The House That Jack Built: My Life as a Trailblazer in Broadcasting and Entertainment

By James Haskins and Hal Jackson

Book Overview

The House That Jack Built is the life story of Hal Jackson, one of the most important figures in American radio and television. When starting out as a young professional, during the Jim Crow era in Washington, D.C., Jackson was told by the management of WINX that no Black man would ever broadcast at their station. He ultimately proved them wrong and was given a time slot of the station -- thus beginning a long and illustrious career, filled with an extraordinary series of firsts: The first Black radio announcer on network radio. The first Black inducted in the Radio Hall of Fame. The first Black host of a jazz show on the ABC network. The first Black to do play-by-play sports announcing on radio. The first Black to host an interracial network show on NBC-TV. The first person to broadcast from a theater live. He organized and was one of the owners of the first Black team to win the World's Basketball Championship. The first Black host of an international network television presentation. He was instrumental in acquiring the first radio station owned and operated by Blacks in New York City. At a time when Block women were prohibited from entering beauty pageants, he founded Hal Jackson's Talented Teen International contest. Here is a remarkable story about a remarkable person. The House That Jack Built is an important addition to the history of media in the United States.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0060198478
• ISBN13: 9780060198473
• Release Date: March 2001
• Publisher: Amistad Press
• Length: 256 Pages
• Weight: 1.25 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 6.6" x 9.5"

Customer Reviews

A Must Read!

I was amazed at all of the people who's lives were touched by Mr. Jackson. He has many firsts that I didn't know about. There were many facts learned by reading this autobiography that I didn't know even though I am married to him. This is a must read if you want to find out about the beginnings of black radio in the United States and the beginnings of WBLS in New York. The photographs are priceless.