‘Salute to Dick Cavett’ June 21

Dick Cavett

Dick Cavett

Tickets are on sale for “A Salute to Dick Cavett” June 21 at Chicago's Museum of Broadcast Communications.

Dean Richards, entertainment reporter and critic for Tribune Broadcasting WGN-Channel 9 and WGN AM 720, will emcee the black-tie tribute to the 77-year-old legend who defined sophisticated conversation on television for more than 35 years.

Dean Richards

Dean Richards

“Dick Cavett is one of the most significant talk-show hosts in television history,” Bruce DuMont, president and CEO of the museum, said in a statement. “He brought wit and wisdom to the discussion of important issues in the ’60s and ’70s that others would not touch.”

Tickets to the salute are $125 each and may be ordered online at museum.tv.

Cavett joins such television giants as Steve Allen, Mike Wallace, Hugh Downs, Betty White, Larry King, Bill Kurtis, and Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert among the museum’s honorees.

The event at the museum, 360 North State Street, will mark the kickoff for “Dick Cavett: A Retrospective,” a three-month video exhibition of Cavett’s work, through Sept. 27. Featuring highlights of his programs on ABC, PBS and CNBC, screenings will run continuously from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday in the Polk Bros. Theater.