Starter of this subject: Earl Schwartz
Last post in this subject: 12/16/2000
Messages in this subject: 8
| Earl Schwartz | 12/16/2000 8 replies |
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It is driving me crazy. I know this is a radio site but maybe you can help because Arthur Godfrey started in radio. I would like to know the names of his regulars. Tony Marvin was announcer and Archie Blyer was band leader but what was the name of his singer (tenor) Frankie ? other singers names???
Thanks for your help, There is a site for everything but I couldn't find something direct on Arthur Godfrey and his regulars. |
| Don Stoffel | 12/17/2000 0 replies |
| I think you have in mind Frank Parker, who often dueted with soprano Marian Marlowe. There was, of course, the ill-fated Julius LaRosa ("Eh, Cumpari"), pop singer Janette Davis, Hawaiian cupcake Haleloke (we called her, "Holysmokie"), the Mariners quartette (male) and the Chordettes (female). A featured member of Bleyer's staff orchestra was guitarist Remo Palmieri, with whom AG occasionally "traded licks". I was never a particular Godfrey fan, but there was a certain comforting familiarity about his just being there. Hope this helps. ] |
| Jack French | 12/18/2000 1 replies |
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Godfrey started in radio in Baltimore in 1929, playing his banjo on WFBR, at $ 5 a show, sponsored by Triangle Pet Stop. In his hey-day, in the 50s he loved to brag he made $ 400,000 before the average guy got up for breakfast.
Incidentally, LaRosa was not the only regular Godfrey fired in his latter, and bitter days. Virtually everyone got booted off his show for "disloyalty", including the Mariners, Haleoke, three of his best writers, the Chordettes, producer Larry Marlowe, Marion Marlowe. He also refused to rehire Bill Lawrence when he returned from the Army. Jack French Editor: RADIO RECALL |
| Earl Schwartz | 12/19/2000 0 replies |
| Thank you I am crazy no more - You guys are terrific. There is someone who knows everything and all you have to do is find them. Regards and Happy holidays |
| Gordon Schlicke | 12/23/2000 0 replies |
| His singer was Julius LaRosa, whom he fired on air. |
| Gordon Schlicke | 12/23/2000 0 replies |
| Godfrey was also famous for ad libbing commercial messages. In one instance, he was reading a commercial for a clothing store which had a special on fur coats. He kidded the was it looked and thus started a career of ad libbing commercials. Incidentally, one of his writers was Andy Rooney. |
| Danny Goodwin | 2/28/2001 2 replies |
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After 1960, Godfrey didn't have a particular cast of regulars, but there was a cast that were on the daytime program from time to time. To name a few, Richard Hayes, Ethel Ennis, Linda Bennett, The Arbours (not sure of spelling), Max Marath (again not sure of spelling). The music was handled by Jerry Alters & The Godfrey Men.
For what its worth, on one of the final broadcasts of the series, Godfrey mentioned he had a hand in Hershey's Cocoa and other Hershey's Chocolate Products airing commercials for the first time in 1972. |
| Don Stoffel | 3/13/2001 1 replies |
| Danny, just noted your reference to "The Arbors" on the post-'60 Godfrey show. They were four young guys who had been members of the University of Michigan Glee Club (directed, by the way, by Phil Duey, who did a stint as a vocalist on several show in the 30's). U of M is, of course, located in Ann Arbor, hence the name. I was acquainted with two of four (Ed and Fred Farran, twins, who were terrific guys). |
| Danny Goodwin | 3/14/2001 0 replies |
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Don:
Thank you for the information. On the 1972 broadcasts I have, Godfrey mentioned the Arbors by their group name only, but didn't mention the members' names individually. It was interesting that you mentioned Phil Duey. When I want to listen to music, I usually put in my cassette tape of MANHATTAN MERRY-GO-ROUND and MONDAY MERRY-GO-ROUND, where he and Evelyn MacGregor sang several songs together. If there is a bad side of these 2 broadcasts, MANHATTAN MERRY-GO-ROUND was heard on December 7, 1941 and its MONDAY counterpart was heard the following evening. There were some patriotic messages and songs presented on both programs to boost morale at a low point in American history. Once again, thank you for the information and it will be includ |