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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
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selections. 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. Cross proved extremely adept in the role, reading the scripted remarks with sharp comedy timing. His dialogue skills were
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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
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He was the announcer for the
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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.
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For 43 seasons, he was the main (usually sole) commentator. In the 1930s, he shared some broadcasts with other commentators, such as
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in 1971, and both titles would receive updated editions with "The New" appended to the title. He also co-authored with David Ewen
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in 1921, not just as an announcer but also as a singer, often engaging in recitals with the station's staff pianist,
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burlesquing the Cross delivery and format. Hamilton peppered his remarks with jazz-musician slang and introduced
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as he hosted a special broadcast of the opening night performance from a modern radio booth in the new house.
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A native New Yorker, Cross died in New York City where he had lived all his life. He is interred at
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and was originally published in 1949 recounting the plots of 72 operas. It would be followed by
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Cross edited several popular editions of opera synopses and composer biographies, published by
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for 43 years, from the time of their inception on
December 25, 1931, until his death in 1975.
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December 28, 1974, 43 years and three days later. He was succeeded by
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listeners. Initially, he broadcast from a seat in "Box 44" at the old
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Cross was also featured as narrator on several records, including:
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in conjunction with the Met broadcasts. The earliest was entitled
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Milton Cross' Encyclopedia of the Great
Composers and their Music
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Cross was parodied in the character of "Doktor
Quilton Foss" in
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during the Met season of 1974–75. His first Met broadcast was
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407:Music Division, The New York Public Library.
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125:. He also missed two later broadcasts (
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452:1975 deaths
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151:Peter Allen
441:Categories
295:References
200:'s album,
224:Doubleday
173:dixieland
128:Rigoletto
55:Biography
276:CAB 4022
270:CAB 4021
187:(1945).
146:Turandot
64:Born in
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123:Mignon
414:photo
283:Death
133:Norma
432:IMDb
355:ISBN
321:2007
176:jazz
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70:WJZ
38:ABC
34:NBC
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