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Ken Murray (entertainer)
Encyclopedia
Ken Murray was an American
entertainer and author
.
to a family of vaudeville
performers. According to Murray's autobiography (Life on a Pogo Stick), he changed his name because he did not want to ride the coattails of his father's success; he wanted to make a name for himself. Many sources inaccurately list Murray's birth name as "Don Court."
He became famous for his "Blackouts," a stage variety show at the El Capitan Theatre
on Vine Street in Hollywood. The Blackouts played to "standing room only" audiences for almost nine years. He was also known for his home movies of celebrities, which he showcased on several TV specials and variety shows.
, he was one of the many celebrities to volunteer at the Hollywood Canteen
. He later was the original host (1945-57) of Queen for a Day
, on the Mutual Broadcasting System
radio broadcast, which was simulcast on KTSL (now KCBS-TV
), Channel 2 in Los Angeles. In 1947, he produced Bill and Coo
, a feature film cleverly using trained birds and other animals as actors. He was also the host of The Ken Murray Show, a weekly music and comedy show on CBS Television that ran between 1950 and 1953.
Murray filmed Hollywood celebrities and collected them in compilation films such as Hollywood Without Make-Up
(1963). In the early 1960s, his short films were used to fill time when network movies ran short of the hour.
impresario Earl Carroll
. On December 6, 1956, Murray guest starred on NBC
's The Ford Show, Starring Tennessee Ernie Ford
. He also appeared in an episode of the ABC
sitcom The Bing Crosby Show
(1964-1965) and in the Walt Disney film Follow Me, Boys!
(1966).
, California
, aged 85. For his contribution to the radio industry, Murray has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame
at 1724 Vine Street
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
entertainer and author
Author
An author is broadly defined as "the person who originates or gives existence to anything" and that authorship determines responsibility for what is created. Narrowly defined, an author is the originator of any written work.-Legal significance:...
.
Vaudeville
Murray was born Kenneth Doncourt 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...
to a family of vaudeville
Vaudeville
Vaudeville was a theatrical genre of variety entertainment in the United States and Canada from the early 1880s until the early 1930s. Each performance was made up of a series of separate, unrelated acts grouped together on a common bill...
performers. According to Murray's autobiography (Life on a Pogo Stick), he changed his name because he did not want to ride the coattails of his father's success; he wanted to make a name for himself. Many sources inaccurately list Murray's birth name as "Don Court."
He became famous for his "Blackouts," a stage variety show at the El Capitan Theatre
El Capitan Theatre
El Capitan Theatre is a fully restored movie palace at 6838 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood. It is owned by Pacific Theatres and operated by the Walt Disney Company. It serves as the venue for many of Walt Disney Pictures' movie premieres...
on Vine Street in Hollywood. The Blackouts played to "standing room only" audiences for almost nine years. He was also known for his home movies of celebrities, which he showcased on several TV specials and variety shows.
Radio
During World War IIWorld 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...
, he was one of the many celebrities to volunteer at the Hollywood Canteen
Hollywood Canteen
The Hollywood Canteen operated at 1451 Cahuenga Boulevard in Hollywood, California between October 3, 1942 and November 22, 1945 as a club offering food, dancing and entertainment for servicemen, usually on their way overseas...
. He later was the original host (1945-57) of Queen for a Day
Queen for a Day
Queen for a Day is an American radio and television game show that helped to usher in American listeners' and viewers' fascination with big-prize giveaway shows. Queen for a Day originated on the Mutual Radio Network on April 30, 1945 in New York City before moving to Los Angeles a few months...
, on the Mutual Broadcasting System
Mutual Broadcasting System
The Mutual Broadcasting System was an American radio network, in operation from 1934 to 1999. In the golden age of U.S. radio drama, MBS was best known as the original network home of The Lone Ranger and The Adventures of Superman and as the long-time radio residence of The Shadow...
radio broadcast, which was simulcast on KTSL (now KCBS-TV
KCBS-TV
KCBS-TV, channel 2, is an owned-and-operated television station of the CBS Television Network, located in Los Angeles, California. KCBS-TV shares its offices and studio facilities with sister station KCAL-TV inside CBS Studio Center in the Studio City section of Los Angeles, and its transmitter...
), Channel 2 in Los Angeles. In 1947, he produced Bill and Coo
Bill and Coo
Bill and Coo is a 1948 color film directed by Dean Riesner and conceived to showcase George Burton's trained birds .The 61-minute live action film stars many types of birds, including budgies and lovebirds. It also features other trained animals, including cats, dogs and a crow...
, a feature film cleverly using trained birds and other animals as actors. He was also the host of The Ken Murray Show, a weekly music and comedy show on CBS Television that ran between 1950 and 1953.
Murray filmed Hollywood celebrities and collected them in compilation films such as Hollywood Without Make-Up
Hollywood Without Make-Up
Hollywood Without Make-Up is a 1963 American film directed by Rudy Behlmer, Loring d'Usseau, Ken Murray .- Plot summary :The film consists of archive footage of famous Hollywood stars, mostly home movies showing the stars as themselves instead of playing a role in front of the camera.- Cast :*Ken...
(1963). In the early 1960s, his short films were used to fill time when network movies ran short of the hour.
Books
He was also the author of a number of books, including his own story published in 1960 and the only complete life story in print of Broadway theatreBroadway 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...
impresario Earl Carroll
Earl Carroll
Earl Carroll was an American theatrical producer, director, songwriter and composer born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.-Career:...
. On December 6, 1956, Murray guest starred on 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...
's The Ford Show, Starring Tennessee Ernie Ford
The Ford Show
The Ford Show is a half-hour comedy/variety program, starring singer and folk humorist Tennessee Ernie Ford, which aired in color on NBC television on Thursday evenings from October 4, 1956 to June 29, 1961....
. He also appeared in an episode of the ABC
American Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
sitcom The Bing Crosby Show
The Bing Crosby Show
The Bing Crosby Show is a 28-episode situation comedy television program starring crooner, film star, iconic phenomenon, and businessman Bing Crosby and actress Beverly Garland as a middle-aged couple, Bing and Ellie Collins, rearing two teenaged daughters during the early 1960s...
(1964-1965) and in the Walt Disney film Follow Me, Boys!
Follow Me, Boys!
Follow Me, Boys! is a 1966 family film released through Walt Disney Pictures, based on the book God and My Country by MacKinlay Kantor. It was the last production released before Walt Disney died of lung cancer...
(1966).
Death
Ken Murray died in BurbankBurbank, 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....
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, aged 85. For his contribution to the radio industry, Murray has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame
Hollywood Walk of Fame
The Hollywood Walk of Fame consists of more than 2,400 five-pointed terrazzo and brass stars embedded in the sidewalks along fifteen blocks of Hollywood Boulevard and three blocks of Vine Street in Hollywood, California...
at 1724 Vine Street
Vine Street
Vine is a street in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California that runs north-south from Melrose Avenue up past Hollywood Boulevard. The intersection of Hollywood and Vine was once a symbol of Hollywood itself...
.
Films
- Ken Murray's Shooting Stars (1979)
- Hollywood, My Home Town (1965)
- Hollywood Without Make-UpHollywood Without Make-UpHollywood Without Make-Up is a 1963 American film directed by Rudy Behlmer, Loring d'Usseau, Ken Murray .- Plot summary :The film consists of archive footage of famous Hollywood stars, mostly home movies showing the stars as themselves instead of playing a role in front of the camera.- Cast :*Ken...
(1963) - Bill and Coo (1947)