Frank Parker (April 29, 1903 – January 10, 1999)[1] was an American singer and radio and television personality.[1]

Frank Parker
Parker on Bride and Groom in 1957
BornApril 29, 1903
Died (aged 95)
NationalityAmerican
Other namesFrank Ciccio
Occupation(s)Singer, radio and television personality

Early years

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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

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Parker began his singing career as a tenor in 1926 and appeared with Harry Horlick's orchestra in 1933.[5]

Radio

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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Parker died at the age of 95 on January 10, 1999, in Titusville, Florida.[1] His hobbies included golf, polo, and reading.[3]

Legacy

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He has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6821 Hollywood Boulevard.[1]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i "Hollywood Star Walk - Frank Parker". Los Angeles Times. June 8, 1956.
  2. ^ 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.
  3. ^ a b "Wednesday's Highlights" (PDF). Radio and Television Mirror. 14 (1): 48. May 1940. Retrieved 27 February 2015.
  4. ^ 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.  
  5. ^ Frank Parker with Harry Horlick on YouTube, 1933
  6. ^ "860K--WABC--349M". New York, Brooklyn. The Brooklyn Daily Eagle. October 30, 1930. p. 12. Retrieved November 21, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.  
  7. ^ "(radio listing)". New York, Brooklyn. The Brooklyn Daily Eagle. April 30, 1931. p. 25. Retrieved November 19, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.  
  8. ^ 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.  
  9. ^ "Network Accounts" (PDF). Broadcasting. September 15, 1935. p. 39. Retrieved 12 January 2016.
  10. ^ "Special Drene Hookup" (PDF). Broadcasting. August 15, 1936. p. 59. Retrieved 12 January 2016.
  11. ^ "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.  
  12. ^ "(radio listing)". Pennsylvania, Mount Carmel. Mount Carmel Item. April 4, 1942. p. 7. Retrieved November 19, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.  
  13. ^ ""Home Front Reporter" Starts Monday". Pennsylvania, Harrisburg. Harrisburg Telegraph. May 8, 1943. p. 15. Retrieved November 20, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.  
  14. ^ 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.
  15. ^ Broadcasting Telecasting Yearbook (PDF). Washington, D.C.: Broadcasting Publications, Inc. 1949. p. 409. Retrieved 24 November 2015.
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