Michael Fitzmaurice
Encyclopedia
Born in Chicago, the baritone-voiced Fitzmaurice was heard often on radio dramas during the 1940s as both announcer and actor. From 1944 to 1947, he was the host of Mutual's Quiz of Two Cities. He was the announcer for Tales of Fatima, The Right to Happiness, Land of the Lost
Land of the Lost (radio)
Land of the Lost was a 1940s radio fantasy adventure, written and narrated by Isabel Manning Hewson, about the adventures of two children who traveled underwater with the fatherly fish Red Lantern...
and Nick Carter, Master Detective
Nick Carter, Master Detective
Nick Carter, Master Detective was a Mutual radio crime drama based on tales of the famed detective from Street & Smith's dime novels and pulp magazines. Nick Carter first came to radio as The Return of Nick Carter, a reference to the character's pulp origins, but the title was soon changed to Nick...
. On June 5, 1950, he took over the title role on ABC's The Adventures of Superman
The Adventures of Superman (radio)
The Adventures of Superman was a long running radio serial that originally aired from 1940 to 1951, adapted from the DC Comics character. ....
, providing voices for both Clark Kent and Superman until the series came to an end. He was heard as Superman for a total of 78 broadcasts.
Blackhawk
Blackhawk (radio)
Blackhawk was a 1950 ABC radio series adapted from the long-run Blackhawk comic book about the team of adventurous World War II aviators....
was a 1950 ABC radio series adapted from the long-run Blackhawk comic book about the team of adventurous World War II aviators. With Fitzmaurice portraying team leader Blackhawk, the series premiered September 13, 1950 and concluded a few months later on December 27, 1950. He also was the Hawk on the adventure serial The Sparrow and the Hawk.
Fitzmaurice was a regular on several soap operas. He played Jimmie Kent on Myrt and Marge, and he also appeared on Joyce Jordan, M.D., When a Girl Marries
When a Girl Marries
When a Girl Marries was a daytime radio drama which was broadcast on three major radio networks from 1939 to 1957. Created by Elaine Sterne Carrington , it was the highest rated soap opera during the mid-1940s.The series premiered May 29, 1939 on CBS, moving to NBC on September 29, 1941 and then to...
and Pepper Young's Family
Pepper Young's Family
Pepper Young's Family was one of radio's more popular daytime drama series, with various format and title changes during its long run from 1932 to 1959...
. He played Captain Bob Hastings on This Life Is MIne and Dick Grosvenor on Stella Dallas
Stella Dallas (radio series)
Stella Dallas was an America radio soap opera that ran from 1937 to 1955. The title character was the beautiful daughter of an impoverished farmhand who had married above her station in life. She was played for the entire run of the series by Anne Elstner .Her husband Stephen Dallas was portrayed...
.
In addition to his radio work, Fitzmaurice was narrator of the Hearst-MGM News of the Day
Hearst Metrotone News
Hearst Metrotone News was a newsreel series produced by the Hearst Corporation, founded by William Randolph Hearst.-History:...
newsreel
Newsreel
A newsreel was a form of short documentary film prevalent in the first half of the 20th century, regularly released in a public presentation place and containing filmed news stories and items of topical interest. It was a source of news, current affairs and entertainment for millions of moviegoers...
shown in movie theaters.
Sources
- Cox, JimJim Cox (radio)Jim Cox, a retired college professor living in Louisville, Kentucky, is a leading historian on the subject of radio programming in the 20th century...
. Historical Dictionary of American Radio Soap Operas, Scarecrow Press, 2005.