Al Hodge
Encyclopedia
For "Big" Al Hodge, the Cornish rock musician, see Al Hodge (rock musician)
Albert E. Hodge (April 18, 1912 - March 19, 1979) was an American
actor best known for playing space adventurer Captain Video
on the DuMont Television Network
from December 15, 1950 to April 1, 1955. He played the Green Hornet
on radio from January 1936 until January 1943.
. His parents operated a tailoring and dry-cleaning business. Hodge acted and took part in sports at Ravenna High School. Nicknamed "Abie", he was a track star, a drum major and manager of the band, sang bass in the boys glee club and was a cheerleader.
Hodge graduated from Miami University
in Oxford, Ohio in 1934, majoring in drama. After touring as an actor with the Casford Players, he was hired by WXYZ in Detroit, Michigan
. Besides originating the role of Britt Reid, the Green Hornet, Hodge wrote and delivered daily editorials, announced at football games, wrote advertising copy, worked as a disc jockey, and produced radio dramas and documentaries, including The Lone Ranger
and Challenge of the Yukon
. He served in the United States Navy
during World War II
, and was bedridden for a year with pleurisy
.
After his discharge from the Navy, Hodge worked in New York City in a variety of radio and early TV roles. In 1950 he took over the role of Captain Video
from Richard Coogan
, who wanted to leave the series to concentrate on Broadway
. When the DuMont Network
collapsed in 1955, Hodge continued the role of Captain Video on a children's show, Wonderama
, and as the host of Captain Video's Cartoons from 1955 to 1957. Those programs were seen only in the New York City area.He also mc'd"Super Serial"(later the series was retitled:"Serial Theater")weekday evenings on WNTA TV Ch.13 during the 1959 TV season.Hodge's last regular TV stint was hosting:"The Space Explorer's Club"weekday evenings on WOR TV Ch.9 in NYC in 1961.Ironically,he hosted his last tv program as himself.(Info about Hodge hosting"Super Serial"/"Serial Theater"and"The Space Explorer's Club"can be found in "The NYC Kids Shows Round Up"Section of www.tvparty.com)
Hodge then moved to California, where he guest-starred on Alfred Hitchcock Presents
, Mannix
, The Mod Squad
, Tightrope, Hawaiian Eye
, Coronado 9
and other drama or detective series. However, he returned to New York, working in the late 1960s and early 1970s at increasingly low-paying jobs, eventually simply as a security guard. He was too closely identified with the role of Captain Video to gain many acting parts. As late as 1978, Hodge told reporters that he was almost always recognized on the street and greeted as "Captain Video".
Hodge largely dropped from sight after 1975. He lived for four years in the George Washington Hotel in New York City, his room crammed with collectible items from his career as Captain Video
. He died there in 1979. He is said to have lost most of his money in a divorce from his second wife.
Little is known of Hodge's private life. He married three times, and it is sometimes erroneously stated he fathered three children.. In reality, he fathered a daughter during his first marriage; the boy and girl he was frequently photographed with in the 1950s were the children of his second wife's previous marriage. Hodge and his third wife, a former showgirl, are buried next to each other at Kensico Cemetery
in Westchester County, New York
.
("TV or Not TV?", October 1, 1955), Ed Norton
and Ralph Kramden watch a fictionalized "Captain Video" episode on their new mutually-owned television set.
Al Hodge (rock musician)
For the actor Al Hodge of Captain Video and Green Hornet fame, see Al Hodge).Al Hodge was a guitarist and songwriter, who has had success with "Rock N Roll Mercenaries", a song that was recorded by Meat Loaf and John Parr in 1986...
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
actor best known for playing space adventurer Captain Video
Captain Video
Captain Video and His Video Rangers is an American science fiction television series. It was broadcast on the DuMont Television Network, and was the first series of its kind on American television...
on the DuMont Television Network
DuMont Television Network
The DuMont Television Network, also known as the DuMont Network, DuMont, Du Mont, or Dumont was one of the world's pioneer commercial television networks, rivalling NBC for the distinction of being first overall. It began operation in the United States in 1946. It was owned by DuMont...
from December 15, 1950 to April 1, 1955. He played the Green Hornet
Green Hornet
Green Hornet may refer to:* The Green Hornet, a fictional character created by Fran Striker for the 1930s radio program and adapted into several media versions...
on radio from January 1936 until January 1943.
Biography
Hodge was born in Ravenna, OhioRavenna, Ohio
* Chris Bangle; automobile designer* Bill Bower, last surviving pilot of the Doolittle Raid* David D. Busch; best-selling author* William Rufus Day; U.S. Supreme Court justice* Calvin Hampton; Classical organist* Robert B...
. His parents operated a tailoring and dry-cleaning business. Hodge acted and took part in sports at Ravenna High School. Nicknamed "Abie", he was a track star, a drum major and manager of the band, sang bass in the boys glee club and was a cheerleader.
Hodge graduated from Miami University
Miami University
Miami University is a coeducational public research university located in Oxford, Ohio, United States. Founded in 1809, it is the 10th oldest public university in the United States and the second oldest university in Ohio, founded four years after Ohio University. In its 2012 edition, U.S...
in Oxford, Ohio in 1934, majoring in drama. After touring as an actor with the Casford Players, he was hired by WXYZ in Detroit, Michigan
Detroit, Michigan
Detroit is the major city among the primary cultural, financial, and transportation centers in the Metro Detroit area, a region of 5.2 million people. As the seat of Wayne County, the city of Detroit is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan and serves as a major port on the Detroit River...
. Besides originating the role of Britt Reid, the Green Hornet, Hodge wrote and delivered daily editorials, announced at football games, wrote advertising copy, worked as a disc jockey, and produced radio dramas and documentaries, including The Lone Ranger
The Lone Ranger
The Lone Ranger is a fictional masked Texas Ranger who, with his Native American companion Tonto, fights injustice in the American Old West. The character has become an enduring icon of American culture....
and Challenge of the Yukon
Challenge of the Yukon
Challenge of the Yukon was a radio series that began on Detroit's station WXYZ , and an example of a Northern genre story. The series was first heard on February 3, 1938...
. He served in the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, and was bedridden for a year with pleurisy
Pleurisy
Pleurisy is an inflammation of the pleura, the lining of the pleural cavity surrounding the lungs. Among other things, infections are the most common cause of pleurisy....
.
After his discharge from the Navy, Hodge worked in New York City in a variety of radio and early TV roles. In 1950 he took over the role of Captain Video
Captain Video
Captain Video and His Video Rangers is an American science fiction television series. It was broadcast on the DuMont Television Network, and was the first series of its kind on American television...
from Richard Coogan
Richard Coogan
Richard Coogan is an American actor best known for his portrayal of Captain Video from 1949-1950.Born in Short Hills, New Jersey, Coogan worked in radio for some time, including appearing as Abie Levy in Abie's Irish Rose...
, who wanted to leave the series to concentrate on Broadway
Broadway theatre
Broadway theatre, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 40 professional theatres with 500 or more seats located in the Theatre District centered along Broadway, and in Lincoln Center, in Manhattan in New York City...
. When the DuMont Network
DuMont Television Network
The DuMont Television Network, also known as the DuMont Network, DuMont, Du Mont, or Dumont was one of the world's pioneer commercial television networks, rivalling NBC for the distinction of being first overall. It began operation in the United States in 1946. It was owned by DuMont...
collapsed in 1955, Hodge continued the role of Captain Video on a children's show, Wonderama
Wonderama
Wonderama was a long-running children's television program that appeared on the Metromedia-owned stations from 1955 to 1986, with WNEW-TV in New York City being its originating station....
, and as the host of Captain Video's Cartoons from 1955 to 1957. Those programs were seen only in the New York City area.He also mc'd"Super Serial"(later the series was retitled:"Serial Theater")weekday evenings on WNTA TV Ch.13 during the 1959 TV season.Hodge's last regular TV stint was hosting:"The Space Explorer's Club"weekday evenings on WOR TV Ch.9 in NYC in 1961.Ironically,he hosted his last tv program as himself.(Info about Hodge hosting"Super Serial"/"Serial Theater"and"The Space Explorer's Club"can be found in "The NYC Kids Shows Round Up"Section of www.tvparty.com)
Hodge then moved to California, where he guest-starred on Alfred Hitchcock Presents
Alfred Hitchcock Presents
Alfred Hitchcock Presents is an American television anthology series hosted by Alfred Hitchcock. The series featured dramas, thrillers, and mysteries. By the premiere of the show on October 2, 1955, Hitchcock had been directing films for over three decades...
, Mannix
Mannix
Mannix is an American television detective series that ran from 1967 through 1975 on CBS. Created by Richard Levinson and William Link and developed by executive producer Bruce Geller, the title character, Joe Mannix, is a private investigator. He is played by Mike Connors...
, The Mod Squad
The Mod Squad
The Mod Squad is a television series that ran on ABC from September 24, 1968, until August 23, 1973. This series starred Michael Cole, Peggy Lipton, Clarence Williams III, and Tige Andrews...
, Tightrope, Hawaiian Eye
Hawaiian Eye
Hawaiian Eye is an American television series that ran from October 1959 to September 1963 on the American Broadcasting Company television network.-Premise:...
, Coronado 9
COronado 9
Coronado 9 is a syndicated crime drama set in San Diego, California, starring Rod Cameron as Dan Adams, a former United States Navy intelligence officer turned private detective. Coronado 9 is Adams's address; the numeral 9 on a rock shown near his front door in the opening credits denotes the...
and other drama or detective series. However, he returned to New York, working in the late 1960s and early 1970s at increasingly low-paying jobs, eventually simply as a security guard. He was too closely identified with the role of Captain Video to gain many acting parts. As late as 1978, Hodge told reporters that he was almost always recognized on the street and greeted as "Captain Video".
Captain Video
Captain Video and His Video Rangers is an American science fiction television series. It was broadcast on the DuMont Television Network, and was the first series of its kind on American television...
. He died there in 1979. He is said to have lost most of his money in a divorce from his second wife.
Little is known of Hodge's private life. He married three times, and it is sometimes erroneously stated he fathered three children.. In reality, he fathered a daughter during his first marriage; the boy and girl he was frequently photographed with in the 1950s were the children of his second wife's previous marriage. Hodge and his third wife, a former showgirl, are buried next to each other at Kensico Cemetery
Kensico Cemetery
Kensico Cemetery, located in Valhalla, Westchester County, New York, was founded in 1889, when many New York City cemeteries were becoming full, and rural cemeteries were being created near the railroads which served the city...
in Westchester County, New York
Westchester County, New York
Westchester County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. Westchester covers an area of and has a population of 949,113 according to the 2010 Census, residing in 45 municipalities...
.
Tributes
In the first filmed episode of The HoneymoonersThe Honeymooners
The Honeymooners is an American situation comedy television show, based on a recurring 1951–'55 sketch of the same name. It originally aired on the DuMont network's Cavalcade of Stars and subsequently on the CBS network's The Jackie Gleason Show hosted by Jackie Gleason, and filmed before a live...
("TV or Not TV?", October 1, 1955), Ed Norton
Ed Norton
Edward Norton is an American actor.Edward Norton may also refer to:*Edward Norton , MP for Carlisle and Haslemere*Edward Felix Norton , British army officer and mountaineer...
and Ralph Kramden watch a fictionalized "Captain Video" episode on their new mutually-owned television set.
External links
- The Green Hornet
- Roaring Rockets - Al Hodge before and after Captain Video
- Space Hero Files: Captain Video
- DuMont and the Birth of American Television
- Glut, Don and Jim Harmon. The Great Television Heroes. New York: Doubleday, 1975. ISBN 0-385-05167-0. Chapters 1, 5
- ATOMX13 Captain Video Pages
- Captain Video Fans
- "Who Killed Captain Video? How the FCC strangled a TV pioneer"
- IMDb profile of Captain Video
- "Captain Video Memories!"
- Time magazine article (1958) on Hodge's problems in finding new acting roles