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After 60 years, at least two things haven't changed at TODAY: We're still live from Rockefeller Center and aiming to uphold the vision of our first anchor Dave Garroway, who wanted to "put you more closely in touch with the world we live in."
Charles Sykes/NBC
Check out how America salutes their favorite morning news program
"Essentially, the program has remained the same. And that is you get up to find out if the world is still there. Is everything OK?" Barbara Walters said. "We're the people you trust."
TODAY nodded to our history by staging a scene straight out of 1952 on New York City's 49th street. The screen went black and white as a stand-in Dave Garroway broadcast from the "Window of the World." Staffers dressed in period costume looked on, and from the crowd came Matt Lauer to introduce the big reunion.
The Look: Rainbow bright: Ann wears a TODAY anniversary dress
Hugh Downs, Barbara Walters, Jim Hartz, Tom Brokaw, Jane Pauley, Bryant Gumbel, Willard Scott, Deborah Norville, Katie Couric, Meredith Vieira, Matt Lauer, Ann Curry, Al Roker, Natalie Morales, Kathie Lee Gifford, Hoda Kotb and Savannah Guthrie, all gathered in Studio 1A to share their stories.
Several former TODAY Girls also joined the broadcast, including Florence Henderson, Estelle Parsons, Lee Meriwether, Robbin Bain Gaudieri and Beryl Pfizer. And in another memorable moment, the TODAY news readers reunited at the news desk.
"We have more anchors than the Sixth Fleet!" Ann Curry joked. "Boy, after the week we've had celebrating, I feel like 60," said 54-year-old Matt Lauer.
Matt, Ann and the whole crew also wished other living co-anchors Gene Shalit and Joe Garagiola well, saying they were both sorely missed at the festivities.
During an interview with all of the past anchors, they recalled witnessing more than half a century's most important and influential news events.
Katie remembered her reports from the Columbine shooting, while Meredith talked about covering the attack at Virginia Tech.
allDAY: 6 iconic TODAY moments for our 60th anniversary
"We had been to a candle-light vigil during the evening, and one of the students came up to me and he said to me, 'Can I just get a hug?'" Meredith said. "This show was sort of a surrogate mom to him. We were his family."
The moment turned more reflective as the past anchors recounted their time on the broadcast.
"The genius of Pat Weaver when he first started this is still true today," Brokaw said. "It is the electronic breakfast table. It is the great national morning newspaper."
Matt asked each to name the broadcast icon they watched before joining the show. And several named Garroway as their inspiration.
allDAY: 60th anniversary draws Linny, some special fans to plaza
"I admired that his approach was so easy going and so ad-libbed, literally. It was so new then," Hugh Downs said. "Garroway was a model."
Watch the full round table in video below:
Tom Hanks, who has been a guest on the show 22 times, wheeled out a giant cake for the champagne toast.
"The only reason I pushed out the cake was that the trainer didn't have enough time with J. Fred Muggs," Tom joked about our former chimpanzee anchor.
The first family, national landmarks and celebrities also toasted the show's celebration.
President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama saluted the broadcast in a special message.
"Over decades and across generations, the TODAY show has become a part of American culture," said the president. "We know you'll have many more years of success," Michelle added.
New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg proclaimed January 13 "TODAY Show Day." "This show I think sets the standards for a lot of other television," he said. "And you should be very proud and all of the people that have worked here over the years."
Anthony Quintano / NBC News
The Empire State Building lights up in TODAY colors.
National landmarks across the U.S. marked the occasion Thursday night and Friday morning. The Empire State Building lit up in red, yellow and orange — the first time it has ever been illuminated for a television show — while Niagara Falls glowed with TODAY hues.
A New York Fire Department fireboat spouted orange-colored water in front of the Statue of Liberty, the Bellagio Hotel in Las Vegas and the Cira Centre in Philadelphia saluted TODAY, and the Goodyear Blimp congratulated the show with a special message while flying over the Hollywood Sign in Los Angeles.
allDAY: Behind-the-scenes images from TODAY's anchor photo booth
Throughout the week, celebrities including Justin Timberlake, Bill Cosby and Justin Bieber have been wishing TODAY well.
TODAY.com also revealed your favorite moment on the show from the past 60 years: Matt's first Where in the World reveal from Egypt.
Wish the broadcast a happy anniversary in the comments, and tell us your favorite moment from the eventful day!
More TODAY at 60 content:
TODAY at 60 quiz: Test your knowledge of our broadcast
Watch archival video at our TODAY at 60 online experience
Find all of the TODAY at 60 content on the allDAY blog
Landmarks salute TODAY's 60th anniversary after dark
Don't miss a moment: How, when and where you watch TODAY
Steve Veres is an editor for TODAY.com. He wishes he looks as good as TODAY does for his 60th anniversary!
Leave a Comment:
A shame they did not (or did they?) mention Co-Anchor David Bloom who died while covering news in Iraq.
I wasn't able to watch the show, but you are right--I hope they mentioned him!
I did watch the show and you are right, they didnot have a memorial for those who were on the show and passed away. They only mentioned Frank MeGhee and of course Dave Garroway.
Happy 60th Anniversary TODAY
Would like to share my FB post this morning: Completely moved by the "Today Show" 60th anniversary edition this morning. While I don't watch much TV, I have always been a Today Show fan. Watching from home and every other town I wake up in- watching since a child when my father would have it on. I have always trusted their stories, their perspective. Growing up a media kid, I know the importance of dedication, risks, and honesty that makes for a 'real' story. Watching this now and seeing the stories of our lifetime is bringing me to tears and to smiles!!! A MUST WATCH if you can!!!! Congrats to the NBC morning team.
No mention of Lenny.
He has been standing outside the window for longer then most of the hosts have been with the show.
Here you go!
http://allday.today.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/01/13/10148919-60th-anniversary-draws-some-special-fans-to-plaza
Please ask Hugh Downs...In 1967 I was on Concentration with Hugh. It was the last show on NBC to go color. I was a contestant and the camera was on me in black and white, and then they said in living color and the peacock showed and it and I were shown in living color. I have been unable to find anyone that knows where that show would have been preserved. I cannot believe that it wasn't. It was historical. Can he shed any light on where it could be? I have already been in touch with the Radio and Television Museum. No one seems to know if it was saved or not. I was a young mother pregnant with my second child at the time and now the grandmother of 8. I would love to be able to show that to my children. I was hoping Hugh Downs would know how I could find it. Thank you for any help you can provide.
Janet try looking on
At first glance I thought you said "Threw Up".
When I was about 7 years old, I wanted to grow up an marry Hugh Downs. I once even gave a little kiss to the tv screen. Now I'm 50. Happy 60th!
I love my TODAY show family! At 41 I have watched most of these anchors and enjoyed them all. I am moved to tears. Is it me or is Barbara Walters frowning everytime Katie speaks? And yes @AG....where is the mention of the very dedicated Lenny???
It's to bad all the past great anchors and legends in broadcasting have had to come back and witness the crap that the show has to offer now. Trying to stuff to many segments into a half hour that the person presenting the material get even get the message out, to a weather personality that doesn't even do the weather half the time, if he does the weather they continually use a re-verb on his voice. The first and most of the second hour are what the show has always seemed to be about, the third and forth hours could be lost and the show would improve immensely.
Where are Lester and Jenna?Can you do a segment with Lenny?
Happy 60th Birthday, Today! I turn 60 in June, so you're still older than I am, but not by much. Over the years you have become as close as some of my friends. After my daughter was born in 1989, many times the first words she heard in the morning were "This is Today." May you be here to greet my grandchildren and great-grandchildren!
Congrats on your 60th Anniversary. In the 50's as a child I was on the show with Dave and Jack as the out of town guest.
Still angry over Al Roker's antics....
Does anyone remember the day President Truman appeared outside the studio window, waving at Dave Garroway? It was quite a moment, and a surprise to the Secret Service, who he'd manage to avoid.
Don't forget about Lennie out there in the cold all those years.
Here's a story about how Linny is celebrating!
http://allday.today.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/01/13/10148919-60th-anniversary-draws-some-special-fans-to-plaza
Too bad they didn't start with Dave Garroway who actually was on before Hugh Downs and Barbara Walters.
I remember the early days of the TODAY SHOW with a lot of fond memories, except the time I was in the military, I believe that I worked with Jim Hartz in Tulsa, Ok. HAPPY 60TH BIRTHDAY TODAY SHOW. Dave Garroway to Mat Lauer. It is greatt to see all of the past anchors at one time. One anchor not present and was a great part of the Today Show was J. Fred Muggs. HOope the Today Show goes on for many years to come.
60 yearas that's a long time I hope they're on for 60 more
Great to see all the alums on the show today. Could one of these pros take Ann and Natalie aside and teach them to stop talking over each other?
Very disappointed no mention of Lenny your most loyal and faithful fan for years. I can't think of anybody who would get up at 3:00 am to be in any audience even if they were paid. Such dedication, so I will say it Thank you Lenny
Congratulations on 60 years!!
who the f cares? nothing but a bunch of fing big mouth snobby liberals!
the OBOMBO network! I boycott psmnbc and GE!!!!
your typical Fox moron
Glad to see the level of intelligence expressed by your pithy post...NOT!!!!
I like the today show but the fact that Lester Holts (the hardest working anchor in AMERICA) (he covers for all anchors) was not their, I was dissapointed
Did anyone else see Willard Scott double flip off the camera?
I saw the youtube clip of this. Something is wrong with Willard. He's either fallen off the wagon (he admitted he was an alcoholic in 2003), or senility is beginning to set in. Between his flipping off the camera and his herpes remark during the chat with the former anchors, something with him seems terribly off. Hope NBC is taking notice. I hate to say it, but it may be farewell for Willard.
I'm 60 today also!!!!!!!!!!!Happy Birthday to you and me and many more to us both<3!!!!!!!!!!
Didn't the ever wonderful Betty White work on it for a time also?
Jane Pauley hasn't aged a day.
Face lifts, botox injections and don't forget make up applied by professionals, work wonders. Actually she has aged considerably.