Jimmy Wallington
| Jimmy Wallington | |
|---|---|
 Wallington on the radio show Ask Hollywood. | |
| Birth name | James Wallington |
| Born |
September 15, 1907 Rochester, New York |
| Died |
December 22, 1972 (aged 65) Arlington, Virginia |
| Show | The Big Show, The Fred Allen Show/Texaco Star Theater, The Life of Riley |
| Station(s) | NBC, CBS |
| Style | Announcer |
| Country | United States |
James "Jimmy" Wallington (September 15, 1907 – December 22, 1972)[1] was an American radio personality.
After playing small roles in a few Hollywood films, he was the announcer for several popular radio shows in the 1940s and 1950s.
For his work on radio, Wallington has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6660 Hollywood Blvd.[2]
Biography
James Wallington was born in Rochester, New York on September 15, 1907.[1] He was the son of Lewis Eugene Wallington, of the Muskoka District, Ontario, Canada and Jane Whaley. Jimmy was married four times. His first wife was Stanislawa Butkiewicz. They were married in 1929 and divorced in Reno, Nevada on July 10, 1934. His second wife was Anita Fuhrmann. They were married on August 18, 1934 in Newark, New Jersey. Anita was one of the original members of the Radio City Rockettes. She died on May 7, 1935 in Brooklyn, New York. His third wife was Betty Jane Cooper. They were married on August 12, 1936 in Grosse Point, Michigan. His fourth wife was Erna Gilsow.
He was the announcer for several popular radio shows in the 1930s, 1940s and 1950s, including Texaco Star Theatre with Fred Allen (1941–44) and Texaco Town with Eddie Cantor. As with most announcers, Wallington would announce the program's star, then read the sponsor's commercials. In addition, he was often given comedy lines. When radio shows moved to television, he continued as a television announcer in the 1950s. (see the Filmography section)
After years as a radio announcer, he became a TV star in California doing Life Insurance and other commercials. He ended his professional radio career as a Voice of America radio announcer in the Worldwide English service.[3]
Wallington died at Arlington, Virginia on December 22, 1972.[1]
Filmography
Movies
- Joe Palooka in Triple Cross (1951) .... Himself[4]
- Hollywood Stadium Mystery (1938) .... Nick Nichols[4]
- Start Cheering (1938) .... Announcer[4]
Radio
- During August 1934 toured, with the Three X Sisters, Mary Small, and other entertainer's, as NBC radio personality at the famous Steel Pier music hot spot.
- The Alan Young Show ... himself - announcer[5]
- The Big Show (1950–1951) .... Himself - Announcer[6]
- The Life of Riley (1949–1951) .... Himself - Announcer[1]
- Screen Director's Playhouse (1949–1951) .... Himself - Announcer
- Stranger Than Fiction (1934–1939) .... Himself - Announcer[1]
- The Fred Allen Show (1940s) .... Himself - Announcer[3]
- The Martin and Lewis Show (1949–51) . . . Himself - Announcer[3]
Announcer NBC radio mid-1930s https://www.myspace.com/my/photos/photo/22962106/ Jimmy Wallington radio NBC
Television
- Panic (1958) .... Radio Announcer (1 episode)[1]
- Toast of the Town (1955) .... Himself (1 episode)[1]
- This Is Your Life (1954) .... Himself (1 episode)[1]
- The Colgate Comedy Hour (1951–1953) .... Himself - Announcer[1][7]
References
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Wallington, Jimmy. "The Internet Movie Database". Retrieved 2007-11-25.
- ↑ Wallington, Jimmy. "Hollywood Walk of Fame Directory". Archived from the original on 2007-10-19. Retrieved 2007-11-25.
- 1 2 3 Wallington, Jimmy. "Old Radio Forums". Retrieved 2007-11-25.
- 1 2 3 Wallington, Jimmy. "NY Times Filmography". The New York Times. Archived from the original on May 19, 2011. Retrieved 2007-11-25.
- ↑ Sies, Luther F. (2014). Encyclopedia of American Radio, 1920-1960, 2nd Edition, Volume 1. McFarland & Company, Inc. ISBN 978-0-7864-5149-4. P. 16.
- ↑ Wallington, Jimmy. "Premier Collections - The Big Show Volume 1". Retrieved 2007-11-25.
- ↑ Stiller, Jerry. "Stiller Mania - Chapter 12 "Seeing Eddie Cantor"". Retrieved 2007-11-25.