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Wendell Niles

Show Count: 61
Series Count: 7
Role: Old Time Radio Star
Old Time Radio
Born: December 29, 1904, Twin Valley, Minnesota, USA
Died: March 28, 1994, Toluca Lake, California, USA

Wendell Niles (December 29, 1904 – March 28, 1994) was one of the great announcers of the American golden age of radio. He was an announcer on such shows as The Bob Hope Show, The Burns & Allen Show, The Milton Berle Show and The Chase and Sanborn Hour . On February 15, 1950, Wendell starred in the radio pilot for The Adventures of the Scarlet Cloak along with Gerald Mohr.

He began in entertainment by touring in the 1920s with his own orchestra, playing with the Dorsey Brothers and Bix Beiderbecke.

Niles moved to Los Angeles, California, in 1935 to join George Burns and Gracie Allen.

He and his brother, Ken, developed one of the first radio dramas, which eventually became Theatre of the Mind.

He toured with Bob Hope during World War II and narrated a 1936 Academy Award-winning short film on the life of tennis great Bill Tilden.

Among his film credits is Knute Rockne, All American with Ronald Reagan.

Niles was also the original announcer for Let's Make a Deal during that show's first season in 1963 and 1964; he was later replaced by Jay Stewart.

Wendell and his brother Ken Niles are the first brothers to have stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

He died of cancer in his Toluca Lake home at the age of 89.

 

Source: Wikipedia

 

Adventure of the Scarlet CloakAdventure of the Scarlet Cloak
Show Count: 1
Broadcast History: 1950
Cast: Wendell Niles
Bob Hope ShowBob Hope Show
Show Count: 47
Broadcast History: 4 January 1935 to 5 April 1935, 14 September 1935 to 3 September 1936, 9 May 1937 to 26 September 1937, 8 December 1937 to 23 March 1938, 27 September 1938 to 8 June 1948, 14 September 1948 to 13 June 1950, and 3 October 1950 to 21 April 1955
Sponsor: Emerson Drug Company, Bromo Seltzer, Atlantic Oil, Lucky Strike, Swan Soap, American Dairy, General Foods, Woodbury Soap
Cast: Bob Hope, James Melton, Jane Froman, Patricia Wilder, Frank Parker, Jerry Colonna, Blanche Stewart, Elvia Allman, Doris Day, Frances Langford, Barbara Jo Allen, Stan Kenton, Skinnay Ennis, Desi Arnaz, Les Brown
Director: Bill Lawrence, Norman Morrell, Bob Stephenson, Al Capstaff
Producer: Bill Lawrence, Norman Morrell, Bob Stephenson, Al Capstaff
Hollywood Star PlayhouseHollywood Star Playhouse
Show Count: 18
Broadcast History: April 24th, 1950 - February 15th, 1953
Cast: James Stewart, Deborah Kerr, Harry Bartell, William Conrad
Director: Jack Johnstone
Producer: Robert Ryan
Host: Herbert Rawlinson, Orval Anderson
Hollywood Star Playhouse, a drama anthology, was directed by Jack Johnstone and starred such mega actors as James Stewart, Deborah Kerr, Harry Bartell and William Conrad.
Man Called X, TheMan Called X, The
Show Count: 96
Broadcast History: July 1944 to Sept 1948 and Oct 1950 to May 1952
Sponsor: General Motors, Frigidaire
Cast: Herbert Marshall, William Conrad, Lawrence Dobkin, Cathy Lewis, Harry Lang, Peter Leeds, Leon Belasco
Director: Jack Johnstone
Broadcast: November 10, 1946
Added: Nov 15 2015
Broadcast: November 24, 1946
Added: Nov 22 2015
Broadcast: 29th May 1950
Added: Jun 14 2013