Bill Wendell
Encyclopedia
Bill Wendell (March 22, 1924 – April 14, 1999) was an NBC
television
staff announcer
for almost his entire professional career.
, Wendell served in the United States Army Air Corps
during World War II
and graduated from Fordham University
with a degree in speech. He worked briefly with the DuMont Television Network
before beginning his long association with NBC. During the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s, Wendell formed part of a fraternity of network staff announcers who held lifetime contracts; his colleagues were Don Pardo
, Wayne Howell
, Fred Facey
, Bill McCord
, Roger Tuttle and Howard Reig
.
Wendell was a radio announcer on programs towards the end of the old-time radio
era, but the majority of his announcing work was on television. He was a regular on the 1955-1956 version of The Ernie Kovacs Show
, serving as the show's announcer, as well as a participant in sketches such as "Mr. Question Man" (a parody of The Answer Man
). He also worked with Jack Benny
, Bob Hope
and other NBC personalities.
Wendell was the announcer for a number of NBC's game shows. In 1959, he succeeded Jack Barry (who was implicated in the quiz-show scandals) as emcee of Tic Tac Dough, until it was finally cancelled in October of that year. He succeeded Johnny Olson
as the announcer of the syndicated To Tell The Truth
from 1972–1977, after Olson left New York City
to assume the job on CBS
' game The New Price Is Right
, based in Southern California
. Wendell was also announcer for several years on the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade
.
His most notable stint on television was as the regular announcer for NBC's Late Night with David Letterman
, on which he appeared from 1982–1993, the entirety of the show's NBC run. He moved with Letterman to CBS
in 1993, staying as announcer on The Late Show with David Letterman. He retired in mid-1995, with his last episode airing on August 18. Following a two-week hiatus, Alan Kalter
succeeded him as announcer on September 4.
Before he announced for David Letterman's Late Night he was announcer on Tom Snyder
's Tomorrow Show when Tom moved from Burbank, California to NBC in New York. Letterman's show replaced Snyder's and kept Wendell as announcer.
Wendell's last major job was as the original voiceover
announcer in Old Navy
's "fashion show" commercial campaign. Wendell also appeared as a TV announcer in the movie, Mr. Saturday Night
, which starred Billy Crystal
as comedian Buddy Young, Jr., a character Crystal originally created when he was a regular on Saturday Night Live
.
He died of complications from cancer in 1999 in Boca Raton, Florida
.
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...
television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
staff 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...
for almost his entire professional career.
Biography
Born in New York CityNew York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, Wendell served in the United States Army Air Corps
United States Army Air Corps
The United States Army Air Corps was a forerunner of the United States Air Force. Renamed from the Air Service on 2 July 1926, it was part of the United States Army and the predecessor of the United States Army Air Forces , established in 1941...
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 graduated from Fordham University
Fordham University
Fordham University is a private, nonprofit, coeducational research university in the United States, with three campuses in and around New York City. It was founded by the Roman Catholic Diocese of New York in 1841 as St...
with a degree in speech. He worked briefly with 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...
before beginning his long association with NBC. During the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s, Wendell formed part of a fraternity of network staff announcers who held lifetime contracts; his colleagues were Don Pardo
Don Pardo
Dominick George "Don" Pardo is an American radio and television announcer. He is best known as the voice of the long-running late night sketch comedy show Saturday Night Live....
, Wayne Howell
Wayne Howell
Wayne Clay Howell Chappelle , known professionally as Wayne Howell, was a voice-over announcer for the NBC television and radio networks from 1947 through 1986...
, Fred Facey
Fred Facey
Ferdinand A. Facey was an American radio and television announcer.Facey joined the announcing staff of NBC in New York City in 1967, and remained with the network for the rest of his life. In time, he would join the likes of Don Pardo and Howard Reig in holding lifetime contracts with the network...
, Bill McCord
Bill McCord
William J. "Bill" McCord was an American radio and television announcer.Born in Colville, Washington, McCord moved to Spokane in the 1930s, where he began his broadcasting career. During World War II, he served as a pilot in the United States Army Air Corps, stationed in Riverside, California,...
, Roger Tuttle and Howard Reig
Howard Reig
Howard Reig was an American radio and television announcer. His last name was pronounced "reeg."-Personal life:...
.
Wendell was a radio announcer on programs towards the end of the old-time radio
Old-time radio
Old-Time Radio and the Golden Age of Radio refer to a period of radio programming in the United States lasting from the proliferation of radio broadcasting in the early 1920s until television's replacement of radio as the primary home entertainment medium in the 1950s...
era, but the majority of his announcing work was on television. He was a regular on the 1955-1956 version of The Ernie Kovacs Show
The Ernie Kovacs Show
The Ernie Kovacs Show is an American comedy show hosted by comedian Ernie Kovacs first shown in Philadelphia during the early 50s, then nationally.In 1953, Kovacs had an evening show by the same name on CBS...
, serving as the show's announcer, as well as a participant in sketches such as "Mr. Question Man" (a parody of The Answer Man
The Answer Man
The Answer Man was a United States 15-minute radio program that aired from 1937 to 1956 on the Mutual Broadcasting System and also in syndication. It was broadcast late Sunday evening on some stations. During the 1940s, the program was sponsored by Trommer's White Label Beer. The Answer Man was...
). He also worked with Jack Benny
Jack Benny
Jack Benny was an American comedian, vaudevillian, and actor for radio, television, and film...
, Bob Hope
Bob Hope
Bob Hope, KBE, KCSG, KSS was a British-born American comedian and actor who appeared in vaudeville, on Broadway, and in radio, television and movies. He was also noted for his work with the US Armed Forces and his numerous USO shows entertaining American military personnel...
and other NBC personalities.
Wendell was the announcer for a number of NBC's game shows. In 1959, he succeeded Jack Barry (who was implicated in the quiz-show scandals) as emcee of Tic Tac Dough, until it was finally cancelled in October of that year. He succeeded Johnny Olson
Johnny Olson
John Leonard "Johnny" Olson was an American radio personality and television announcer. His work spanned 32 game shows produced by Mark Goodson and Bill Todman from the late 1950s through the mid 1980s...
as the announcer of the syndicated To Tell The Truth
To Tell the Truth
To Tell the Truth is an American television panel game show created by Bob Stewart and produced by Goodson-Todman Productions that has aired in various forms since 1956 both on networks and in syndication...
from 1972–1977, after Olson left New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
to assume the job on CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
' game The New Price Is Right
The Price Is Right
The Price Is Right is a television game show franchise originally produced by Mark Goodson and Bill Todman, and created by Bob Stewart, and is currently produced and owned by FremantleMedia. The franchise centers on television game shows, but also includes merchandise such as video games, printed...
, based in Southern California
Southern California
Southern California is a megaregion, or megapolitan area, in the southern area of the U.S. state of California. Large urban areas include Greater Los Angeles and Greater San Diego. The urban area stretches along the coast from Ventura through the Southland and Inland Empire to San Diego...
. Wendell was also announcer for several years on the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade
Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade
The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, often shortened to Macy's Day Parade, is an annual parade presented by Macy's. The tradition started in 1924, tying it for the second-oldest Thanksgiving parade in the United States along with America's Thanksgiving Parade in Detroit, and four years younger than...
.
His most notable stint on television was as the regular announcer for NBC's Late Night with David Letterman
Late Night with David Letterman
Late Night with David Letterman is a nightly hour-long comedy talk show on NBC that was created and hosted by David Letterman. It premiered in 1982 as the first incarnation of the Late Night franchise and went off the air in 1993, after Letterman left NBC and moved to Late Show on CBS. Late Night...
, on which he appeared from 1982–1993, the entirety of the show's NBC run. He moved with Letterman to CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
in 1993, staying as announcer on The Late Show with David Letterman. He retired in mid-1995, with his last episode airing on August 18. Following a two-week hiatus, Alan Kalter
Alan Kalter
Alan Kalter is an American television announcer from New York City. He is best knownas the announcer for the Late Show with David Letterman since September 5, 1995.-Career:...
succeeded him as announcer on September 4.
Before he announced for David Letterman's Late Night he was announcer on Tom Snyder
Tom Snyder
Thomas James "Tom" Snyder was an American television personality, news anchor and radio personality best known for his late night talk shows The Tomorrow Show, on the NBC television network in the 1970s and 1980s, and The Late Late Show, on the CBS Television Network in the 1990s...
's Tomorrow Show when Tom moved from Burbank, California to NBC in New York. Letterman's show replaced Snyder's and kept Wendell as announcer.
Wendell's last major job was as the original voiceover
VoiceOver
VoiceOver is a screen reader built into Apple Inc.'s Mac OS X, iOS and iPod operating systems. By using VoiceOver, the user can access their Macintosh or iOS device based on spoken descriptions and, in the case of the Mac, the keyboard. The feature is designed to increase accessibility for blind...
announcer in Old Navy
Old Navy
Old Navy is an American clothing brand as well as a chain of stores owned by Gap, Inc., with corporate operations in San Francisco and San Bruno, California. It is one of the first major corporations to house headquarters in the new Mission Bay district of San Francisco.Gap, Inc. was run by...
's "fashion show" commercial campaign. Wendell also appeared as a TV announcer in the movie, Mr. Saturday Night
Mr. Saturday Night
Mr. Saturday Night is a 1992 film that marks the directorial debut of its star, Billy Crystal.It focuses on the rise and fall of Buddy Young Jr., a fictional stand-up comedian. Crystal produced and co-wrote the screenplay with the writing duo Babaloo Mandel and Lowell Ganz...
, which starred Billy Crystal
Billy Crystal
William Edward "Billy" Crystal is an American actor, writer, producer, comedian and film director. He gained prominence in the 1970s for playing Jodie Dallas on the ABC sitcom Soap and became a Hollywood film star during the late 1980s and 1990s, appearing in the critical and box office successes...
as comedian Buddy Young, Jr., a character Crystal originally created when he was a regular on Saturday Night Live
Saturday Night Live
Saturday Night Live is a live American late-night television sketch comedy and variety show developed by Lorne Michaels and Dick Ebersol. The show premiered on NBC on October 11, 1975, under the original title of NBC's Saturday Night.The show's sketches often parody contemporary American culture...
.
He died of complications from cancer in 1999 in Boca Raton, Florida
Boca Raton, Florida
Boca Raton is a city in Palm Beach County, Florida, USA, incorporated in May 1925. In the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 74,764; the 2006 population recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau was 86,396. However, the majority of the people under the postal address of Boca Raton, about...
.