He retired to live outside Morgantown, West Virginia. He was active as a lecturer to colleges and news organizations. He died in Morgantown, survived by his wife Mary Jane.

During the 75th Anniversary broadcast of The History of WLS in 1999, producer and narrator Jeff Davis played the slowed-down version of Morrison's Hindenburg recording. This was the first time that the altered version was heard by a national radio audience. The slowed-down version is noticeably different, as there is a sound that may be the shock wave from the blast. In the original, higher-speed version the shock wave was somewhat muffled.