Celebrating 30 Years Of Oprah

oprahhistory3
In this Dec. 18, 1985 file photo, television talk show host Oprah Winfrey puts her feet up as she relaxes in her studio office following a morning broadcast in Chicago, Ill. Winfrey announced in 2009 that her powerhouse daytime television show, would end its run in 2011 after 25 seasons on the air. This year, Harpo Studios is being demolished. Charlie Knoblock/AP Photo, File
oprahhistory3
In this Dec. 18, 1985 file photo, television talk show host Oprah Winfrey puts her feet up as she relaxes in her studio office following a morning broadcast in Chicago, Ill. Winfrey announced in 2009 that her powerhouse daytime television show, would end its run in 2011 after 25 seasons on the air. This year, Harpo Studios is being demolished. Charlie Knoblock/AP Photo, File

Celebrating 30 Years Of Oprah

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Thirty years ago Oprah Winfrey stepped onto the national stage with the first syndicated episode of The Oprah Winfrey Show. The rest is history. The Chicago-based show ran in hundreds of markets for 25 years, earned more than 40 Emmy awards and made Oprah the richest and most famous African American woman in the country. Of course, the show changed quite a bit over the years. 

Morning Shift talks to Chicago Magazine writer Mike Thomas about the show’s first season in syndication in 1986. Explore more.