- Met first lady Eleanor Roosevelt.
- For many years, Putnam could be seen in the Southern California Parade of roses, atop his trusty steed. Well known for his classic sign off on the 5 o'clock news: "See you at ten... see you then!".
- Ted Knight stated that Putnam served in part as a model for the character anchorman Ted Baxter on The Mary Tyler Moore Show (1970).
- Radio talk show host.
- Was a life-long conservative Democrat.
- Worked in the Los Angeles radio scene from 1951 until shortly before his death.
- Walter Winchell called his voice the greatest in radio and television.
- Putnam's distinctive delivery was parodied with the character newsman "Joe Putzman" in the sci-fi/horror spoof Schlock (1973).
- His appearance as the commentator in Perversion for Profit (1965) has made him something of a cult figure. The self-righteous and unintentionally funny short about the evils of adult publications became available on the Prelinger Archive website in the early 2000s, introducing Putnam to a whole new generation of viewers.
- He was awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for Television at 6374 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California on April 21, 1982.
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