Arthur Wells Gilmore,[citation needed] known as Art Gilmore (March 18, 1912 – September 25, 2010) was an American actor and announcer heard on radio and television programs, children's records, movies, trailers, radio commercials, and documentary films. He also appeared in several television series and a few feature films.

Art Gilmore
Publicity photo of Art Gilmore
Born
Arthur Wells Gilmore

(1912-03-18)March 18, 1912
DiedSeptember 25, 2010(2010-09-25) (aged 98)
Occupation(s)Actor, announcer
Years active1935–2004
Spouse
Grace Gilmore
(m. 1938)

Biography

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Reared in Tacoma, Washington, Gilmore attended Washington State University in 1931, where he was a member of the Chi chapter of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia music fraternity and a member of the Alpha Omicron chapter of Theta Chi fraternity. In 1935, he was hired to work as an announcer for Seattle's KOL Radio.[1] In 1936, he became a staff announcer for the Warner Brothers' radio station KFWB in Hollywood and then moved to the CBS-owned station KNX as a news reader.[1] During World War II, he served as a fighter-director U.S. Navy officer aboard an aircraft carrier in the Pacific Ocean.

Leaving the Navy, he decided to become a professional singer and returned to Hollywood.

With a group of notable Hollywood radio stars, including Edgar Bergen, Ralph Edwards, Les Tremayne,[2] and Jim Jordan, Gilmore founded Pacific Pioneer Broadcasters in 1966.[3][4][5][1] At the time of his death, he was Chairman Emeritus of PPB. The organization presents the Art Gilmore Career Achievement Award four times each year to celebrities who have made notable contributions to the broadcasting and related industries. The organization was renamed Hollywood Media Professionals in 2019.[6] Pacific Pioneer Broadcasters materials are at American Radio Archives.[7][8]

Radio

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Gilmore's announcing voice became a part of many radio programs. Drawing his inspiration from the radio sports commentators of the 1930s, he became the announcer for Amos 'n' Andy, The Adventures of Frank Race, Dr. Christian, Sears Radio Theater, Stars over Hollywood, The Golden Days of Radio and other radio shows. It was Gilmore who introduced Herbert W. Armstrong and Garner Ted Armstrong, reminding listeners to request free religious literature at the conclusion of The World Tomorrow on radio and television.[1]

Television

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With the advent of television, Gilmore heralded The George Gobel Show, The Red Skelton Show, An Evening with Fred Astaire and many others.

He narrated 156 episodes of Highway Patrol with Broderick Crawford, 39 segments of Mackenzie's Raiders with Richard Carlson 41 episodes of Men of Annapolis and all 36 episodes of The New Breed.[1]

His television appearances included The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Adam-12, Emergency!, Dragnet and The Waltons. He announced Ronald Reagan's "A Time for Choosing" speech in 1964 supporting Barry Goldwater for U.S. President.

Films

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Gilmore was heard in films as the voice of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt in the 1942 production of Yankee Doodle Dandy, and in The Gallant Hours (1960), where he was the narrator for Japanese sequences. His dramatic voice was also heard on countless film trailers beginning in the 1940s (he narrated the trailer for the 1946 film Gilda), and on documentary films throughout the 1950s and 1960s. (He appeared on camera at the beginning of the trailer for the 1948 thriller The Big Clock.) He narrated the Joe McDoakes series of short comedies which starred George O'Hanlon, notably So You Want to Be a Detective (1948), in which he participated (with the camera as his point of view). Gilmore also served as the president of American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA) from 1961 until 1963.[1]

Recordings

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In addition to his radio-TV work, he provided the narration for many collections of recorded musical works and a large number of recordings for children. Gilmore was also active in reading textbooks for the blind and dyslexic for many years.[1]

Books

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Gilmore co-authored the book Television and Radio Announcing.

Death

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He died of natural causes on September 25, 2010, aged 98.[9] Gilmore was survived by his wife, Grace; daughters Marilyn and Barbara; two grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. His nephew, Robb Weller, said that his uncle was the reason he chose to work in broadcasting.[1]

Filmography

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Year Title Role Notes
1941 The Lone Wolf Takes a Chance Newsreel Announcer Uncredited
1942 Saboteur Radio Broadcaster Voice, Uncredited
1942 Yankee Doodle Dandy Franklin D. Roosevelt Voice, Uncredited
1943 Mission to Moscow Commentator Uncredited
1943 Action in the North Atlantic President Franklin D. Roosevelt Voice, Uncredited
1946 Rendezvous 24 Agent Thompson / Narrator Uncredited
1946 The Man Who Dared Radio Announcer Uncredited
1946 Deadline for Murder Bit Role Voice, Uncredited
1946 Blue Skies Radio Broadcaster Voice, Uncredited
1947 Backlash Radio Commentator Voice, Uncredited
1947 Welcome Stranger Radio Announcer Voice, Uncredited
1947 The Unsuspected Announcer Uncredited
1948 The Strange Mrs. Crane Radio Broadcaster Uncredited
1949 My Dream Is Yours Radio Announcer Uncredited
1949 King of the Rocket Men Newscaster Serial, [Ch. 5], Voice, Uncredited
1949 The Girl from Jones Beach Narrator Voice, Uncredited
1950 Appointment with Danger Narrator Uncredited
1950 Tea for Two Radio Announcer Voice, Uncredited
1951 Valentino Narrator at End Voice, Uncredited
1951 A Place in the Sun Radio Broadcaster Voice, Uncredited
1951 Sunny Side of the Street Announcer Uncredited
1951 The Tanks Are Coming Narrator Voice, Uncredited
1952 The Winning Team Radio Sports Announcer Voice, Uncredited
1952 The Story of Will Rogers Announcer at Political Convention Uncredited
1952 Barbed Wire Opening Narrator Voice, Uncredited
1952 Battles of Chief Pontiac Narrator Uncredited
1954 It Should Happen to You Don Toddman Uncredited
1954 Creature from the Black Lagoon Narrator Voice, Uncredited
1954 Susan Slept Here The Oscar Voice, Uncredited
1954 Rear Window Radio Announcer Voice, Uncredited
1954 Dragnet Doctor Uncredited
1954 Tobor the Great Airport Announcer Voice, Uncredited
1955 Unchained Narrator Voice, Uncredited
1955 City of Shadows Radio Broadcaster Voice, Uncredited
1955 Francis in the Navy Lieutenant Hopper Uncredited
1955 Wiretapper Narrator Voice
1955 Three Stripes in the Sun Public Address Announcer Voice, Uncredited
1955 The Court-Martial of Billy Mitchell Radio Broadcaster Voice, Uncredited
1956 The Killing Narrator Voice, Uncredited
1956 A Cry in the Night Television Announcer Voice, Uncredited
1956 The Boss Radio Broadcaster Voice, Uncredited
1956 Rodan Narrator English version, Voice, Uncredited
1957 Fear Strikes Out Broadcaster Voice, Uncredited
1958 The Narcotics Story Narrator Voice
1958 Suicide Battalion Captain Hendry Uncredited
1960 Who Was That Lady? Television Announcer Uncredited
1960 The Gallant Hours Narrator: Japanese Sequences Voice
1962 To Kill a Mockingbird Trailer Narrator Voice, Uncredited
1963 The Nutty Professor Narrator Voice, Uncredited
1963 Johnny Cool Racetrack Announcer Voice, Uncredited
2001 Moonbeams The Moon (final film role)

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h McLellan, Dennis (2 October 2010). "Art Gilmore dies at 98; announcer was a familiar voice on radio, TV, movie trailers". LA Times. Retrieved 29 May 2011.
  2. ^ "Tremayne Recalls Old Radio Shows". The Naples Daily News. The Naples Daily News. 10 November 1974. p. 56. Retrieved 15 March 2015 – via Newspapers.com.  
  3. ^ "Hollywood Media Professionals". Hollywood Media Professionals. Retrieved 2024-07-25.
  4. ^ "Pacific Pioneer Broadcasters". YouTube. Retrieved July 25, 2024.
  5. ^ "Pacific Pioneers Broadcast". Getty Images. Retrieved July 25, 2024.
  6. ^ "Hollywood Media Professionals". Hollywood Media Professionals. Retrieved July 25, 2024.
  7. ^ "PPB Collection (Pacific Pioneer Broadcasters)". University of California Santa Barbara. Retrieved July 25, 2024.
  8. ^ "Pacific Pioneer Broadcasters collection". Online Archive of California. Retrieved July 25, 2024.
  9. ^ Bruce Weber (October 2, 2010). "Art Gilmore, the Voice of Coming Attractions, Dies at 98". The New York Times. Retrieved 2010-10-03.
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