John Callaway (August 22, 1936 – June 23, 2009) was an American journalist, who appeared on radio and television as a host, interviewer and moderator.
He hitchhiked to Chicago through Ohio and Indiana, and was given a train ticket on the South Shore Line, arriving at Randolph Street Station on February 6, 1956, with the 71 cents in his pocket and immediately fell in love with the city.
He came back to Chicago in 1973 after being employed in New York City as a vice president of CBS Radio, and became the WBBM-TV lead reporter.
[2] Callaway helped create Chicago Tonight in 1984, a program intended to be "the second half of the news," in which the issues of the day could be discussed.
[3] Over the years, guests of Callaway on the program included Alan Alda, James Baldwin, Tom Brokaw, Aaron Copland, Howard Cosell, Mike Ditka, Helen Hayes, Henry Kissinger, Norman Mailer, Leontyne Price, Andy Rooney, Tim Russert, Jonas Salk, John Updike, Mike Wallace and Oprah Winfrey.
[2] Callaway was featured in a one-man show in Chicago which included both monologues about current politics, as well as his "Tormesque" singing voice, as well as performances with his talented daughters, Ann and Liz.