Ken Carpenter

 Ken Carpenter

Ken Carpenter was a prominent announcer for many Old Time Radio shows such as the Al Jolson Show from 1947 until 1949. He was also the announcer for actor and entertainer, Bing Crosby for 27 years – Carpenter’s best known role.

Carpenter was always a huge fan of radio and moved to Hollywood, California in1929 to pursue a career. His big break came in the form of being hired in 1932 as an announcer for KFI Radio. In his role as an announcer for the station, he called football games for colleges on the Pacific Coast such as UCLA and USC. He also announced Rose Bowl games.

Ken kept this job until 1938 when he moved into a position as colorman for Bill Stern of NBC. He continued to announce Rose Bowl games, which made him better known to other stations and clients from coast to coast.

Carpenter became a popular announcer, and in 1936, he had the opportunity to host the popular Kraft Music Hall variety show, hosted by Bing Crosby, who referred to Carpenter as the man with the golden voice.

Three Sheets to the Wind was a comedy mystery that debuted in 1942 and Helga Moray was cast as Joan Lockwood in the British Intelligence. John Wayne played the part of Dan O’Brien and Ken Carpenter announced the show, which was based on the film, SOS Iceberg.

The show followed the luxury liner, Empress, on her journey from Southampton, England as she docked in such exotic locations as Alexandria, Egypt. Murders and intrigue follow the crew and passengers on the ship and Lockwood attempted to solve the mysteries.

Carpenter was also the announcer for Lux Radio Theater in its later years from 1952 until 1957. Lux Radio Theater was a very popular radio series based on films that were showing during that era.

The Life of Riley hired Ken Carpenter to be an announcer on the radio series and he was also featured as an announcer on The Great Gildersleeve, The Chase and Sanborn Program that starred Edgar Bergen and Charlie McCarthy, The Spike Jones Show, Philco Radio Time and many episodes of Command Performance.

After retirement, Carpenter spent the rest of his life in Los Angeles until he died after a brief illness. He was survived by his son, Ronald, wife, Betty, four grandchildren and five great grandchildren.

Carpenter was born on August 21, 1900 and passed away on October 16, 1984 after a stellar career for 27 years as an announcer for both radio and television.

Happy listening my friends,