Sally Starr (January 25, 1923 â€" January 27, 2013) was a prominent
1950s celebrity television personality. Using a cowgirl persona, she
appealed to local TV audiences of several generations of children
through American radio, Broadway stage, movies and as a recording
artist for over 60 years. Fans remained loyal in the Philadelphia
metropolitan area (referred to locally as the Delaware Valley), and
embraced her cowgirl personality as part of their own family identity,
and sometimes referred to her as "Aunt Sally" or "Our Gal Sal."Her
numerous personal appearances at events were an attraction for both
children and adults. She was considered not only a character
personality, but also a total performer. She became the first
top-rated female DJ in the country, and worked as announcer, writer
and producer while also appearing on stage and in movies. Sally Starr
established herself as a pioneer in the history of early broadcast TV
and radio in the United States.Starr was born Alleen Mae Beller in
Kansas City, Missouri, and legally changed her name to Starr in 1941.
She was the second oldest of five girls. Her parents, Charles and
Bertha Beller, encouraged her to enter the world of show business, for
which she exhibited both talent and ambition. At the age of 12 years,
she and her sister Mildred, billed as the "Little Missouri Maids,"
made their debut on a CBS radio program titled "Brush Creek
Follies".Her broadcast and entertainment career began with creation of
the character of a blonde cowgirl who hosted an afternoon children's
program for Philadelphia station WFIL-TV (now WPVI) from the 1950s to
1971. Her program was usually known as Popeye Theater or a variation,
which presented Popeye cartoons and Three Stooges shorts. She was also
briefly the host of Starr Theater, which ran after Popeye Theater, and
presented a cowboy movie. The program ran from the 1950s through 1971.
She hosted a number of guest visitors including the Three Stooges and
Colonel Sanders, plus local legends Dick Clark and Chief Halftown.
1950s celebrity television personality. Using a cowgirl persona, she
appealed to local TV audiences of several generations of children
through American radio, Broadway stage, movies and as a recording
artist for over 60 years. Fans remained loyal in the Philadelphia
metropolitan area (referred to locally as the Delaware Valley), and
embraced her cowgirl personality as part of their own family identity,
and sometimes referred to her as "Aunt Sally" or "Our Gal Sal."Her
numerous personal appearances at events were an attraction for both
children and adults. She was considered not only a character
personality, but also a total performer. She became the first
top-rated female DJ in the country, and worked as announcer, writer
and producer while also appearing on stage and in movies. Sally Starr
established herself as a pioneer in the history of early broadcast TV
and radio in the United States.Starr was born Alleen Mae Beller in
Kansas City, Missouri, and legally changed her name to Starr in 1941.
She was the second oldest of five girls. Her parents, Charles and
Bertha Beller, encouraged her to enter the world of show business, for
which she exhibited both talent and ambition. At the age of 12 years,
she and her sister Mildred, billed as the "Little Missouri Maids,"
made their debut on a CBS radio program titled "Brush Creek
Follies".Her broadcast and entertainment career began with creation of
the character of a blonde cowgirl who hosted an afternoon children's
program for Philadelphia station WFIL-TV (now WPVI) from the 1950s to
1971. Her program was usually known as Popeye Theater or a variation,
which presented Popeye cartoons and Three Stooges shorts. She was also
briefly the host of Starr Theater, which ran after Popeye Theater, and
presented a cowboy movie. The program ran from the 1950s through 1971.
She hosted a number of guest visitors including the Three Stooges and
Colonel Sanders, plus local legends Dick Clark and Chief Halftown.
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