Lee Vines (April 11, 1919 – July 9, 2011) was a Canadian-born American radio and television announcer and actor. He was best known to television audiences in the 1950s as the announcer on the What's My Line? game show.[1]
Lee Vines | |
|---|---|
| Born | April 11, 1919 Brantford, Ontario, Canada |
| Died | July 9, 2011 (aged 92) |
| Occupations | Announcer, actor |
| Years active | 1948–1990 |
| Spouse | Catherine |
Personal life
editLee Vines was born on April 11, 1919, in Brantford, Ontario, Canada, but emigrated to the United States.[1] He was a veteran, having served in the U.S. Army from 1943 to 1945.
Radio
editVines had been working in radio since the late 1930s, while attending high school in Camden, New Jersey.[2] He became a staff announcer for station WIP in Philadelphia in 1939, replacing Louis Pierce who relocated to Texas,[3] but resigned in September 1942 to accept a job with the CBS network.[4] Vines's relief announcer Bill Manns replaced him.[5] Vines also dabbled in songwriting, collaborating on a pop tune, "Slick as a Whistle".[6] In September 1943, he enlisted in the Army and served in the European Theater.[1]
After Vines's military service he returned to CBS, announcing for such shows as Bouquet for You,[7] County Fair,[7]: 84 Dr. Standish, Medical Examiner,[7]: 102 The Janette Davis Show,[7]: 172 Kings Row[8] and Time for Love.[7]: 335
Television
editLee Vines was closely associated with the ubiquitous TV personality Robert Q. Lewis during the 1950s. Vines was the announcer for Lewis's popular prime-time game show The Name's the Same and Lewis's daytime game show Make the Connection. He also announced Robert Q.'s Matinee and The Robert Q. Lewis Show, weekday-afternoon variety shows featuring light conversation and musical numbers. As part of the Lewis ensemble, "Lee Vines has been transformed from a straight announcer to a singer, dancer, comedian, and impersonator of Liberace."[9]
During his tenure with Lewis, Vines took a flier in dramatic work, playing character roles on CBS Workshop and The Second Mrs. Burton.[10]
Vines also was the announcer for other television shows including The Big Surprise,[11] Celebrity Talent Scouts,[11]: 173 Down You Go,[11]: 282 Fractured Phrases,[11]: 362 The Funny Side,[11]: 373 Medic,[11]: 676 Picture This[11]: 834 Password and Hallmark Hall of Fame.[1] His acting and voice-over roles included Hong Kong Phooey and The Mary Tyler Moore Show (as WJM announcer Lee).[11]: 662
Death
editVines lived into his nineties but in failing health. He died from complications of pneumonia and a fall at a convalescent facility in North Hollywood, Los Angeles, on July 9, 2011, at the age of 92.[1]
References
edit- 1 2 3 4 5 "Passings: Raymond Jones, Cal Montney, Allan Eckert, Lee Vines, Ramona Hahn, Frank Billerbeck". Los Angeles Times. 2011-07-11. Retrieved 2011-07-12.
- ↑ TV-Radio Mirror, "Who's Who on the Robert Q. Lewis Show?:, November 1957, p. 37.
- ↑ Broadcasting, Apr. 1, 1939, p. 57.
- ↑ Broadcasting, Sept. 21, 1942, p. 42.
- ↑ Variety, Oct. 21, 1942, p. 42.
- ↑ Broadcasting, Jan. 13, 1942, p. 42.
- 1 2 3 4 5 Terrace, Vincent (1999). Radio Programs, 1924-1984: A Catalog of More Than 1800 Shows. McFarland & Company, Inc. ISBN 978-0-7864-4513-4. p. 49
- ↑ Plotnik, Gene (March 10, 1951). "Kings Row" (PDF). Billboard. p. 8. Retrieved 12 February 2017.
- ↑ Ed Meyerson, TV-Radio Mirror, May 1955, p. 105.
- ↑ Peter Abbott, TV-Radio Mirror, December 1957, p . 7.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Terrace, Vincent (2011). Encyclopedia of television shows, 1925 through 2010 (2nd ed.). Jefferson, N.C.: McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers. p. 104. ISBN 978-0-7864-6477-7.