Sally Starr (TV hostess) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Sally Starr
|
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Born |
Alleen Mae Beller
January 25, 1923 Kansas City, Missouri, U.S.
|
| Died | January 27, 2013 (aged 90) Berlin, New Jersey, U.S.
|
| Occupation | Entertainer |
| Years active | 1935–2006 |
Sally Starr (born January 25, 1923 – died January 27, 2013) was a famous TV star in the 1950s and 1960s. She was known for her fun cowgirl character. Sally Starr entertained many children and families for over 60 years. She worked in American radio, on Broadway stages, in movies, and as a singer.
Her fans in the Philadelphia area loved her cowgirl personality. They often called her "Aunt Sally" or "Our Gal Sal." Sally Starr made many public appearances, which were popular with both kids and adults. She was a great performer and a pioneer in early TV and radio. She was also the first top-rated female DJ in the country.
Early Life and Career
Sally Starr was born Alleen Mae Beller in Kansas City, Missouri. She officially changed her name to Starr in 1941. She was the second of five sisters. Her parents, Charles and Bertha Beller, encouraged her to get into show business. Sally showed a lot of talent and drive from a young age.
When she was just 12 years old, she and her sister Mildred started performing. They were called the "Little Missouri Maids." They made their first appearance on a CBS radio show called "Brush Creek Follies."
TV Shows and Movies
Sally Starr became famous for her blonde cowgirl character. She hosted an afternoon children's show for Philadelphia station WFIL-TV (now WPVI). This show ran from the 1950s until 1971. Her program was usually called Popeye Theater. On the show, she presented Popeye cartoons and Three Stooges short films.
She also briefly hosted Starr Theater, which showed cowboy movies. Sally Starr welcomed many special guests on her shows. These guests included the Three Stooges and Colonel Sanders. Local stars like Dick Clark and Chief Halftown also visited her show.
Her Cowgirl Style
Sally Starr stood out with her flashy cowgirl outfits. She wore fringes, shiny silver stars, a cowgirl hat, and boots. She often dressed in bright red cowgirl clothes, complete with a toy gun and holsters. Her famous opening line was, "Hope you feel as good as you look, 'cause you sure look good to your gal Sal." She always ended her show by saying, "May the Good Lord be blessing you and your family. Bye for now!"
Sally loved meeting her fans in person. She often brought her horses, named Pal, Silver, Cane, and Rusty, to these events. She continued to make public appearances in her later years near her home in Waterford Township. She also hosted a radio show on WVLT, 92.1 FM in Vineland, New Jersey. She retired from radio in September 2006.
Acting and Music
Besides her TV and radio work, Sally Starr also acted in movies. She appeared in The Outlaws Is Coming, a Three Stooges film, playing a sharpshooter named Belle Starr. She also had small parts in movies like The In Crowd and Mannequin Two: On the Move.
Sally Starr was also a singer. In 1958, she recorded a song called Our Gal Sal. She was backed by Bill Haley & His Comets, a famous rock and roll band. This song sold thousands of copies. Bill Haley also helped write two other songs for her, "A.B.C. Rock" and "Rocky the Rockin' Rabbit."
In her later years, Sally Starr continued to make many public appearances. She was also a radio DJ and even ran a pizza and ice cream restaurant in Atco, New Jersey.
Legacy
- Sally Starr wrote her own life story in a book called Me, Thee, & TV.
- She was honored in 1995 by being added to the Broadcast Pioneers of Philadelphia Hall of Fame.
Death
Sally Starr passed away at a nursing home in Berlin, New Jersey on January 27, 2013. This was just two days after her 90th birthday.
