Milton Cross

Milton John Cross (April 16, 1897 – January 3, 1975) was an American radio announcer famous for his work on the NBC and ABC radio networks.

He was best known as the voice of the Metropolitan Opera, hosting its Saturday afternoon radio broadcasts for 43 years, from the time of their inception on December 25, 1931 until his death in 1975.

Early career

Born in New York City, Milton Cross started his career just as network radio itself was in its earliest stages. He joined the New Jersey station WJZ in 1921, not just as an announcer but also as a singer, often engaging in recitals with the station's staff pianist, Keith McLeod. By 1927, WJZ had moved to Manhattan and had become the flagship station of the Blue Network of NBC's new national radio network. Cross' voice became familiar as he not only delivered announcements for the Blue Network but also hosted a number of popular programs. Cross was the announcer for the quiz program Information Please and the musical humor show The Chamber Music Society of Lower Basin Street, among others. In the 1940s Cross hosted a Saturday morning show featuring child performers, called Coast To Coast on a Bus.

Metropolitan Opera broadcasts

Milton Cross at the Metropolitan Opera in the early 1930s

From 1931 to 1975 Cross served as host for the weekly live broadcasts of the Metropolitan Opera, the job for which he is most remembered. His distinctive voice conveyed the excitement of live performances "from the stage of the Metropolitan Opera House in New York City" for generations of radio listeners. Initially, he broadcast from a seat in "Box 44" at the old Metropolitan Opera House at Broadway and 40th Street. In 1966, he introduced the radio audience to the Met's new home at Lincoln Center as he hosted a special broadcast of the opening night performance from a modern radio booth in the new house. For 43 seasons he was the main (usually sole) commentator. In the 1930s he shared some broadcasts with other commentators, such as Deems Taylor, John B. Kennedy and Marcia Davenport, and Robert Woldrop replaced him (for unknown reasons) for the April 3, 1937 broadcast of Das Rheingold and the May 15, 1937 broadcast of Mignon. He also missed two later broadcasts (Rigoletto - February 10, 1973 and Norma - February 17, 1973) due to the death of his wife. Cross never retired but died in New York from a heart attack during the Met season of 1974-75. His first Met broadcast was Hansel and Gretel on December 25, 1931 and his last was of Turandot on December 28, 1974, 43 years and 3 days later. He was succeeded by Peter Allen, who had been his standby announcer.

A native New Yorker, Cross died in New York City where he had lived all his life. He is interred at Kensico Cemetery in Valhalla, New York.

Cross edited several popular editions of opera synopses, published in conjunction with the Met broadcasts. He also co-authored (with David Ewen) Milton Cross' Encyclopedia of the Great Composers and their Music – a set of biographies of 78 composers, published in 1953 by Doubleday & Co.

Cross was also featured as narrator on several records, including:

• Peter and the Wolf, 4 78-rpm discs, c. 1950, Musicraft Records M 65 302–305
• Milton Cross Explains, 2 discs each, Ottenheimer Publishers/Cabot Records 1958
  • The Instruments of the Orchestra CAB 4021
  • The Magic of Music CAB 4022

Cross was parodied in Peter Schickele's album, P. D. Q. Bach: The Stoned Guest. Will Jordan played the role of "Milton Host", the host, who gave the commentary and told the listener what the synopsis of the act for the opera was. An earlier parody of Cross came in the character of "Doktor Quilton Foss" in G.I. Carmen, an all-soldier musical stage production of the U.S. Army. Billed as "the Boilesk Voishin" the show toured occupied Europe from June 9, 1945 through January 24, 1946. Again the host, "Foss" introduced the show and offered commentary throughout the evenings proceedings.