Artist: Joseph Allworthy (1892–1991)
Everett George Mitchell
MITCHELL, EVERETT GEORGE (1898–1990), inducted 1966
Radio pioneer Everett Mitchell was raised on a small farm east of Chicago. Gifted with an extraordinary singing voice, he was recruited to sing hymns at the services of two nationally prominent evangelists, Rodney “Gypsy” Smith and Billy Sunday, while still a child. In 1925, he began to sing and announce on radio station WENR, Chicago, and soon hosted a local Farm and Home Hour. Within three years, he was appointed manager of WENR, where he laid the foundation for modern radio broadcasting. The innovative Mitchell was responsible for many broadcasting firsts: the first children’s holiday feature; the first remote broadcast; the first radio commercial; and the first on-air, national call to prayer, as he and the nation awaited word on aviator Charles Lindbergh’s solo transatlantic flight.
In 1930, the National Broadcasting Company (NBC) made Chicago its broadcasting hub and purchased WENR, assigning Mitchell to develop The National Farm and Home Hour, one of the first regularly broadcast national radio shows. He communicated to millions of people daily. On this show he developed his trademark phrase, “It’s a beautiful day in Chicago!,” to boost spirits during the Great Depression. Mitchell did half of his shows from farm locations, visiting forty-eight states and nearly fifty nations. Everett Mitchell’s career continued until 1967 and included television broadcasting as well. He retired to his Beautiful Day Farm.
Source: Saddle & Sirloin Guidebook 2026, p. 141