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Harry von Zell
Harry Rudolph von Zell (July 11, 1906 – 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.
Harry von Zell was born July 11, 1906, in Indianapolis, Indiana, the elder child of Iva Clara (née Gohn) and Harry Adolph von Zell. 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 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.
As a young announcer, von Zell made a memorable verbal slip in 1931 when he referred to then U.S. President Herbert Hoover as "Hoobert Heever" during a live tribute on Hoover's birthday. Hoover was not present at this tribute. Von Zell's blooper came at the end of a lengthy summation of Hoover's career, during which von Zell had pronounced the President's name correctly several times. Some mistakenly believe Hoover was present when the incident occurred, because of a re-enactment fabricated by Kermit Schafer for his Pardon My Blooper record album, a number of years later.
Von Zell was the vocalist for the first recording session of Charlie Barnet's musical career. A session on October 9, 1933, has von Zell singing, "I Want You, I Need You" (which was remade on October 25, 1933), as well as "What Is Sweeter (Than the Sweetness of 'I Love You')?".
In 1941, von Zell sang on NBC's popular "jam session" program The Chamber Music Society of Lower Basin Street. He and three other staff announcers became an impromptu barbershop quartet, with von Zell offering commentary in a florid, Victorian style.
As an actor, von Zell appeared on The Joan Davis Show as the love interest of the character played by Verna Felton. When he entered a room, Felton would often shout excitedly, "Why, Mr. von Zellllllllllll!" After this, von Zell headlined his short-lived radio program, The Smiths of Hollywood, which featured Arthur Treacher and Jan Ford (who would later become Howard Hughes' paramour under the name Terry Moore).
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Harry von Zell
Harry Rudolph von Zell (July 11, 1906 – 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.
Harry von Zell was born July 11, 1906, in Indianapolis, Indiana, the elder child of Iva Clara (née Gohn) and Harry Adolph von Zell. 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 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.
As a young announcer, von Zell made a memorable verbal slip in 1931 when he referred to then U.S. President Herbert Hoover as "Hoobert Heever" during a live tribute on Hoover's birthday. Hoover was not present at this tribute. Von Zell's blooper came at the end of a lengthy summation of Hoover's career, during which von Zell had pronounced the President's name correctly several times. Some mistakenly believe Hoover was present when the incident occurred, because of a re-enactment fabricated by Kermit Schafer for his Pardon My Blooper record album, a number of years later.
Von Zell was the vocalist for the first recording session of Charlie Barnet's musical career. A session on October 9, 1933, has von Zell singing, "I Want You, I Need You" (which was remade on October 25, 1933), as well as "What Is Sweeter (Than the Sweetness of 'I Love You')?".
In 1941, von Zell sang on NBC's popular "jam session" program The Chamber Music Society of Lower Basin Street. He and three other staff announcers became an impromptu barbershop quartet, with von Zell offering commentary in a florid, Victorian style.
As an actor, von Zell appeared on The Joan Davis Show as the love interest of the character played by Verna Felton. When he entered a room, Felton would often shout excitedly, "Why, Mr. von Zellllllllllll!" After this, von Zell headlined his short-lived radio program, The Smiths of Hollywood, which featured Arthur Treacher and Jan Ford (who would later become Howard Hughes' paramour under the name Terry Moore).