Lee Phillip Bell facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Lee Phillip Bell
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Bell in 1970
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| Born |
Loreley June Phillip
June 10, 1928 Chicago, Illinois, US
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| Died | February 25, 2020 (aged 91) |
| Alma mater | Northwestern University |
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| Years active | 1952–2020 |
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| Children | 3 (including Bradley and Lauralee) |
Lee Phillip Bell (born Loreley June Phillip; June 10, 1928 – February 25, 2020) was a famous American talk show host. She was also a talented creator of popular soap opera shows. During her long career in Chicago television, she hosted more than 10,000 programs. She even worked on five shows a day, seven days a week, when she first started! Later, she helped create two of America's longest-running soap operas.
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About Lee Phillip Bell
Lee Phillip Bell was a very important person in television. She was known for her engaging talk shows. She also co-created two very successful TV dramas. These shows became famous across the country. Her work changed how people watched daytime television.
Her Early Life
Lee Phillip Bell was born Loreley June Phillip. This happened in Chicago, Illinois. Her parents, James and Helen Phillip, were florists. They named her after a beautiful Japanese Anemone flower. She had two brothers, J.R. and Russell.
Lee went to Riverside-Brookfield High School. This school is in Riverside, Illinois. After high school, she studied microbiology at Northwestern University. She earned a degree there.
Her Amazing Career
After college, Lee worked in her family's flower shop. Sometimes, she went with her brother Russell to a local TV station. He showed how to arrange flowers on a talk show. Soon, Lee took over this job. She then left the flower shop to work full-time at the TV station.
Starting in Television
In 1952, Lee started her TV career in Chicago. The station was WBKB-TV Channel 4. In 1953, it became WBBM-TV Channel 2. In December 1952, Lee began hosting a short 15-minute show. It aired on weekday afternoons. Soon, she also hosted a five-minute segment. This segment was about "homemaker news."
In 1953, Lee hosted several shows. These included Meet Miss Lee and Mornin’ Miss Lee. She also hosted Lee Phillip's Chicago and Shopping with Miss Lee. Later, her main show became The Lee Phillip Show. It was later renamed Noonbreak. When she hosted Mornin’ Miss Lee, she even gave the weather forecast. She wore a special hat that matched the weather! Lee also read commercials during sports telecasts. By 1955, she had hosted 2,500 shows!
Hosting Children's Shows and Radio
Lee also hosted other programs. From 1955 to 1965, she had a Saturday morning children's show. It was on WBBM-TV and called The Friendship Show. She also hosted a radio show. It was on WBBM Radio with Paul Gibson. This show was called The Lady & The Tiger.
The Lee Phillip Show
The Lee Phillip Show was on TV for over 30 years in Chicago. It talked about important social issues. These were topics that people rarely discussed. Lee explored the lives of prisoners. She also looked at the problems of runaway teens. She even showed the dangers of breast cancer. Her show was one of the first to demonstrate a self-exam on TV.
The show became very popular in Chicago. Many famous guests appeared on it. She interviewed Presidents Richard Nixon and Jimmy Carter. She also spoke with actors like John Wayne, Lucille Ball, and Judy Garland. The Lee Phillip Show was also shown in other cities. It won 16 local Emmy Awards. In 1966, the show had a special Christmas episode. It featured The Nutcracker.
Becoming a Television Producer
Lee Phillip Bell married William Joseph Bell in 1954. He worked in advertising at first. Later, he started writing for soap operas. These included Guiding Light and As the World Turns. Lee would learn about important issues from her TV show. She would then share these ideas with her husband. He would use them in his storylines.
After leaving her talk show, Lee joined her husband. Together, they created two very popular CBS soap operas. The first was The Young and the Restless in 1973. The second was its sister show, The Bold and the Beautiful, in 1987. Lee also worked as an executive producer for The Bold and the Beautiful in the 1980s.
Awards and Honors
Lee Bell won a Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Drama Series. This was for The Young and the Restless in 1975. In 2007, she received a lifetime achievement award. This was also from the Daytime Emmys. She won 16 regional Emmy awards in Chicago. She also received many Golden Mike awards.
She was also given the Alfred I. duPont–Columbia University Award. In 1977, she made history. She was the first woman to get the Governors award. This was from the Chicago chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences.
In 1980, she was named "Person of the Year." This was by the Broadcast Advertising Club of Chicago. The Chicago YMCA also named her the outstanding woman in communications. She received the Salvation Army's William Booth Award. This was for her great work in communications and helping others.
Her Family Life
Lee Phillip met William Joseph Bell while working on her talk show. They got married in 1954. In 1986, they moved from Chicago to Beverly Hills, California. Their marriage lasted until William's death in 2005.
Lee and William had three children. Their names are William James Bell, Bradley Phillip Bell, and Lauralee Bell Martin. Her daughters-in-law are Maria Arena Bell and Colleen Bradley Bell. Many members of the Bell family work on their company's soap operas. Lee also had eight grandchildren.
Lee Phillip Bell passed away on February 25, 2020. She was 91 years old. Her children announced her passing. She died peacefully at her home.
