Harry Rudolph von Zell (July 11, 1906 â€" November 21, 1981) was an
American announcer of radio programs, and an actor in films and
television shows. He is best remembered for his work on The George
Burns and Gracie Allen Show, and for once mispronouncing President
Herbert Hoover's name on the air, a slip that was exaggerated on a
later comedy record album.Harry von Zell was born July 11, 1906, in
Indianapolis, Indiana, the first of Iva Clara (née Gohn) (1889-1932)
and Harry Adolph (1887-1963) Von Zell's two children. Von Zell's
father was a sports reporter for the Indianapolis Star. The family
moved to Sioux City, Iowa, where von Zell graduated from high school.
Later, the family moved to California, where he studied music and
drama at the University of California, Los Angeles, and worked at a
variety of jobs. After friends tricked him into singing on a radio
program, he began receiving offers from radio stations, and his career
in that medium began.Von Zell broke into show business as a singer and
announcer at radio station KMIC in Inglewood, California, in the
mid-1920s. In late 1926, von Zell sang on the "Times de Luxe Program"
on KHJ in Los Angeles, and was eventually employed as the manager of
KMTR Los Angeles,, moving to KGB San Diego in January 1929.
Auditioning for Paul Whiteman's radio show later that year, he was
chosen from a field of 250 announcers. When that series came to an end
in 1930, he headed for New York and became a CBS staff announcer,
working with Fred Allen, Phil Baker, Eddy Duchin and Ed Wynn. He also
announced for The Aldrich Family, The Amazing Mr. Smith, and The March
of Time. During the 1920s and 1930s, von Zell served as announcer on
some 20 shows a week.His longest-running radio partnership was his
nine seasons with veteran comedian Eddie Cantor. From October, 1940 to
June, 1949 von Zell served as Cantor's commercial spokesperson and
straight man. Then, as Cantor cast member Dinah Shore's solo career
began to blossom, she brought von Zell in as announcer on her Birds
Eye Open House program.
American announcer of radio programs, and an actor in films and
television shows. He is best remembered for his work on The George
Burns and Gracie Allen Show, and for once mispronouncing President
Herbert Hoover's name on the air, a slip that was exaggerated on a
later comedy record album.Harry von Zell was born July 11, 1906, in
Indianapolis, Indiana, the first of Iva Clara (née Gohn) (1889-1932)
and Harry Adolph (1887-1963) Von Zell's two children. Von Zell's
father was a sports reporter for the Indianapolis Star. The family
moved to Sioux City, Iowa, where von Zell graduated from high school.
Later, the family moved to California, where he studied music and
drama at the University of California, Los Angeles, and worked at a
variety of jobs. After friends tricked him into singing on a radio
program, he began receiving offers from radio stations, and his career
in that medium began.Von Zell broke into show business as a singer and
announcer at radio station KMIC in Inglewood, California, in the
mid-1920s. In late 1926, von Zell sang on the "Times de Luxe Program"
on KHJ in Los Angeles, and was eventually employed as the manager of
KMTR Los Angeles,, moving to KGB San Diego in January 1929.
Auditioning for Paul Whiteman's radio show later that year, he was
chosen from a field of 250 announcers. When that series came to an end
in 1930, he headed for New York and became a CBS staff announcer,
working with Fred Allen, Phil Baker, Eddy Duchin and Ed Wynn. He also
announced for The Aldrich Family, The Amazing Mr. Smith, and The March
of Time. During the 1920s and 1930s, von Zell served as announcer on
some 20 shows a week.His longest-running radio partnership was his
nine seasons with veteran comedian Eddie Cantor. From October, 1940 to
June, 1949 von Zell served as Cantor's commercial spokesperson and
straight man. Then, as Cantor cast member Dinah Shore's solo career
began to blossom, she brought von Zell in as announcer on her Birds
Eye Open House program.
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