Jim Ameche

Jim Ameche

Jim Ameche in 1940.
Born James Amici
August 6, 1915
Kenosha, Wisconsin
Died February 4, 1983 (aged 67)
Tucson, Arizona
Nationality American
Occupation Actor
Known for Playing the title role in Jack Armstrong, the All-American Boy

Jim Ameche (August 6, 1915[1] – February 4, 1983)[2] was a familiar voice on radio, including his role as radio's original Jack Armstrong on Jack Armstrong, the All-American Boy.[3]

Early years

Ameche was born James Amici in Kenosha, Wisconsin.[4]

Radio

When Ameche's older brother, Don Ameche, left his position as the host and announcer for The Chase and Sanborn Hour in the early 1940s, Jim took over for the remainder of the show's run. He also was heard as mountie Jim West on ABC's Silver Eagle (1951–55). Other shows Ameche was heard on included Grand Hotel, Hollywood Playhouse, and Big Sister.[1]

In the 1940s, he had several programs on WGN radio in Chicago.[1]

He was heard on stations in Los Angeles and Palm Springs in the late 1950s and early 60s. For many years he was a popular local radio personality in the New York City area. By the late 1960s, he was working as an announcer on New York's WHN and the TV pitchman for a Longines Symphonette Society mail-order record album featuring clips of old-time radio broadcasts.

For many years, he was the afternoon announcer on WQXR, the classical radio station of The New York Times, and was a familiar and beloved voice. He also did numerous radio ads in Phoenix, Arizona in his later years.

Film

He portrayed Alexander Graham Bell in the 1957 film The Story of Mankind, the role his brother Don had played in the film biography of Bell in 1939. The two brothers' faces and voices were a close match.

Family

Jim Ameche was married to the former Betty A.Harris of Oak Park, Ill. They had six children, James Peter Ameche Jr., Patrick Anthony Ameche , Bettejean Ameche, Timothy Joseph Ameche, Terry Michael Ameche and Bridget Denise Ameche. [1]

Death

Jim Ameche died February 4, 1983, of lung cancer at Tucson Medical Center.[5]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Ratty, Marguerite (August 22, 1948). "Telephone Call Turns Career of Jim Ameche". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 15 January 2015.
  2. ↑ Cox, Jim (2008). This Day in Network Radio: A Daily Calendar of Births, Debuts, Cancellations and Other Events in Broadcasting History. McFarland & Company, Inc. ISBN 978-0-7864-3848-8. Page 29.
  3. ↑ 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. P. 11.
  4. ↑ Cox, Jim (2007). Radio Speakers: Narrators, News Junkies, Sports Jockeys, Tattletales, Tipsters, Toastmasters and Coffee Klatch Couples Who Verbalized the Jargon of the Aural Ether from the 1920s to the 1980s--A Biographical Dictionary. McFarland & Company, Inc. ISBN 978-0-7864-6086-1. Pp. 10-11.
  5. ↑ Staff (February 6, 1983). "Jim Ameche, radio actor for 40 years". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved August 22, 2016.

External links

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