George Putnam, the legendary pioneering newsman and radio talk show host who helped energize the electorate to pass property tax cutting Proposition 13, passed away in Chino on Friday at the age of 94. Putnam was a fixture on Los Angeles television and radio for 50 years in a career that spanned 70 years. He was still working at the mic on his syndicated “Talk Back” radio program up until a few months ago.
Putnam advocated for property tax reform for many years. He offered an open microphone to Prop 13 co-author Howard Jarvis on his program day after day. Putnam once said Jarvis appeared about 50 days in a row at one stretch. In turn, Jarvis credited Putnam, along with fellow talk radio hosts Ray Briem and Hilly Rose with getting the message out on Proposition 13.
The issue of property tax reform was one Putnam adopted well before any modern day property tax measure appeared on the ballot. In 1957 he helped conduct a rally at the Los Angeles Coliseum against high property taxes, although he once told me the organizers could have picked a better venue. Six thousand protestors looked lost in the cavernous arena. “If you’re going to impress people, for God’s sake, put it in a small area so that it overwhelms the room,” Putnam said.
During the formulation of Proposition 13, Putnam witnessed clashes between the measure’s co-authors Howard Jarvis and Paul Gann as they tried to come to an agreement on the initiative. Putnam played a role in smoothing over disagreements between the two men.
Putnam’s “One Reporter’s Opinion” was a feature of his television days, and he never shied away from giving those opinions as he continued his career in radio over the last three decades.
On hearing of Putnam’s death, long time listener, Dr. Dave Smith, a Northridge veterinarian, said: “I liked Putnam’s style because he was independent, but when he advocated for an issue it was no-holds-barred. And, of course, I liked him because he liked animals.”
The radio host bred thoroughbred racehorses and adopted many abandoned animals on his Chino ranch.
While Putnam was often called a conservative, he saw himself as a populist identifying with the average citizen in his audience. A Democrat, he was proud of his Minnesota Labor-Farmer Party roots and more recently opposed the war in Iraq. He was an admirer of Franklin Roosevelt as well as Ronald Reagan. Putnam often spoke glowing of Roosevelt, telling me one time he had drinks with the president in the White House. He also knew Richard Nixon well and Putnam once told the story of meeting up with Nixon late on the night that Nixon lost the California governor’s race.
Putnam had a loyal following demonstrated by his longevity on the air. He clicked with his listeners because he let them talk back. His shows were always lively and I enjoyed the many visits I had with him in the studio. A broadcasting icon is gone.
Read more about his life in the Los Angeles Times obituary here.