Don Pietromonaco
Encyclopedia
Donald Stephen Pietromonaco (September 15, 1935– April 18, 1997) was a Child Actor, award-winning radio personality and voice actor whose career would span more than 47 years.
with Robert Ryan
and Pat O'Brien
followed a year later by Mrs. Mike
with Dick Powell
. In the 1950s there came a string of nice roles like Follow the Sun
with Glenn Ford
, The Gene Autry Show
as Pepito Garcia and Girls in the Night with Harvey Lembeck
. In 1957 Don played a Page on an Ocean Liner
in the film classic An Affair to Remember
opposite Cary Grant
.
where he began toying with various character voices while developling an on air persona that became one of the country's most theatrically gifted air talents. In 1963 program director Guy Williams aka L.David Moorhead hired him for the all important early evening slot at legendary top forty
rocker, KRIZ. Using the air name "The Purple Pizza Eater", Don along with his sidekick Bruno J. Grunyon, a mythical teenage ne'er-do-well voiced by Pietro (unbeknownst to the listening teen audience, the two garned huge ratings in the Phoenix, Arizona
market and his reputation as an on air entertainer began capturing national attention and the management of St. Louis, Missouri
giant, KXOK-AM 630.
Known to thousands of radio listeners as "Johnny Rabbitt", Don along with his faithful companion Bruno J. Grunyon, the two would delight their predominantly teen audience from 7 pm to midnight with outlandish antics such as Rabbitt feeding Bruno to a "man-eating plant." But of course Bruno would always survive because the plant would spit him out. The throngs of teens calling the station's request lines with their problems or dedications could simply, "Blab it to the Rabbitt."
From 1964 through 1968 Don Pietro would enjoy some of the highest ratings ever recorded to date in the St. Louis market.
Upon Pietromonaco's departure from KXOK in 1969, Don and Bruno returned once again to Phoenix and KRIZ Radio this time for the 3-7 PM Drive slot where he would earn Billboard Magazine's coveted Major Market Performer of the Year award. KRIZ would be his last job as a disk Jockey and for him and Bruno, the end of era
. In 2001Don Poetromonaco would be inducted into the St. Louis Radio
Hall of Fame
.
At the age of 61, Don Pietromonaco, actor and veteran voiceover coach, passed away from complications due to emphysema.
Early Years
In the summer of 1948 at the age 13 Don began his acting career as Don Pietro by appearing in a number of major Hollywood productions including his first film The Boy with Green HairThe Boy with Green Hair
The Boy with Green Hair is a 1948 American comedy-drama film directed by Joseph Losey. It stars Dean Stockwell as Peter, a young war orphan who is subject to ridicule after he awakens one morning to find his hair mysteriously turned green...
with Robert Ryan
Robert Ryan
Robert Bushnell Ryan was an American actor who often played hardened cops and ruthless villains.-Early life and career:...
and Pat O'Brien
Pat O'Brien
Pat O'Brien may refer to:*Pat O'Brien , American film actor *Pat O'Brien, New Orleans bartender credited with inventing the Hurricane cocktail; established his own bar, Pat O'Brien's Bar...
followed a year later by Mrs. Mike
Mrs. Mike
Mrs. Mike, the Story of Katherine Mary Flannigan is a novel by Benedict and Nancy Mars Freedman set in the Canadian wilderness in the early 1900s. Considered by some a young adult classic, Mrs. Mike has been published in several editions and is read worldwide...
with Dick Powell
Dick Powell
Richard Ewing "Dick" Powell was an American singer, actor, producer, director and studio boss.Despite the same last name he was not related to William Powell, Eleanor Powell or Jane Powell.-Biography:...
. In the 1950s there came a string of nice roles like Follow the Sun
Follow the Sun
Follow the Sun is a 1951 biographical film of the life of golf legend Ben Hogan. It starred Glenn Ford as Hogan and Anne Baxter as his wife. Many golfers and sports figures of the day appeared in the movie.-Plot summary:...
with Glenn Ford
Glenn Ford
Glenn Ford was a Canadian-born American actor from Hollywood's Golden Era with a career that spanned seven decades...
, The Gene Autry Show
The Gene Autry Show
The Gene Autry Show is an American western/cowboy television series which aired for 91 episodes on CBS from July 23, 1950 until August 7, 1956, originally sponsored by Wrigley's Doublemint chewing gum.-Overview:...
as Pepito Garcia and Girls in the Night with Harvey Lembeck
Harvey Lembeck
Harvey Lembeck was an American comedic actor best remembered for his role as Cpl. Rocco Barbella on The Phil Silvers Show in the late 1950s, and as the stumbling, overconfident outlaw biker Eric Von Zipper in the beach party movie series during the 1960s...
. In 1957 Don played a Page on an Ocean Liner
Ocean liner
An ocean liner is a ship designed to transport people from one seaport to another along regular long-distance maritime routes according to a schedule. Liners may also carry cargo or mail, and may sometimes be used for other purposes .Cargo vessels running to a schedule are sometimes referred to as...
in the film classic An Affair to Remember
An Affair to Remember
An Affair to Remember is a 1957 film starring Cary Grant and Deborah Kerr, and directed by Leo McCarey. It was distributed by Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation....
opposite Cary Grant
Cary Grant
Archibald Alexander Leach , better known by his stage name Cary Grant, was an English actor who later took U.S. citizenship...
.
Radio Broadcasting Career
By 1960 Don made a transition from the big screen to Don Pietro, Disk Jockey at KROG, Sonora, CaliforniaSonora, California
Sonora is the county seat of Tuolumne County, California. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 4,903, up from 4,423 at the 2000 census. Sonora is the only incorporated community in Tuolumne County.-Geography:...
where he began toying with various character voices while developling an on air persona that became one of the country's most theatrically gifted air talents. In 1963 program director Guy Williams aka L.David Moorhead hired him for the all important early evening slot at legendary top forty
Top Forty
The Top Forty or Top 40 is a music industry shorthand for the currently most-popular songs in a particular genre. When used without qualification, it typically refers to the best-selling or most frequently broadcast popular music songs of the previous week...
rocker, KRIZ. Using the air name "The Purple Pizza Eater", Don along with his sidekick Bruno J. Grunyon, a mythical teenage ne'er-do-well voiced by Pietro (unbeknownst to the listening teen audience, the two garned huge ratings in the Phoenix, Arizona
Phoenix, Arizona
Phoenix is the capital, and largest city, of the U.S. state of Arizona, as well as the sixth most populated city in the United States. Phoenix is home to 1,445,632 people according to the official 2010 U.S. Census Bureau data...
market and his reputation as an on air entertainer began capturing national attention and the management of St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
giant, KXOK-AM 630.
Known to thousands of radio listeners as "Johnny Rabbitt", Don along with his faithful companion Bruno J. Grunyon, the two would delight their predominantly teen audience from 7 pm to midnight with outlandish antics such as Rabbitt feeding Bruno to a "man-eating plant." But of course Bruno would always survive because the plant would spit him out. The throngs of teens calling the station's request lines with their problems or dedications could simply, "Blab it to the Rabbitt."
From 1964 through 1968 Don Pietro would enjoy some of the highest ratings ever recorded to date in the St. Louis market.
Upon Pietromonaco's departure from KXOK in 1969, Don and Bruno returned once again to Phoenix and KRIZ Radio this time for the 3-7 PM Drive slot where he would earn Billboard Magazine's coveted Major Market Performer of the Year award. KRIZ would be his last job as a disk Jockey and for him and Bruno, the end of era
Era
An era is a commonly used word for long period of time. When used in science, for example geology, eras denote clearly defined periods of time of arbitrary but well defined length, such as for example the Mesozoic era from 252 Ma–66 Ma, delimited by a start event and an end event. When used in...
. In 2001Don Poetromonaco would be inducted into the St. Louis 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...
Hall of Fame
Hall of Fame
A hall of fame, wall of fame, walk of fame, walk of stars or avenue of stars is a type of attraction established for any field of endeavor to honor individuals of noteworthy achievement in that field...
.
Post Radio Days
After his departure from live radio in 1971, Pietromonaco began teaching film production and voiceovers in Hollywood, as well as voicing numerous commercials.At the age of 61, Don Pietromonaco, actor and veteran voiceover coach, passed away from complications due to emphysema.
Trivia
- He once sent a film clip to the children's show The Banana Splits entitled "Pop Cop". This was a sped-up depiction of a policeman directing traffic at a St. Louis intersection, and the name "Pietromonaco" can be seen on a street sign at the beginning.
- During his days at KXOK in St. Louis, Pietromonaco helped raise several million dollars for medical research.
External links
- http://www.jonnieking.net : "Rabbitt Tracks"...Personal History; "The Rare Rabbitt Pepsi Demo" (Spring,1966)
- Obituary, VarietyVariety (magazine)Variety is an American weekly entertainment-trade magazine founded in New York City, New York, in 1905 by Sime Silverman. With the rise of the importance of the motion-picture industry, Daily Variety, a daily edition based in Los Angeles, California, was founded by Silverman in 1933. In 1998, the...
. - Legacy Inductees, St. Louis Radio Hall of Fame.
- Post stories make Rabbitts hopping mad, STLRadio.com. The video can be seen on youtube.com by searching for Pop Cop.