Arch Presby
Encyclopedia
George Archibald "Arch/Archie" Presby (August 27, 1907 – January 22, 2007) was a Canadian
-born, American
radio
and television
announcer
.
Born in Sherbrooke, Quebec
, Canada
, Presby began his announcing career at CFDC in Vancouver
in 1925, and remained with the station at the point where its call letters
changed to the current CKWX
two years later. Afterwards he moved to the U.S., and between 1928 and 1935 he worked at KOMO
in Seattle, Washington and KEX
in Portland, Oregon
.
In 1935, Presby moved to San Francisco, California
, where he became the staff announcer for NBC
on the West Coast, and also did local announcing work for its Blue Network
flagship station
, KGO
. He was the announcer for years on the program Bughouse Rhythm, which showcased leading jazz
and swing musician
s. After the network transferred its West Coast programming operations to their newer Radio City studios in Hollywood
, Presby moved there in 1942 and remained in that base of operations for the rest of his career (which included another move to the network's Color City complex in Burbank
, starting in the 1950s). As NBC did not own a radio station
in Los Angeles, he also handled local announcing work for its affiliated station, KFI
.
After NBC launched its Los Angeles television station
, KNBH (later KRCA-TV and now KNBC
) in 1949, Presby became one of the station's first announcers. His most famous television credit was as announcer, and the voice of "Froggy the Gremlin," on Smilin' Ed's Gang
(he had also served in both capacities on the radio show) and its successor, Andy's Gang
. Later in the 1950s, he hosted a local children's show
as "Uncle Archie."
Presby remained chief West Coast announcer for NBC, and booth announcer for KNBC, until his retirement in 1972. After retiring, he settled in Vista, California
, and then moved to Escondido, California
in 1998. He died in Escondido on January 22, 2007 at age 99.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
-born, American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
radio
Radio
Radio is the transmission of signals through free space by modulation of electromagnetic waves with frequencies below those of visible light. Electromagnetic radiation travels by means of oscillating electromagnetic fields that pass through the air and the vacuum of space...
and television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
announcer
Announcer
An announcer is a presenter who makes "announcements" in an audio medium or a physical location.-Television and other media:Some announcers work in television production , radio or filmmaking, usually providing narrations, news updates, station identification, or an introduction of a product in...
.
Born in Sherbrooke, Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, Presby began his announcing career at CFDC in Vancouver
Vancouver
Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
in 1925, and remained with the station at the point where its call letters
Call sign
In broadcasting and radio communications, a call sign is a unique designation for a transmitting station. In North America they are used as names for broadcasting stations...
changed to the current CKWX
CKWX (AM)
CKWX is a 24-hour all-news radio station broadcasting to residents of Vancouver and the Lower Mainland, British Columbia...
two years later. Afterwards he moved to the U.S., and between 1928 and 1935 he worked at KOMO
KOMO (AM)
KOMO is a radio station based in Seattle, Washington. Its format is primarily news. From 2003 to 2008, it was also the flagship station of the Seattle Mariners Radio Network...
in Seattle, Washington and KEX
KEX (AM)
KEX is a class A clear channel AM radio station broadcasting from Portland, Oregon. As of 2005 it is owned by Clear Channel Communications and runs news/talk programming. Because KEX is a Class A station, KEX reaches most of the densely populated areas of Oregon, providing grade B coverage as far...
in Portland, Oregon
Portland, Oregon
Portland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States...
.
In 1935, Presby moved to San Francisco, California
San Francisco, California
San Francisco , officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the financial, cultural, and transportation center of the San Francisco Bay Area, a region of 7.15 million people which includes San Jose and Oakland...
, where he became the staff announcer for NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
on the West Coast, and also did local announcing work for its Blue Network
Blue Network
The Blue Network, and its immediate predecessor, the NBC Blue Network, were the on-air names of an American radio production and distribution service from 1927 to 1945...
flagship station
Flagship station
In broadcasting, a flagship is the broadcast which originates a television network, or a particular radio show or TV show, primarily in the United States and Canada. This includes both direct network feeds and broadcast syndication, but generally not backhauls...
, KGO
KGO (AM)
KGO is a news/talk-format radio station radio with offices and studios in San Francisco, California. Unlike most other American news/talk stations, KGO originates nearly all of its own programming locally. Since 1978, KGO radio has received Arbitron's number-one ranking in the Bay Area...
. He was the announcer for years on the program Bughouse Rhythm, which showcased leading jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
and swing musician
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
s. After the network transferred its West Coast programming operations to their newer Radio City studios in Hollywood
Hollywood, Los Angeles, California
Hollywood is a famous district in Los Angeles, California, United States situated west-northwest of downtown Los Angeles. Due to its fame and cultural identity as the historical center of movie studios and movie stars, the word Hollywood is often used as a metonym of American cinema...
, Presby moved there in 1942 and remained in that base of operations for the rest of his career (which included another move to the network's Color City complex in Burbank
Burbank, California
Burbank is a city in Los Angeles County in Southern California, United States, north of downtown Los Angeles. The estimated population in 2010 was 103,340....
, starting in the 1950s). As NBC did not own a radio station
Radio station
Radio broadcasting is a one-way wireless transmission over radio waves intended to reach a wide audience. Stations can be linked in radio networks to broadcast a common radio format, either in broadcast syndication or simulcast or both...
in Los Angeles, he also handled local announcing work for its affiliated station, KFI
KFI
KFI is an AM radio station in Los Angeles, California. It received its license to operate on March 31, 1922 and began operating on April 16, 1922 as one of the United States' first high-powered, "clear-channel" stations...
.
After NBC launched its Los Angeles television station
Television station
A television station is a business, organisation or other such as an amateur television operator that transmits content over terrestrial television. A television transmission can be by analog television signals or, more recently, by digital television. Broadcast television systems standards are...
, KNBH (later KRCA-TV and now KNBC
KNBC
KNBC, channel 4, is an owned-and-operated television station of the NBC Television Network, licensed to Los Angeles, California, USA. KNBC's studios and offices are located within the NBC Studios complex in Burbank, California, and its transmitter is located on Mount Wilson...
) in 1949, Presby became one of the station's first announcers. His most famous television credit was as announcer, and the voice of "Froggy the Gremlin," on Smilin' Ed's Gang
Smilin' Ed McConnell
Smilin’ Ed McConnell was a radio personality best known as the host of the children's radio and television series, Smilin' Ed's Gang, closely identified with its sponsor, Buster Brown shoes.-Early life:...
(he had also served in both capacities on the radio show) and its successor, Andy's Gang
Andy Devine
Andrew Vabre "Andy" Devine was an American character actor and comic cowboy sidekick known for his distinctive raspy voice.-Early life:...
. Later in the 1950s, he hosted a local children's show
Children's television series
Children's television series, are commercial television programs designed for, and marketed to children, normally scheduled for broadcast during the morning and afternoon when children are awake. They can sometimes run in the early evening, for the children that go to school...
as "Uncle Archie."
Presby remained chief West Coast announcer for NBC, and booth announcer for KNBC, until his retirement in 1972. After retiring, he settled in Vista, California
Vista, California
Vista is a city in north San Diego County, California. It was incorporated January 28, 1963 and became a charter city on June 13, 2007. Located just seven miles inland from the Pacific Ocean in northern San Diego County, the City of Vista has a Mediterranean climate...
, and then moved to Escondido, California
Escondido, California
Escondido is a city occupying a shallow valley ringed by rocky hills, just north of the city of San Diego, California. Founded in 1888, it is one of the oldest cities in San Diego County. The city had a population of 143,911 at the 2010 census. Its municipal government set itself an operating...
in 1998. He died in Escondido on January 22, 2007 at age 99.