Frank Parker (singer)
Frank Parker | |
|---|---|
Parker on Bride and Groom in 1957 | |
| Born | April 29, 1903 |
| Died | (aged 95) |
| Nationality | American |
| Other names | Frank Ciccio |
| Occupation(s) | Singer, radio and television personality |
Frank Parker (April 29, 1903 – January 10, 1999)[1] was an American singer and radio and television personality.[1]
Early years
[edit]Parker was born Frank Ciccio on April 29, 1903[1][2] in New York City.[1] He was a graduate of the Milan Conservatory of music,[3] and was a dancer in a stage production of Little Nellie Kelly.[4]
Bands
[edit]Parker began his singing career as a tenor in 1926 and appeared with Harry Horlick's orchestra in 1933.[5]
Radio
[edit]Parker debuted on radio as a substitute singer on The Eveready Hour,[4] and he was a regular on radio and television in the 1930s, 1940s and 1950s with personalities including Jack Benny, George Burns and Arthur Godfrey.[1]
1930s
[edit]An October 30, 1930, newspaper listing shows Parker singing on the Van Heusen Program on WABC in New York City.[6] Also, in the early 1930s, he was a featured singer with Donald Voorhees and his orchestra on the Bond Sunshine Program on WEAF in New York City.[7]
Parker's tenure with Benny ended in the fall of 1935. When Michael Bartlett replaced Parker on the program, a newspaper article noted: "[Benny] turned Frank Parker into a tenor with a keen sense of humor ... Frank Parker asks $3,000 a week from theatrical booking agents, and usually gets it."[8]
Beginning September 14, 1935, he had his own program, That Atlantic Family on Tour, with Frank Parker, which was heard on 36 CBS stations.[9]
In September and October 1936, Parker and Ramona (no last name printed) were featured on a 15-minute weekly program on WEAF in New York City and WMAQ in Chicago.[10] Beginning June 30, 1937, Parker teamed with Andre Kostelanetz and his orchestra on CBS in a summer replacement program sponsored by Chesterfield cigarettes.[11]
1940s
[edit]In the early 1940s, he sang with Andre Kostelanetz on broadcasts over WABC in New York City.[12] He was the featured male singer on Your Home Front Reporter,[13] which was broadcast on CBS in 1943.[14]
In 1949, the Teleways company advertised "156 brilliant 15 minute musical programs," episodes of the Frank Parker Show, that were available to radio stations via transcription.[15]
Television
[edit]Parker was the host of the 1950s TV show Bride and Groom and a panelist on Masquerade Party.[1] The 1950s saw Parker become a member of the Little Godfreys cast of singers on Arthur Godfrey Time and Arthur Godfrey and His Friends until around 1956. Parker had known Godfrey since the 1930s.
Film
[edit]Parker appeared in several movies including Romance in the Rain (1934), Sweet Surrender (1935) and Paris Follies of 1956.[1]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1934 | Romance in the Rain | Master of Ceremonies | |
| 1934 | Transatlantic Merry-Go-Round | Himself - Tenor Singer | |
| 1935 | Sweet Surrender | Danny O'Day | |
| 1955 | Paris Follies of 1956 | Himself | (final film role) |
Death
[edit]Parker died at the age of 95 on January 10, 1999, in Titusville, Florida.[1] His hobbies included golf, polo, and reading.[3]
Legacy
[edit]He has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6821 Hollywood Boulevard.[1]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e f g h i "Hollywood Star Walk - Frank Parker". Los Angeles Times. June 8, 1956.
- ^ DeLong, Thomas A. (1996). Radio Stars: An Illustrated Biographical Dictionary of 953 Performers, 1920 through 1960. McFarland & Company, Inc. ISBN 978-0-7864-2834-2. Pp. 209-210.
- ^ a b "Wednesday's Highlights" (PDF). Radio and Television Mirror. 14 (1): 48. May 1940. Retrieved 27 February 2015.
- ^ a b "Frank Parker Is Featured in Capitol Bill". Pennsylvania, Shamokin. Shamokin News-Dispatch. February 17, 1936. p. 9. Retrieved November 20, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Frank Parker with Harry Horlick on YouTube, 1933
- ^ "860K--WABC--349M". New York, Brooklyn. The Brooklyn Daily Eagle. October 30, 1930. p. 12. Retrieved November 21, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "(radio listing)". New York, Brooklyn. The Brooklyn Daily Eagle. April 30, 1931. p. 25. Retrieved November 19, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Robert, Bernes (October 6, 1935). "The Radio Reporter". California, Oakland. Oakland Tribune. p. Screen & Radio Weekly, p. 86. Retrieved November 20, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Network Accounts" (PDF). Broadcasting. September 15, 1935. p. 39. Retrieved 12 January 2016.
- ^ "Special Drene Hookup" (PDF). Broadcasting. August 15, 1936. p. 59. Retrieved 12 January 2016.
- ^ "Frank Parker and Alice Faye to Join Cigaret Program". Texas, Pampa. Pampa Daily News. June 15, 1937. p. 7. Retrieved November 20, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "(radio listing)". Pennsylvania, Mount Carmel. Mount Carmel Item. April 4, 1942. p. 7. Retrieved November 19, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ ""Home Front Reporter" Starts Monday". Pennsylvania, Harrisburg. Harrisburg Telegraph. May 8, 1943. p. 15. Retrieved November 20, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Sies, Luther F. (2014). Encyclopedia of American Radio, 1920-1960, 2nd Edition, Volume 1. McFarland & Company, Inc. ISBN 978-0-7864-5149-4. P. 779.
- ^ Broadcasting Telecasting Yearbook (PDF). Washington, D.C.: Broadcasting Publications, Inc. 1949. p. 409. Retrieved 24 November 2015.