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Ken Niles
Ken Niles
Ken Niles
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Ken Niles (December 9, 1906 – October 31, 1988) was an American radio announcer. Niles was born in Livingston, Montana.

Key Information

Niles debuted in radio on KJR in Seattle, Washington, late in the 1920s.[2] He began a series of original radio dramas called Theater of the Mind in 1928.[3][4] Niles subsequently narrated, or served as announcer, in several other feature films. His most notable film role was the murdered lawyer Leonard Eels in Out of the Past (1947) with Robert Mitchum.

Niles also served as commercial announcer and foil for Bing Crosby in the Bing Crosby Entertains series (1933-1935) and also on several series sponsored by Camel Cigarettes, notably The Abbott and Costello Show.[5] Niles was frequently paired in comedy skits opposite Elvia Allman as his fictitious wife, "Mrs. Niles". He was also the announcer for The Amazing Mrs. Danberry.[6]

For his work in radio, he received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame,[3] as did his brother, making them the first brothers to be so honored. Ken Niles' star is at 6711 Hollywood Boulevard, in the Radio section. It was dedicated February 8, 1960.[7]

Family

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He was married to Nadia Niles, and had two children, Kenneth Niles and Denise Niles.[8] His elder brother, Wendell Niles, was also a radio announcer.[9]

Filmography

[edit]
Year Title Role Notes
1937 Hollywood Hotel Ken Niles
1938 Men Are Such Fools Bill Uncredited
1939 Sweepstakes Winner First Radio Announcer Uncredited
1941 Harmon of Michigan Ken Niles
1943 Hit Parade of 1943 Announcer Uncredited
1943 Shantytown Radio Announcer Uncredited
1944 Lady, Let's Dance Announcer
1945 Swingin' on a Rainbow New York City Radio Announcer Uncredited
1946 The Inner Circle Ken - Radio Announcer
1947 Magic Town Reporter Uncredited
1947 Out of the Past Eels
1948 You Were Meant for Me Narrator Voice, Uncredited
1949 My Friend Irma Radio Contest Announcer Uncredited
1951 The Fat Man Dr. Henry Bromley D.D.S. Uncredited
1956 NBC Matinee Theater Episode: "The Young and the Damned"
1962 The Donna Reed Show Professor Earnshaw Episode: "Explorer's Ten"
1968 The Bob Hope Show 1 episode, (final appearance)

References

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Ken Niles

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''Ken Niles'' is an American radio announcer known for his pioneering contributions to early radio broadcasting, including the creation of one of the first original radio drama series and his role as a prominent announcer on major programs during the medium's golden age. In 1928, Niles launched "Theater of the Mind," a groundbreaking series of original live radio dramas that helped shape the format of early broadcast entertainment. His voice became familiar to millions of listeners through his announcing work on popular shows such as The Abbott and Costello Show, The Life of Riley, Take It or Leave It, The Bing Crosby Show, Beulah, The Camel Caravan, The Danny Kaye Show, and Kay Kyser's Kollege of Musical Knowledge. He frequently collaborated on air with his brother, fellow broadcaster Wendell Niles. Niles began his radio career in the late 1920s at KJR in Seattle, Washington, and his professional span extended through the 1940s. He also made occasional appearances as an actor in films, including Out of the Past and My Friend Irma. In recognition of his impact on radio, he received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Born in Livingston, Montana, on December 9, 1906, Niles died on October 31, 1988, in Santa Monica, California.

Early life

Birth and family background

Ken Niles was born on December 9, 1906, in Livingston, Montana, USA. While attending the University of Washington, Niles played saxophone and worked at Seattle radio stations, including KJR. He was the brother of Wendell Niles, who also pursued a career as a radio announcer. Ken had two other brothers, Russell and Donald, and a sister, Grace. The brothers Ken and Wendell both received stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in the Radio category, with Ken's star at 6711 Hollywood Boulevard and Wendell's at 1725 Vine Street, both dedicated on February 8, 1960. They have been described as the first brothers to be so honored.

Radio career

Pioneering work in radio drama

Ken Niles began his broadcasting career in the late 1920s in Washington State at KJR in Seattle. He pioneered early radio drama by creating and producing the original series Theater of the Mind in 1928, which featured scripted dramatic presentations and played an important role in the development of radio drama during the 1920s. Niles later served as a producer and announcer for the Don Lee Network, a regional West Coast network that was subsequently acquired by CBS. By 1930, he had relocated to KHJ in Los Angeles, where he took on responsibilities as drama coach in addition to announcing duties, and by 1933 he had advanced to chief announcer at the station. His early contributions established him as a pioneer broadcaster focused on dramatic programming in radio's formative years on the West Coast. In the mid-1930s, Niles produced and co-hosted the variety program Hollywood Hotel with Louella Parsons before transitioning toward broader network announcing roles.

Announcing roles on major programs

Ken Niles achieved significant recognition as a network radio announcer during the 1930s and 1940s, becoming a staple on major sponsored programs where he delivered commercials and often participated in comic sketches as a foil or straight man. One of his early prominent roles came as the commercial announcer and comic foil for Bing Crosby on "Bing Crosby Entertains" from 1933 to 1935. He frequently appeared on Camel Cigarettes-sponsored programs, including as announcer on "The Abbott and Costello Show," where he served as a straight man and comic foil in sketches, often interacting in recurring bits with Elvia Allman portraying "Mrs. Niles" and enduring Lou Costello's insults. Niles was the announcer for "The Life of Riley" on ABC from 1943 to 1949. He also announced the popular quiz program "Take It or Leave It," best known for its challenging "$64 question." His credits extended to other major shows such as "Beulah," "The Camel Caravan," "The Danny Kaye Show," "Kay Kyser's Kollege of Musical Knowledge," "Big Town," "The Fred Allen Show," and "The Eddie Cantor Show," where he handled sponsor announcements and occasionally joined in light comic sketches.

Film and television work

On-screen credits and narration

Ken Niles made limited but distinctive appearances on screen, often in roles as announcers or narrators that echoed his primary career in radio. His most notable acting performance came as Leonard Eels, the murdered lawyer whose death propels the central mystery, in the acclaimed film noir Out of the Past (1947). He also appeared in Hollywood Hotel (1937) credited as Ken Niles, reflecting his real-life association with the radio program that inspired the film. In Lady, Let's Dance (1944), he played an announcer. Niles took on various uncredited supporting parts as well, including a reporter in Magic Town (1947) and a radio contest announcer in My Friend Irma (1949). His television credits were sparse, consisting of guest roles such as Professor Earnshaw in a 1962 episode of The Donna Reed Show and an appearance on Matinee Theatre in 1956. These on-screen opportunities arose from his established reputation as a radio announcer, though they remained secondary to his audio work.

Personal life

Marriage, children, and sibling

Ken Niles was married to Nadia Niles, who was also a radio announcer. The couple worked together professionally, appearing as announcers on the CBS Radio program Big Town in Hollywood, California, in October 1940, with contemporary captions identifying them as Mr. and Mrs. Niles. They had two children, a son named Ken Niles Jr. and a daughter named Denise Niles. Niles was the brother of Wendell Niles, a prominent radio and television announcer, and the siblings maintained family ties while sharing a career in broadcasting. At the time of Ken Niles' death in 1988, he was survived by his wife Nadia, his son, his daughter, four grandchildren, his brother Wendell, two other brothers, and a sister, among other family members.

Later years and retirement

Transition away from broadcasting

In the years following his most active period in radio drama and announcing, Ken Niles gradually reduced his involvement in broadcasting. He retired from regular broadcasting duties to concentrate on managing a marina complex he owned on Balboa Island in Newport Beach, California. This shift marked a deliberate move away from the entertainment industry toward business ventures in his later career. He made occasional guest appearances on television during the 1950s and 1960s, though these were limited compared to his earlier prolific work in radio and narration. These sporadic roles represented the last traces of his on-screen presence before fully stepping away from performing and announcing.

Death and legacy

Passing and posthumous recognition

Ken Niles died on October 31, 1988, in Santa Monica, California, at the age of 81. In recognition of his pioneering contributions to radio, Niles received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in the Radio category at 6711 Hollywood Boulevard, dedicated on February 8, 1960. He was celebrated as a pioneer announcer and the creator of "Theater of the Mind," one of the earliest series of original live radio dramas in the 1920s. Niles and his brother Wendell Niles were the first brothers to both receive stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
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