Tony Marvin (October 5, 1912 â€" October 10, 1998) was an American
radio and television announcer. He became a staff announcer for CBS,
and later became most known as the long-time announcer for Arthur
Godfrey.Marvin was born on October 5, 1912. A graduate of Erasmus Hall
High School, he nearly became a doctor, graduating from St. John's
University and attending the Long Island College of Medicine for two
years. However, the Great Depression intervened, and he had to drop
out to help to support his family. Marvin's obituary in the New York
Times noted that "his big break" came during the latter job. It said,
"As he serviced a limousine, the owner heard him singing and offered
to pay for a vocal teacher for him The result was a scholarship for a
year's study with an MGM voice coach." From that training, Marvin
performed with the New York Operatic Guild and in some theatrical
light comedies.Marvin's first job in radio was at WNYC in New York
City. From there, he went to CBS as a staff announcer, beginning
October 1, 1939. A 1959 article in Radio and Television Mirror
reported that at CBS "Tony did everything from daytime serials to
symphonies and in 1946, when the Arthur Godfrey morning show was
sustaining, Tony was assigned to it." When Godfrey's activities
expanded from Arthur Godfrey Time to include Arthur Godfrey's Talent
Scouts and Arthur Godfrey and his Friends, Marvin did the announcing
for those shows as well. Other radio shows for which Marvin was
announcer included Casey, Crime Photographer, The Sparrow and the
Hawk, Columbia Workshop, This Life Is Mine, Major Bowes Amateur Hour,
Vox Pop, Radie Harris, Winner Take All and Stage Door Canteen.Godfrey
at times stirred controversy with his firing of his show's personnel.
Marvin was the last of Godfrey's supporting players to go. He had been
with Godfrey 12 years when he learned in 1959 that Godfrey would not
need an announcer for the coming year. An Associated Press story in
The Miami News reported: "The TV and radio star said his new program
will be very informal and he will handle all the commercials himself.
Godfrey told Marvin he regretted their association had to end and
thanked him for his services." Marvin's departure was widely perceived
as a more amicable parting than Godfrey's previous dismissals of cast
members, which were often abrupt.
radio and television announcer. He became a staff announcer for CBS,
and later became most known as the long-time announcer for Arthur
Godfrey.Marvin was born on October 5, 1912. A graduate of Erasmus Hall
High School, he nearly became a doctor, graduating from St. John's
University and attending the Long Island College of Medicine for two
years. However, the Great Depression intervened, and he had to drop
out to help to support his family. Marvin's obituary in the New York
Times noted that "his big break" came during the latter job. It said,
"As he serviced a limousine, the owner heard him singing and offered
to pay for a vocal teacher for him The result was a scholarship for a
year's study with an MGM voice coach." From that training, Marvin
performed with the New York Operatic Guild and in some theatrical
light comedies.Marvin's first job in radio was at WNYC in New York
City. From there, he went to CBS as a staff announcer, beginning
October 1, 1939. A 1959 article in Radio and Television Mirror
reported that at CBS "Tony did everything from daytime serials to
symphonies and in 1946, when the Arthur Godfrey morning show was
sustaining, Tony was assigned to it." When Godfrey's activities
expanded from Arthur Godfrey Time to include Arthur Godfrey's Talent
Scouts and Arthur Godfrey and his Friends, Marvin did the announcing
for those shows as well. Other radio shows for which Marvin was
announcer included Casey, Crime Photographer, The Sparrow and the
Hawk, Columbia Workshop, This Life Is Mine, Major Bowes Amateur Hour,
Vox Pop, Radie Harris, Winner Take All and Stage Door Canteen.Godfrey
at times stirred controversy with his firing of his show's personnel.
Marvin was the last of Godfrey's supporting players to go. He had been
with Godfrey 12 years when he learned in 1959 that Godfrey would not
need an announcer for the coming year. An Associated Press story in
The Miami News reported: "The TV and radio star said his new program
will be very informal and he will handle all the commercials himself.
Godfrey told Marvin he regretted their association had to end and
thanked him for his services." Marvin's departure was widely perceived
as a more amicable parting than Godfrey's previous dismissals of cast
members, which were often abrupt.
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