Television Host and Quiz Master. He was the original host and quizmaster of "It's Academic," a scholastic competition for high school students. McGarry hosted the show for its first five decades, from October 7, 1961 (when it first aired on NBC in Washington, D.C.) until June 25, 2011. In 2003, "It's Academic" was recognized as "the longest-running student quiz show in television history" by Guinness World Records.
Regarded as a "stickler for accuracy," Mac McGarry hosted a program both challenging and competitive. The format consisted of McGarry reading questions from cue cards on a range of topics in a rapid-fire fashion. Three teams of three students from local high schools competed against each other and the clock for scholarship money and academic honors. High schools sent their cheerleaders and pep squads to root for their teams. Notable former contestants included: Jeopardy champion Matt Amodio, U.S. Senators Angus King and Charles Schumer, television anchor George Stephanopoulos, writer and humorist Alexandra Petri, U.S. Attorney General Merrick B. Garland, and Pulitzer Prize-winning author Michael Chabon.
Maurice James 'Mac' McGarry was born in Atlanta, Georgia, but moved to New York City as a young child. He attended New York City's Regis High School, recognized for its rigorous Jesuit education, and graduated from Fordham University in 1947.
McGarry began his broadcasting career at NBC as a national network news announcer from Washington, D.C. Among his first assignments were the inauguration of President Harry S. Truman and the start of the Korean War. Over a career of 61 years, he hosted numerous talk shows and variety shows, such as "In Our Town," the first weekly television program to be broadcast in color, "Montage," "Mac McGarry's Summer Comedy Club," and "Capital Timeline." In 1955, McGarry co-hosted an afternoon variety show with television personality Willard Scott. The show, simply called "Afternoon," featured live music, food and fashion, and Jim Henson's puppet group "Sam and Friends."
McGarry was a charter member of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (NATAS) Silver Circle. His honors included the Emmy Award for Outstanding Individual Achievement and America's Role Model Award from the Olender Foundation, 2004.
On December 12, 2013, Mr. McGarry, 87, passed away at his home in Potomac, Maryland, after complications with pneumonia.
Regarded as a "stickler for accuracy," Mac McGarry hosted a program both challenging and competitive. The format consisted of McGarry reading questions from cue cards on a range of topics in a rapid-fire fashion. Three teams of three students from local high schools competed against each other and the clock for scholarship money and academic honors. High schools sent their cheerleaders and pep squads to root for their teams. Notable former contestants included: Jeopardy champion Matt Amodio, U.S. Senators Angus King and Charles Schumer, television anchor George Stephanopoulos, writer and humorist Alexandra Petri, U.S. Attorney General Merrick B. Garland, and Pulitzer Prize-winning author Michael Chabon.
Maurice James 'Mac' McGarry was born in Atlanta, Georgia, but moved to New York City as a young child. He attended New York City's Regis High School, recognized for its rigorous Jesuit education, and graduated from Fordham University in 1947.
McGarry began his broadcasting career at NBC as a national network news announcer from Washington, D.C. Among his first assignments were the inauguration of President Harry S. Truman and the start of the Korean War. Over a career of 61 years, he hosted numerous talk shows and variety shows, such as "In Our Town," the first weekly television program to be broadcast in color, "Montage," "Mac McGarry's Summer Comedy Club," and "Capital Timeline." In 1955, McGarry co-hosted an afternoon variety show with television personality Willard Scott. The show, simply called "Afternoon," featured live music, food and fashion, and Jim Henson's puppet group "Sam and Friends."
McGarry was a charter member of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (NATAS) Silver Circle. His honors included the Emmy Award for Outstanding Individual Achievement and America's Role Model Award from the Olender Foundation, 2004.
On December 12, 2013, Mr. McGarry, 87, passed away at his home in Potomac, Maryland, after complications with pneumonia.
Television Host and Quiz Master. He was the original host and quizmaster of "It's Academic," a scholastic competition for high school students. McGarry hosted the show for its first five decades, from October 7, 1961 (when it first aired on NBC in Washington, D.C.) until June 25, 2011. In 2003, "It's Academic" was recognized as "the longest-running student quiz show in television history" by Guinness World Records.
Regarded as a "stickler for accuracy," Mac McGarry hosted a program both challenging and competitive. The format consisted of McGarry reading questions from cue cards on a range of topics in a rapid-fire fashion. Three teams of three students from local high schools competed against each other and the clock for scholarship money and academic honors. High schools sent their cheerleaders and pep squads to root for their teams. Notable former contestants included: Jeopardy champion Matt Amodio, U.S. Senators Angus King and Charles Schumer, television anchor George Stephanopoulos, writer and humorist Alexandra Petri, U.S. Attorney General Merrick B. Garland, and Pulitzer Prize-winning author Michael Chabon.
Maurice James 'Mac' McGarry was born in Atlanta, Georgia, but moved to New York City as a young child. He attended New York City's Regis High School, recognized for its rigorous Jesuit education, and graduated from Fordham University in 1947.
McGarry began his broadcasting career at NBC as a national network news announcer from Washington, D.C. Among his first assignments were the inauguration of President Harry S. Truman and the start of the Korean War. Over a career of 61 years, he hosted numerous talk shows and variety shows, such as "In Our Town," the first weekly television program to be broadcast in color, "Montage," "Mac McGarry's Summer Comedy Club," and "Capital Timeline." In 1955, McGarry co-hosted an afternoon variety show with television personality Willard Scott. The show, simply called "Afternoon," featured live music, food and fashion, and Jim Henson's puppet group "Sam and Friends."
McGarry was a charter member of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (NATAS) Silver Circle. His honors included the Emmy Award for Outstanding Individual Achievement and America's Role Model Award from the Olender Foundation, 2004.
On December 12, 2013, Mr. McGarry, 87, passed away at his home in Potomac, Maryland, after complications with pneumonia.
Regarded as a "stickler for accuracy," Mac McGarry hosted a program both challenging and competitive. The format consisted of McGarry reading questions from cue cards on a range of topics in a rapid-fire fashion. Three teams of three students from local high schools competed against each other and the clock for scholarship money and academic honors. High schools sent their cheerleaders and pep squads to root for their teams. Notable former contestants included: Jeopardy champion Matt Amodio, U.S. Senators Angus King and Charles Schumer, television anchor George Stephanopoulos, writer and humorist Alexandra Petri, U.S. Attorney General Merrick B. Garland, and Pulitzer Prize-winning author Michael Chabon.
Maurice James 'Mac' McGarry was born in Atlanta, Georgia, but moved to New York City as a young child. He attended New York City's Regis High School, recognized for its rigorous Jesuit education, and graduated from Fordham University in 1947.
McGarry began his broadcasting career at NBC as a national network news announcer from Washington, D.C. Among his first assignments were the inauguration of President Harry S. Truman and the start of the Korean War. Over a career of 61 years, he hosted numerous talk shows and variety shows, such as "In Our Town," the first weekly television program to be broadcast in color, "Montage," "Mac McGarry's Summer Comedy Club," and "Capital Timeline." In 1955, McGarry co-hosted an afternoon variety show with television personality Willard Scott. The show, simply called "Afternoon," featured live music, food and fashion, and Jim Henson's puppet group "Sam and Friends."
McGarry was a charter member of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (NATAS) Silver Circle. His honors included the Emmy Award for Outstanding Individual Achievement and America's Role Model Award from the Olender Foundation, 2004.
On December 12, 2013, Mr. McGarry, 87, passed away at his home in Potomac, Maryland, after complications with pneumonia.
Bio by: Olive's Branch
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