Henry Morgan (born Henry Lerner Van Ost Jr.; March 31, 1915 â€" May
19, 1994) was an American humorist. He first became familiar to radio
audiences in the 1930s and 1940s as a barbed but often
self-deprecating satirist; in the 1950s and later, he was a regular
and cantankerous panelist on the game show I've Got a Secret as well
as other game and talk shows. Morgan was a second cousin of Broadway
lyricist and librettist Alan Jay Lerner.Morgan began his radio career
as a page at New York City station WMCA in 1932, after which he held a
number of obscure radio jobs, including announcing. He strenuously
objected to the professional name "Morgan" but was told that his birth
name of Van Ost was exotic and difficult to pronounce, despite the
fame of successful announcers Harry von Zell and Westbrook Van
Voorhis. This began a long history of Morgan's arguments with
executives.In 1940, Morgan was offered a daily 15-minute comedy series
on Mutual Broadcasting System's flagship station WOR, which he opened
almost invariably with "Good evening, anybody; here's Morgan."
19, 1994) was an American humorist. He first became familiar to radio
audiences in the 1930s and 1940s as a barbed but often
self-deprecating satirist; in the 1950s and later, he was a regular
and cantankerous panelist on the game show I've Got a Secret as well
as other game and talk shows. Morgan was a second cousin of Broadway
lyricist and librettist Alan Jay Lerner.Morgan began his radio career
as a page at New York City station WMCA in 1932, after which he held a
number of obscure radio jobs, including announcing. He strenuously
objected to the professional name "Morgan" but was told that his birth
name of Van Ost was exotic and difficult to pronounce, despite the
fame of successful announcers Harry von Zell and Westbrook Van
Voorhis. This began a long history of Morgan's arguments with
executives.In 1940, Morgan was offered a daily 15-minute comedy series
on Mutual Broadcasting System's flagship station WOR, which he opened
almost invariably with "Good evening, anybody; here's Morgan."
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