Ryan began his career in journalism as a Northwestern campus correspondent for the Chicago Tribune. After graduating, he remained with the paper as a sportswriter. He also worked as an advertising writer, and book reviewer, contributed to the paper's "A Line o' Type or Two" column, filled in for Ring Lardner on "In The Wake of the News", and edited The Tribune employee newsletter.
Radio
In 1922, Ryan left The Tribune to write a weekly radio program for Balaban and Katz, a Chicago-based movie theater chain. He made his first on-air appearance in 1923, when he promoted a fundraising campaign. In 1924, the Tribune purchased WDAP, which it renamed WGN. Ryan became WGN's manager and provided commentary for the station's sports and theatrical programming. He gave up his management position in 1929 to focus on broadcasting, but became station manager again in 1931 following the departure of Henry Selinger.
Ryan presented WGN's evening news broadcast, which consisted of him reading The Chicago Tribune. In 1937, he anchored WGN's first morning news program.
In 1925, Ryan anchored WGN's coverage of the Scopes trial. WGN aired live testimony, while Ryan, who was seated in the courtroom, provided clarifications and identified those who were speaking. Ryan was the only radio broadcaster to remain in Dayton, Tennessee throughout the trial, although WGN was unable to air the first day of the trial due to technical difficulties.
In 1928 and 1932, Ryan anchored the station's coverage of the Republican and Democratic National Conventions. He was the lead announcer for Mutual Broadcasting's convention coverage in 1936 and 1940. On Election Day, Ryan provided live election returns and interviews with Tribune writers.
In 1927, Ryan hosted "The Rambles of a Radio Announcer", a weekly program that featured him speaking about some of the interesting moments from his broadcasting career. He later performed a similar show on stage throughout the Midwestern United States.
Ryan hosted Uncle Quin's Punch and Judy Show, an evening show for children. In 1931, Ryan became the first person to broadcast a circus when he hosted a performance of the Sells Floto Circus.
Ryan hosted WGN's coverage of the Chicagoland Music Festival, which was picked up by the NBC Radio Network in 1931 and CBS Radio in 1932 and 1933, and the 1933–34 Century of Progressworld's fair.
In 1934, Ryan was the master of ceremonies for a weekly variety show produced by Balaban and Katz. Its headline acts included Roxy and his Gang and Gloria Swanson. Later that year, he hosted a nightly interview program sponsored by initially by Thompson's Cafeteria and later by the Phillips Petroleum Company. This show was replaced by the Phillips 66 Amateur Show (also known as Quin Ryan's Amateur Night), a talent show also hosted by Ryan. In 1935, he was the master of ceremonies for Quin Ryan and his Cadets, a daytime program featuring songs performed by the Singing Cadets.
From 1935 to 1942, Ryan hosted Marriage License Romances. The program featured interviews with engaged and newlywed couples and was broadcast from the Cook County marriage licence bureau.
Later life
In 1940, Ryan was removed from his management position by station owner Robert R. McCormick. He was replaced by the WGN's program and publicity director, Frank P. Schreiber. Ryan left the station nine months later to work as a freelancer. He was a frequent contributor to the Tribune'sSunday magazine.
Ryan died on October 7, 1978, in a Chicago nursing home. He was predeceased by his wife, Roberta Nangle, a former Tribune editor who died in 1944. He is buried at Calvary Cemetery in Evanston, Illinois.
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