Dresser Dahlstead was an American radio announcer, producer, and broadcaster whose career bridged the Golden Age of Radio and the rise of television. Born on September 19, 1910, in Springville, Utah, he began working in radio while attending the University of Utah, later starting his professional broadcasting career in Ogden before joining NBC in San Francisco in the early 1930s. He went on to serve as a staff announcer for NBC in Los Angeles. Dahlstead became known for his work on numerous classic radio programs, including I Love a Mystery, Death Valley Days, I Deal in Crime, I Love Adventure, and Hop Harrigan. During World War II, he served in the Armed Forces Radio Service, where he produced and announced programs for military audiences and achieved the rank of sergeant. After the war, Dahlstead joined ABC—formerly NBC's Blue Network—eventually becoming its chief announcer and later serving as program director for the Western Division. In the late 1950s he transitioned into television production, spending decades with Ralph Edwards Productions, where he worked on several programs including the long-running game show Truth or Consequences. Dahlstead was also a charter member of the Pacific Pioneer Broadcasters, reflecting his long-standing influence within the broadcasting community. He died on April 20, 1998, in Las Vegas, Nevada, at the age of 88.
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Dresser Dahlstead oral history audio recording, A0482, Box Number, Item Number. Special Collections, J. Willard Marriott Library, The University of Utah.
Processed by Duston Mazzella
This recording from a SPERDVAC meeting at the Thousand Oaks Library features Dresser Dahlstead discussing his long career in radio and television. He recounts his early work at KLO in Ogden, his move to NBC in San Francisco-where he became the first announcer for I Love a Mystery-and his military service producing transcriptions for Armed Forces Radio. He also reflects on his 30 years producing Ralph Edwards' television shows before retiring in 1988, sharing memorable anecdotes from his career.