Milton Cross

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.

[1] Born in New York City, Milton Cross started his career just as network radio itself was in its earliest stages.

Cross' voice became familiar as he not only delivered announcements for the Blue Network but also hosted a number of popular programs.

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.

The show's success resulted in Hamilton being promoted to a producer, and he was ultimately replaced by the very man the series was lampooning: Milton J.

Cross proved extremely adept in the role, reading the scripted remarks with sharp comedy timing.

His dialogue skills were noticed by film producer Joseph E. Levine, who hired Cross to narrate his silent-film compilation Gaslight Follies (1945).