Royal Parker
Encyclopedia
Royal Pollokoff better known by the stage name
Royal Parker, is an American
television personality. In a broadcasting career spanning the 1940s–1990s, he appeared in various roles, becoming a staple on television screens in the Baltimore, Maryland, area.
in 1946. He began his broadcasting career in the late 1940s on WASA (now WJSS
), an AM radio
station in Havre de Grace, Maryland
, hosting a music program called the Royal Record Review. He moved to television when the medium was in its infancy, joining WAAM-TV (now WJZ-TV
) in Baltimore in 1951.
was elected U. S. President
and J. Glenn Beall
was elected U.S. Senator from Maryland. He created a children's television character, Mister Poplolly, in which he would don an oversized hat and glasses, along with a clown's nose, for a daily show. Later, he portrayed a Popeye
-like sailor hosting a daily cartoon show. Parker also did commercials, including the Buddy Deane Show between 1957–1962 (by then, WAAM had been sold to Westinghouse and its call letters changed to WJZ-TV).
In 1962, Parker moved to WBAL-TV
, where he hosted such popular televised bowling
programs as Pinbusters and Bowling for Dollars in the 1970s. While at WBAL, he played P. W. Doodle, a newsboy character he created based on his own experience selling newspapers in Baltimore as a youth. On November 22, 1963, he was called upon to broadcast the news flash of U.S. President John F. Kennedy's assassination
.
Parker remained at WBAL-TV until his retirement in 1994. Reflecting on his varied roles in the early pioneering years of commercial television, Parker recalled in 2008 that when he started at WAAM in 1951, earning $45 per week, "We just figured things out as we went along. In six months, you did everything. I could run a control board, or put on a cooking show".
in 1994, but lost in the primary election
. Parker and his wife, Phyllis, have three sons and live in the Baltimore suburb of Pikesville
. He remains active in local charitable work, including frequent benefit appearances for the Mount Washington Pediatric Hospital.
Stage name
A stage name, also called a showbiz name or screen name, is a pseudonym used by performers and entertainers such as actors, wrestlers, comedians, and musicians.-Motivation to use a stage name:...
Royal Parker, is an American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
television personality. In a broadcasting career spanning the 1940s–1990s, he appeared in various roles, becoming a staple on television screens in the Baltimore, Maryland, area.
Early years
Born in Baltimore, Maryland, on April 8, 1929, Parker graduated from Baltimore City CollegeBaltimore City College
The Baltimore City College , also referred to as The Castle on the Hill, historically as The College, and most commonly City, is a public high school in Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.A. The City College curriculum includes the International Baccalaureate Programme and emphasizes study in the classics...
in 1946. He began his broadcasting career in the late 1940s on WASA (now WJSS
WJSS
WJSS is a radio station broadcasting a News Talk Information format. Licensed to Havre De Grace, Maryland, USA, it serves the Baltimore area...
), an AM radio
AM broadcasting
AM broadcasting is the process of radio broadcasting using amplitude modulation. AM was the first method of impressing sound on a radio signal and is still widely used today. Commercial and public AM broadcasting is carried out in the medium wave band world wide, and on long wave and short wave...
station in Havre de Grace, Maryland
Havre de Grace, Maryland
Havre de Grace is a city in Harford County, Maryland, United States. Located at the mouth of the Susquehanna River and the head of the Chesapeake Bay, Havre de Grace is named after the port city of Le Havre, France, which was first named Le Havre de Grâce, meaning in French "Harbor of Grace." As...
, hosting a music program called the Royal Record Review. He moved to television when the medium was in its infancy, joining WAAM-TV (now WJZ-TV
WJZ-TV
WJZ-TV, channel 13, is an owned and operated television station of the CBS Television Network, located in Baltimore, Maryland. WJZ-TV's studios and offices are located on Television Hill in the Woodberry section of Baltimore, adjacent to the transmission tower it shares with four other Baltimore...
) in Baltimore in 1951.
Television career
Parker served in diverse roles during his more than four decade career in television (1951–1994), including newscasts, sports events, children's programs, announcing duties, and commercials. As a television newscaster with WAAM-TV in Baltimore, Parker covered the 1952 elections, when Dwight D. EisenhowerDwight D. Eisenhower
Dwight David "Ike" Eisenhower was the 34th President of the United States, from 1953 until 1961. He was a five-star general in the United States Army...
was elected U. S. President
United States presidential election, 1952
The United States presidential election of 1952 took place in an era when Cold War tension between the United States and the Soviet Union was escalating rapidly. In the United States Senate, Republican Senator Joseph McCarthy of Wisconsin had become a national figure after chairing congressional...
and J. Glenn Beall
James Glenn Beall
James Glenn Beall was a Republican member of the United States Senate, representing the State of Maryland from 1953–1965. He was also a United States Congressman, representing the sixth district of Maryland from 1943–1953.-Biography:...
was elected U.S. Senator from Maryland. He created a children's television character, Mister Poplolly, in which he would don an oversized hat and glasses, along with a clown's nose, for a daily show. Later, he portrayed a Popeye
Popeye
Popeye the Sailor is a cartoon fictional character created by Elzie Crisler Segar, who has appeared in comic strips and animated cartoons in the cinema as well as on television. He first appeared in the daily King Features comic strip Thimble Theatre on January 17, 1929...
-like sailor hosting a daily cartoon show. Parker also did commercials, including the Buddy Deane Show between 1957–1962 (by then, WAAM had been sold to Westinghouse and its call letters changed to WJZ-TV).
In 1962, Parker moved to WBAL-TV
WBAL-TV
WBAL-TV is the NBC-affiliated television station in Baltimore, Maryland. It broadcasts a high definition digital signal on VHF channel 11. It is one of the flagship stations of Hearst Television, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Hearst Corporation, which also owns sister radio stations WBAL and...
, where he hosted such popular televised bowling
Bowling
Bowling Bowling Bowling (1375–1425; late Middle English bowle, variant of boule Bowling (1375–1425; late Middle English bowle, variant of boule...
programs as Pinbusters and Bowling for Dollars in the 1970s. While at WBAL, he played P. W. Doodle, a newsboy character he created based on his own experience selling newspapers in Baltimore as a youth. On November 22, 1963, he was called upon to broadcast the news flash of U.S. President John F. Kennedy's assassination
John F. Kennedy assassination
John Fitzgerald Kennedy, the thirty-fifth President of the United States, was assassinated at 12:30 p.m. Central Standard Time on Friday, November 22, 1963, in Dealey Plaza, Dallas, Texas...
.
Parker remained at WBAL-TV until his retirement in 1994. Reflecting on his varied roles in the early pioneering years of commercial television, Parker recalled in 2008 that when he started at WAAM in 1951, earning $45 per week, "We just figured things out as we went along. In six months, you did everything. I could run a control board, or put on a cooking show".
Later years and personal life
After leaving broadcasting, Parker ran for a seat in the Maryland House of DelegatesMaryland House of Delegates
The Maryland House of Delegates is the lower house of the General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Maryland, and is composed of 141 Delegates elected from 47 districts. The House chamber is located in the state capitol building on State Circle in Annapolis...
in 1994, but lost in the primary election
Primary election
A primary election is an election in which party members or voters select candidates for a subsequent election. Primary elections are one means by which a political party nominates candidates for the next general election....
. Parker and his wife, Phyllis, have three sons and live in the Baltimore suburb of Pikesville
Pikesville, Maryland
Pikesville is a census-designated place in Baltimore County, Maryland, United States. Pikesville is just northwest of the Baltimore city limits. It is the northwestern suburb closest to Baltimore.The population was 29,123 at the 2000 census...
. He remains active in local charitable work, including frequent benefit appearances for the Mount Washington Pediatric Hospital.