Video: 'TODAY's First Broadcast: Jan. 14, 1952 | Archives | TODAY'

(Monday, January 14, 1952, 7:00 a.m. EST) — Today, the first news and talk morning television show in the world, debuted this morning on NBC with Dave Garroway as the host.

Video: '50th Anniversary of Today Show (14 Jan 2002)'

The brainchild of television executive Sylvester Weaver, who was then vice president of NBC, Today was the first of its genre on American television and in the world.

The program blended national news headlines, interviews with newsmakers, lifestyle features, other light news and gimmicks (including the presence of the chimpanzee J. Fred Muggs who served as the show’s mascot during the early years), and local news updates from the network’s stations.