Fran Allison facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Fran Allison
|
|
|---|---|
Allison in 1953
|
|
| Born |
Frances Helen Allison
November 20, 1907 La Porte City, Iowa, U.S.
|
| Died | June 13, 1989 (aged 81) Sherman Oaks, California, U.S.
|
| Years active | 1937–1980s |
| Spouse(s) | Archie Levington (June 8, 1940 – April 25, 1978) |
Fran Allison (born November 20, 1907 – died June 13, 1989) was a famous American TV and radio star. She was a comedian, a friendly personality, and a singer.
Many people remember her best from the puppet show Kukla, Fran and Ollie. This popular show ran on NBC-TV from 1947 to 1957. Fran, Kukla, and Ollie also hosted The CBS Children's Film Festival. Here, they showed children's movies from all over the world.
Contents
About Fran Allison's Life
Fran's Early Years
Frances Helen Allison was born in La Porte City, Iowa. Her father worked in a grocery store. When she was young, her family moved in with her grandparents. Their house is still there today.
Fran went to Coe College and finished in 1927. After college, she taught fourth grade for four years. She taught in small towns in Iowa. Then, she started her career in broadcasting. This was at a radio station called WMT in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
Fran's Radio Career
In 1937, Fran moved to Chicago. She started working for NBC Radio as a singer and a personality. She became a regular on a very popular radio show called The Breakfast Club.
For 25 years, she played a character named "Aunt Fanny." Aunt Fanny was a funny, gossipy lady from a small town. Fran's Aunt Fanny character also appeared on a TV show called Ozark Jubilee in the late 1950s.
Kukla, Fran and Ollie TV Show
In 1947, a TV director in Chicago wanted to create a puppet show. He asked Burr Tillstrom, who created the puppets, to join. Tillstrom then asked Fran Allison to be part of the show. They had met before during World War II.
Fran was the only human on the live show. She played the role of a kind older sister. She was the calm and happy voice of reason. The puppets, called the Kuklapolitan Players, would talk and play with her.
Fran's Other TV Shows
Fran Allison also had her own TV show. It was called The Fran Allison Show and aired from 1958 to 1960. Later, in the 1980s, she hosted a show for older people called Prime Time. This show was on KHJ-TV in Los Angeles.
Fran's Music Recordings
Fran Allison also made music records. She had two songs that became minor hits. In 1950, her song "Peter Cottontail" was popular around Easter. The next year, her song "Too Young" also did well.
Awards and Recognition
Fran Allison was nominated for an Emmy Award in 1950. This award was for being an outstanding TV personality. In 1959, she won two Chicago Emmy awards.
In 1967, Iowa Wesleyan University gave her an honorary degree. This was to recognize her achievements. In 2002, she was honored by the Chicago/Midwest Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences.
Fran's Personal Life
Fran Allison was married to a music publisher named Archie Levington. In her free time, she worked to help people with mental health. She would travel anywhere to support this cause.
Fran's Passing
Later in her life, Fran Allison lived in Van Nuys, California. She passed away on June 13, 1989, at the age of 81. She was buried in Mount Calvary Cemetery in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
Fran Allison's Legacy
Fran Allison has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. This honor is for her important work in television. She was also inducted into the Chicago Television Academy's Silver Circle in 2002.
In 2009, Fran appeared on a special US postage stamp. The stamp was part of the "Early TV Memories" series. It showed her with her puppet friends, Kukla and Ollie.
See also
In Spanish: Fran Allison para niños
