Jack Lescoulie facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Jack Lescoulie
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Jack Lescoulie circa 1954
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| Born | November 17, 1912 Sacramento, California, U.S.
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| Died | July 12, 1987 (aged 74) Memphis, Tennessee, U.S.
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| Resting place | Saint Mary's Cemetery, Greenwich, Connecticut |
| Years active | 1938-1960 |
| Spouse(s) | Virginia Lescoulie (?-1987) (his death) (2 children) |
| Children | Linda Ann, John Phillip |
| Career | |
| Show | Today |
| Station(s) | NBC |
Jack Lescoulie (born November 17, 1912 – died July 22, 1987) was a famous radio and TV host. He was well-known for his work on NBC's Today in the 1950s and 1960s. Jack was also great at imitating the voice of comedian Jack Benny.
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Jack's Early Life
Jack Lescoulie was born in Sacramento, California. His parents were both performers in vaudeville, and Jack started performing at age 7.
His first job in media was at a radio station called KGFJ in Los Angeles. He was still in high school then. Young Jack helped the station report on the 1933 Long Beach earthquake. Later, Jack Lescoulie received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for his television work.
Radio Career
In the early 1930s, Jack Lescoulie had his own orchestra. It broadcast on KGFJ radio in California.
The Grouch Club
From 1938 to 1940, he was known as the "Grouchmaster" on a show called The Grouch Club. On this program, people would call in to share their complaints about anything. The show was created by Nat Hiken, who also made famous TV shows like The Phil Silvers Show.
WNEW Radio
In the 1940s, Jack worked with Gene Rayburn on WNEW radio in New York City. They hosted the morning show together. Their pairing is thought to be one of the first two-man morning radio teams. While at WNEW, Jack also hosted an overnight show called Milkman's Matinee.
War Correspondent
During World War II, Jack Lescoulie became a war correspondent. He flew in Air Force planes on bombing missions over Italy. This showed his bravery and dedication.
All-Night Radio
In 1947, Jack became the "all night radio man" for Mutual Broadcasting System's station WOR (AM) in New York. He even acted in a fantasy radio drama called "Twelve to Five" in 1948. It was so realistic that some listeners called in with song requests!
Television Work
Jack Lescoulie also had a big career in television. He hosted one of the first TV game shows, Fun and Fortune, in 1949. He was also an announcer for Jackie Gleason's Cavalcade of Stars and The Honeymooners. He continued to announce for Gleason until the mid-1960s.
On The Today Show
Jack Lescoulie had a very long run on Today from 1952 to 1967. His jobs included announcing the show every hour. He also interviewed guests, reported on sports, and chatted with the audience outside the studio. He was known for being a good sport for host Dave Garroway's jokes. Jack once joked that he was chosen for Today because he "doesn't sleep well in the mornings."
Dave Garroway nicknamed Jack "The Saver." This was because Jack could make even boring parts of the show exciting. For example, he once acted a scene from a play with Jayne Mansfield. Another time, Buster Keaton hit him in the face with a pie! Jack often traveled with Garroway for Today's overseas visits. He helped host the shows from Paris in 1959 and Rome in 1960. In Rome, he even took an "accidental" dive into the famous Trevi Fountain.
Hosting The Tonight Show
For six months in 1957, Jack Lescoulie hosted The Tonight Show. After Steve Allen left, NBC changed the show's name to Tonight! America After Dark. It became more like Today, focusing on interviews and news. Jack hosted from January 28 to June 21, 1957.
Leaving and Returning to Today
Starting in 1958, Today stopped broadcasting live. Instead, they taped the show the afternoon before. NBC said this would make scheduling interviews easier. However, it was mainly to reduce stress on the cast. When Dave Garroway left in 1961, NBC announced Today would go back to live broadcasts. Jack Lescoulie resigned right away, saying he "can't face those hours anymore."
Jack then hosted an NBC educational children's series called 1, 2, 3 Go!. This show was canceled in May 1962. But Jack returned to Today that summer and stayed for another five years. He finally left the show for good in 1967. Other famous hosts like Joe Garagiola and Willard Scott later took on roles similar to Jack's.
Film Roles
Between 1938 and 1950, Jack Lescoulie appeared in several films. Most of his roles were small and uncredited. However, he used the name Joe Hartman when he acted in the movie Emergency Landing (1941).
Jack also did voice-overs for two Warner Bros. Cartoons shorts:
- Daffy Duck and the Dinosaur (1939): He voiced Casper Caveman, imitating Jack Benny.
- Malibu Beach Party (1940): He voiced Jack Bunny, also imitating Jack Benny.
Stage Appearances
Jack Lescoulie performed in one Broadway play called Tapestry in Gray (1935-1936). He also appeared in other plays, such as Achilles Had a Heel in New York City in 1935.
Death
Jack Lescoulie passed away on July 22, 1987. He died in St. Francis Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee, where he was being treated for colon cancer.
See also
In Spanish: Jack Lescoulie para niños
