Lou Steele
Encyclopedia
Louis J. "Lou" Steele was an American
actor
, radio
, and television
announcer
.
Born Louis Ferraioli in 1928, he was an announcer on Armed Forces Radio
during the Korean War
, and was the voice who informed the troops that their commander, General Douglas MacArthur
, had been recalled by President Harry S Truman. Beginning in the 1950s, Lou was an announcer on WNEW-TV
Channel 5 out of New York City
.
Prior to this, he was a staff announcer on radio station WPAT
in Paterson, New Jersey
. In the late 1980s, Steele was an anchor
of a nightly newscast
on a low-power television station
in New York. http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=940DE5D61331F932A05751C1A96E948260&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=all
Steele voiced the catch phrase
, coined by his announcer-booth colleague Tom Gregory
: "It's 10 P.M. Do you know where your children are?" In addition, in the early 1980s Steele voiced another brief public service announcement
for the station, "It's 7 P.M. Did you hug your child today?"
While on at WNEW-TV Lou was also the host for the local horror show Creature Features
(1969–1973). Known as "The Creep," Lou would appear without the normal make-up or costume typical of horror hosts of the day. At various times, Lou would conduct contests that involved coming up with trivia questions, made-up quotes spoofing notable horror film titles, or flashing parts of a title at select times throughout that night’s movie. Contest winners were announced on air.
of a heart attack, aged 72.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
actor
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
, 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 Louis Ferraioli in 1928, he was an announcer on Armed Forces Radio
American Forces Network
The American Forces Network is the brand name used by the United States Armed Forces American Forces Radio and Television Service for its entertainment and command internal information networks worldwide...
during the Korean War
Korean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
, and was the voice who informed the troops that their commander, General Douglas MacArthur
Douglas MacArthur
General of the Army Douglas MacArthur was an American general and field marshal of the Philippine Army. He was a Chief of Staff of the United States Army during the 1930s and played a prominent role in the Pacific theater during World War II. He received the Medal of Honor for his service in the...
, had been recalled by President Harry S Truman. Beginning in the 1950s, Lou was an announcer on WNEW-TV
WNYW
WNYW, virtual channel 5 , is the flagship television station of the News Corporation-owned Fox Broadcasting Company, located in New York City. The station's transmitter is atop the Empire State Building and its studio facilities are located in the Yorkville section of Manhattan...
Channel 5 out of 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...
.
Prior to this, he was a staff announcer on radio station WPAT
WPAT (AM)
WPAT is the callsign of a radio station licensed to Paterson, New Jersey. Located at 930 kHz in the medium-wave AM band, the station runs paid ethnic programming....
in Paterson, New Jersey
Paterson, New Jersey
Paterson is a city serving as the county seat of Passaic County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, its population was 146,199, rendering it New Jersey's third largest city and one of the largest cities in the New York City Metropolitan Area, despite a decrease of 3,023...
. In the late 1980s, Steele was an anchor
News presenter
A news presenter is a person who presents news during a news program in the format of a television show, on the radio or the Internet.News presenters can work in a radio studio, television studio and from remote broadcasts in the field especially weather...
of a nightly newscast
News broadcasting
News broadcasting is the broadcasting of various news events and other information via television, radio or internet in the field of broadcast journalism. The content is usually either produced locally in a radio studio or television studio newsroom, or by a broadcast network...
on a low-power 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...
in New York. http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=940DE5D61331F932A05751C1A96E948260&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=all
Steele voiced the catch phrase
Catch phrase
A catchphrase is a phrase or expression recognized by its repeated utterance. Such phrases often originate in popular culture and in the arts, and typically spread through a variety of mass media , as well as word of mouth...
, coined by his announcer-booth colleague Tom Gregory
Tom Gregory
Thomas R. Gregory was an American radio and television announcer and news anchor.Born in Charleston, South Carolina, Gregory served in the United States Navy during World War II. After the war, he went to Seton Hall University in New Jersey, initially as a law student...
: "It's 10 P.M. Do you know where your children are?" In addition, in the early 1980s Steele voiced another brief public service announcement
Public service announcement
A public service announcement or public service ad is a type of advertisement featured on television, radio, print or other media...
for the station, "It's 7 P.M. Did you hug your child today?"
While on at WNEW-TV Lou was also the host for the local horror show Creature Features
Creature Features (WNEW)
Creature Features a classic horror film show broadcast in the New York Metropolitan Area, on WNEW, Channel 5 . It was hosted by Lou Steele , who became familiar to Channel 5 viewers as the guy who started off the 10 o'clock News by asking: "It's 10 p.m.; do you know where your children...
(1969–1973). Known as "The Creep," Lou would appear without the normal make-up or costume typical of horror hosts of the day. At various times, Lou would conduct contests that involved coming up with trivia questions, made-up quotes spoofing notable horror film titles, or flashing parts of a title at select times throughout that night’s movie. Contest winners were announced on air.
Death
Steele died on February 25, 2001 in his home in Paterson, New JerseyPaterson, New Jersey
Paterson is a city serving as the county seat of Passaic County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, its population was 146,199, rendering it New Jersey's third largest city and one of the largest cities in the New York City Metropolitan Area, despite a decrease of 3,023...
of a heart attack, aged 72.
Filmography
- Some of My Best Friends Are...Some of My Best Friends Are...Some of My Best Friends Are... is a 1971 drama film written and directed by Mervyn Nelson.-Plot:On Christmas Eve 1971 in Manhattan's Greenwich Village, a group of gay men and women meet at the Blue Jay Bar to talk about their lives and relationships....
(1971) - The PawnThe PawnThe Pawn is an interactive fiction game by Magnetic Scrolls which was first published by Rainbird in 1986. It is remembered for its excellent graphics and the opening music available in some game versions. Also the game itself - story and parser - got mostly positive reviews...
(1968) - September AffairSeptember AffairSeptember Affair is a 1950 film, directed by William Dieterle, starring Joan Fontaine, Joseph Cotten and Jessica Tandy. It was produced by Hal B. Wallis.-Plot:...
(1950) - The Furies (1950)