House Baker Jameson (December 17, 1902 â€" April 23, 1971) was an
American actor in the era of old-time radio and early
television.Jameson was a native of Austin, Texas. He was named for
Edward M. House, a political figure who was a friend of the family. He
graduated from Columbia University. Jameson said that he knew at age 5
that he wanted to be an actor, when an aunt, who raised him after his
father died, took him to see a performance of The Shepherd King.
Jameson told TV Guide that after the family returned home, he
"absolutely refused to go to bed until the family rustled up some
costumes and re-enacted the play."Jameson broke into radio in the
early 1930s, as an announcer with WEVD. Jameson admired a WEVD
announcer named Roland Bradley in Chicago, and wrote him a letter
telling him so. This led to a friendship and an invitation to
occasionally pinch-hit as an announcer. Bradley left WEVD, and in
1934, Jameson was named chief announcer and dramatic director.Jameson
soon became known for his leading roles in Renfrew of the Mounted and
Crime Doctor. Renfrew was an adventure story based on the novels and
stories by Laurie York Erskine, and was aimed at a juvenile audience.
Jameson played Inspector Douglas Renfrew, a Canadian Mountie, from
1936 to 1940. The show was so popular at one point that, after a
single offer of a photograph of Jameson in full Renfrew regalia, it
received 17,000 requests. In an episode of Behind the Mike, Jameson
recounted the case of a boy who recovered from a serious illness after
receiving a telegram and an autographed photo from "Renfrew." The
boy's brother had contacted Jameson at home to ask for his assistance.
American actor in the era of old-time radio and early
television.Jameson was a native of Austin, Texas. He was named for
Edward M. House, a political figure who was a friend of the family. He
graduated from Columbia University. Jameson said that he knew at age 5
that he wanted to be an actor, when an aunt, who raised him after his
father died, took him to see a performance of The Shepherd King.
Jameson told TV Guide that after the family returned home, he
"absolutely refused to go to bed until the family rustled up some
costumes and re-enacted the play."Jameson broke into radio in the
early 1930s, as an announcer with WEVD. Jameson admired a WEVD
announcer named Roland Bradley in Chicago, and wrote him a letter
telling him so. This led to a friendship and an invitation to
occasionally pinch-hit as an announcer. Bradley left WEVD, and in
1934, Jameson was named chief announcer and dramatic director.Jameson
soon became known for his leading roles in Renfrew of the Mounted and
Crime Doctor. Renfrew was an adventure story based on the novels and
stories by Laurie York Erskine, and was aimed at a juvenile audience.
Jameson played Inspector Douglas Renfrew, a Canadian Mountie, from
1936 to 1940. The show was so popular at one point that, after a
single offer of a photograph of Jameson in full Renfrew regalia, it
received 17,000 requests. In an episode of Behind the Mike, Jameson
recounted the case of a boy who recovered from a serious illness after
receiving a telegram and an autographed photo from "Renfrew." The
boy's brother had contacted Jameson at home to ask for his assistance.
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