|
ANDERSON, ERNIE (22 Nov. 1923 - 6 Feb. 1997) was a nationally known television announcer, most familiar to network audiences as the voice of ABC-TV, and to Cleveland audiences as the late night horror-movie host, Ghoulardi, on WJW-TV from 1963-66. Born in Lynn, Mass., to Emily (Malenson) and John[?] Anderson, a telephone system installer, Anderson joined the Navy during World War II, serving as aircraft mechanic as well as member of the drum and bugle corps on Hawaii and Guam. He later attended Suffolk University in Boston for two years, intending to study law, but a summer job as disc jockey at a radio station in Montpelier, VT, led him to change career paths. He spent six years as a disc jockey in Providence, RI, then moved to Albany, NY, for two years before coming to Cleveland in 1958 to work for radio station WHK. After WHK bought out his contract in spring of 1959, he held a succession of temporary radio jobs before becoming booth announcer for the Westinghouse-owned KYW-TV station. He was hired by WJW-TV in 1961, collaborating with writer and comedian Tom Conway on "Ernie's Place," a daytime movie and comedy show that ran through January 1962. When Conway left for Hollywood to join the cast of a new situation comedy called "McHale's Navy," Anderson acquired more voiceover and on-camera commercial work for companies like Ohio Bell and Millbrook Bread, and for six months appeared on another daytime show on Channel 8. From January 1963 to late 1966, Anderson hosted WJW's Friday night horror movie show, "Shock Theater," as the irreverent, mocking Ghoulardi, who spoke like a beatnik Bela Lugosi and wore a lab coat, fright wig, fake goatee and mustache, and sunglasses with one missing lens. He became an instant, albeit controversial sensation, introducing each movie to be aired as the worst he'd ever seen, superimposing his image during various points of the film, and poking fun at local television personalities and ethnic neighborhoods. Despite a cantankerous image, he used his popularity philanthropically, raising funds for charity through his amateur sports team, the Ghoulardi All-Stars. In October 1966, Anderson joined Tim (formerly Tom) Conway, in Hollywood. He made two appearances on Conway's series, "Rango," in 1967, and the pair revived their comedy act, appearing on television and recording two comedy albums. But Anderson found more success doing voiceovers; throughout the 1970s and '80s, he was principal announcer on ABC television, and in 1976 his voice was heard every night introducing CBS-TV's "Bicentennial Minutes." He was also commercial spokesman for Ford Motor Co., RCA, and other companies. Although he made only one reprise of the Ghoulardi character in 1991, his impact was profound and lasting. In 1996 he received an award from the Cleveland Association of Broadcasters for contributions to Cleveland broadcasting. Anderson married Marguerite Hemmer in 1947 (?46?) and they had five children: Michael, Victoria, Stephen, Ernest, and Richard. They divorced in 1966 [?]. He married Edwina Gough in 1968 [?] and they had four children: Kathryn, Paul, Amanda, and Elizabeth. They were divorced in 1995. In 1996 he married Bonnie Skolnick, who died shortly after her late husband. Anderson died of cancer at his home in Studio City, Calif., and is buried at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Hollywood Hills.
|
| Last Modified: 08 Jul 2003 11:14:35 AM |
| This site maintained by Case Western Reserve University |