Paul Shannon
Encyclopedia
Paul V. Shannon was a veteran Pittsburgh radio announcer in the days before commercial television. He worked for years at KDKA
radio in Pittsburgh
, Pennsylvania
, and hosted his own show as the "Dream Weaver," reading romantic poetry to electric organ accompaniment in the style of Peter Grant
on the famous Cincinnati radio program Moon River
over WLW
. He also hosted the syndicated science-focused program Adventures in Research with Thomas Phillips.
After moving to WTAE TV, he became a Pittsburgh legend, particularly to the Baby Boom generation, as host of the popular children's television show Adventure Time. The show aired on WTAE
channel 4 in the afternoons. The show showed Three Stooges
shorts, the vast library of Warner Bros. Cartoons
, Rocky and Bullwinkle cartoons, Little Rascals shorts, and the first color Anime
, Kimba the White Lion
in serialised form along with skits and songs.
Shannon also played to a studio audience that attended each broadcast, usually scout troops and amused his audiences with his alter ego, "Nosmo King", a play on "No Smoking" signs (but not to be confused with H. Vernon Watson (1886–1949), the British music hall artist who also performed as Nosmo King
). Puppeteer Hank Stohl had another puppet called Knish, which was nicer than Nosmo King.
He also used a prop he dubbed "The Magic Sword."
A high point of the show came each Christmas season, when Paul Shannon read children's letters to Santa Claus
, placed them into a rocket, and launched it to the North Pole.
Shannon was one of several 1950s-1960s children's TV hosts to begin presenting reruns of the Three Stooges
on Adventure Time, bringing the trio's 1930s and 1940s comedy shorts to an entirely new audience. It helped revive the Stooges as a viable act at a time when they were considered ancient history, leading to an entirely new career of stage and film appearances. In gratitude to Shannon and several other hosts, the Stooges featured them in cameo roles in their feature film. Shannon played Wild Bill Hickok
in the Three Stooges
film, The Outlaws Is Coming
. He retired and moved to Lantana, Florida in 1975, and died there of brain cancer at age 80 in 1990.
KDKA (AM)
KDKA is a radio station licensed to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA. Created by the Westinghouse Electric Corporation on November 2, 1920, it is one of the world's first modern radio stations , a distinction that has also been challenged by other stations, although it has claimed to be the first in...
radio in Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh is the second-largest city in the US Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Allegheny County. Regionally, it anchors the largest urban area of Appalachia and the Ohio River Valley, and nationally, it is the 22nd-largest urban area in the United States...
, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
, and hosted his own show as the "Dream Weaver," reading romantic poetry to electric organ accompaniment in the style of Peter Grant
Peter Grant
Peter "G" Grant was an English music manager. Grant managed the popular English bands The Yardbirds, Led Zeppelin and Bad Company, among others, and was also a record executive for Swan Song Records. Grant has been described as "one of the shrewdest and most ruthless managers in rock history"...
on the famous Cincinnati radio program Moon River
Moon River (radio program)
Moon River was a long-running late-night American radio program which originated from WLW in Cincinnati, Ohio. A combination of soft, "dreamy" music and romantic poetry set to organ accompaniment, the program aired from 1930 to 1972.-History:...
over WLW
WLW
WLW is a clear channel talk radio station located in Cincinnati, Ohio, run by Clear Channel Communications. The station broadcasts locally on 700 kHz AM...
. He also hosted the syndicated science-focused program Adventures in Research with Thomas Phillips.
After moving to WTAE TV, he became a Pittsburgh legend, particularly to the Baby Boom generation, as host of the popular children's television show Adventure Time. The show aired on WTAE
WTAE-TV
WTAE-TV is the ABC affiliated television station for Western Pennsylvania that is licensed to Pittsburgh, broadcasting on UHF channel 51 and identifying via PSIP as channel 4 . It also serves as an ABC affiliate for the Wheeling/Steubenville and Clarksburg/Weston, West Virginia market areas...
channel 4 in the afternoons. The show showed Three Stooges
Three Stooges
The Three Stooges were an American vaudeville and comedy act of the early to mid–20th century best known for their numerous short subject films. Their hallmark was physical farce and extreme slapstick. In films, the Stooges were commonly known by their first names: "Moe, Larry, and Curly" and "Moe,...
shorts, the vast library of Warner Bros. Cartoons
Warner Bros. Cartoons
Warner Bros. Cartoons, Inc. was the in-house division of Warner Bros. Pictures during the Golden Age of American animation. One of the most successful animation studios in American media history, Warner Bros. Cartoons was primarily responsible for the Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies theatrical...
, Rocky and Bullwinkle cartoons, Little Rascals shorts, and the first color Anime
Anime
is the Japanese abbreviated pronunciation of "animation". The definition sometimes changes depending on the context. In English-speaking countries, the term most commonly refers to Japanese animated cartoons....
, Kimba the White Lion
Kimba the White Lion
, known in the United States as Kimba the White Lion, is an anime series from the 1960s. Created by Osamu Tezuka and based on his manga of the same title which began publication in 1950, it was the first color animated television series created in Japan. The manga was first published in serialized...
in serialised form along with skits and songs.
Shannon also played to a studio audience that attended each broadcast, usually scout troops and amused his audiences with his alter ego, "Nosmo King", a play on "No Smoking" signs (but not to be confused with H. Vernon Watson (1886–1949), the British music hall artist who also performed as Nosmo King
H. Vernon Watson
H. Vernon Watson , better known as his character Nosmo King, was a popular English variety artist. He was touring the music halls before World War I, but he remained relatively obscure until the 1920s, when he shot to fame as Nosmo King....
). Puppeteer Hank Stohl had another puppet called Knish, which was nicer than Nosmo King.
He also used a prop he dubbed "The Magic Sword."
A high point of the show came each Christmas season, when Paul Shannon read children's letters to Santa Claus
Santa Claus
Santa Claus is a folklore figure in various cultures who distributes gifts to children, normally on Christmas Eve. Each name is a variation of Saint Nicholas, but refers to Santa Claus...
, placed them into a rocket, and launched it to the North Pole.
Shannon was one of several 1950s-1960s children's TV hosts to begin presenting reruns of the Three Stooges
Three Stooges
The Three Stooges were an American vaudeville and comedy act of the early to mid–20th century best known for their numerous short subject films. Their hallmark was physical farce and extreme slapstick. In films, the Stooges were commonly known by their first names: "Moe, Larry, and Curly" and "Moe,...
on Adventure Time, bringing the trio's 1930s and 1940s comedy shorts to an entirely new audience. It helped revive the Stooges as a viable act at a time when they were considered ancient history, leading to an entirely new career of stage and film appearances. In gratitude to Shannon and several other hosts, the Stooges featured them in cameo roles in their feature film. Shannon played Wild Bill Hickok
Wild Bill Hickok
James Butler Hickok , better known as Wild Bill Hickok, was a folk hero of the American Old West. His skills as a gunfighter and scout, along with his reputation as a lawman, provided the basis for his fame, although some of his exploits are fictionalized.Hickok came to the West as a stagecoach...
in the Three Stooges
Three Stooges
The Three Stooges were an American vaudeville and comedy act of the early to mid–20th century best known for their numerous short subject films. Their hallmark was physical farce and extreme slapstick. In films, the Stooges were commonly known by their first names: "Moe, Larry, and Curly" and "Moe,...
film, The Outlaws Is Coming
The Outlaws Is Coming
The Outlaws IS Coming! is the sixth and last theatrical feature film to star the Three Stooges after their 1959 resurgence in popularity. By this time, the trio consisted of Moe Howard, Larry Fine, and Joe DeRita . Like its predecessor, The Three Stooges Go Around the World in a Daze...
. He retired and moved to Lantana, Florida in 1975, and died there of brain cancer at age 80 in 1990.
External links
- Leigh Ann Eagleston, "Memories are memorial to Shannon", Pittsburgh Post-GazettePittsburgh Post-GazetteThe Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, also known simply as the "PG," is the largest daily newspaper serving metropolitan Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA.-Early history:...
, July 26, 1990 - "Paul Shannon" (obituary), Orlando SentinelOrlando SentinelThe Orlando Sentinel is the primary newspaper of the Orlando, Florida region. It was founded in 1876. The Sentinel is owned by Tribune Company and is overseen by the Chicago Tribune. As of 2005, the Sentinel’s president and publisher was Kathleen Waltz; she announced her resignation in February 2008...
, July 27, 1990 - "Marjorie Thoma McCormick Michaux" (obituary), Pittsburgh Post-GazettePittsburgh Post-GazetteThe Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, also known simply as the "PG," is the largest daily newspaper serving metropolitan Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA.-Early history:...
, August 26, 1999 - Arcane Radio Trivia article
- The Outlaws Is Coming at Kiddiematinee.com