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Original Frank Fontaine Show header art

The Frank Fontaine Show Radio Program

Dee-Scription: Home >> D D Too Home >> Radio Logs >> The Frank Fontaine Show









Background

Multi-talented Frank Fontaine began exploding onto the Entertainment scene during the mid-1930s of the Golden Age of Radio. He'd appeared on The Major Bowes Amateur Hour program at the age of 16 performing impressions of Lionel Barrymore, Edward G. Robinson, Jimmy Durante, Gary Grant and James Cagney among others.

Fontaine continued to make a name for himself during the ensuing twelve years, but his Entertainment career was interrupted by both a growing family of eight children and World War II military service. He continued to hone his caricatures as well as his singing talent while still serving in the Army. Indeed, Pvt. Frank Fontaine was a featured performer in a Service revue, Anchors Aweigh of 1944 on November 27th 1944.

But it was his appearance on The Jack Benny Program during 1950 that garnered Fontaine the greatest attention. His new character, 'John L.C. Savony,' on the Jack Benny show propelled him to wide popularity with a growing base of fans.

Frank Fontaine snapshot bio from 1952's Who's Who In Radio and Television
Frank Fontaine snapshot bio from 1952's Who's Who In Radio and Television


Series Derivatives:

None
Genre: Anthology of Golden Age Radio Situation Comedy-Variety
Network(s): CBS [WKOW], numerous other independent stations and regional networks.
Audition Date(s) and Title(s): Unknown
Premiere Date(s) and Title(s): 52-06-08 01 Guest Helen O'Connell
Run Dates(s)/ Time(s): 52-06-08 to 52-09-28; CBS [WKOW]; Seventeen, 30-minute programs;
Syndication: CBS
Sponsors:
Director(s): Al Schwartz [Producer/Director/Writer]
Larry Berns [Producer]
Principal Actors: Frank Fontaine, Harry Von Zell, Martha Tilton, Irene Fontaine, Frank Fontaine Jr., Bobby Fontaine, Helen O'Connell, Ann Sheridan, Mary Jane Croft, Peter Leeds, Jack Kruchen, Tom McKee, Ruth Olay, Rosemary Clooney, Frankie Laine, Debbie Reynolds, Jeff Chandler
Recurring Character(s):
Protagonist(s):
Author(s): None
Writer(s) Cy Rose, Al Schwartz
Music Direction: Lud Gluskin and Orchestra
Musical Theme(s):
Announcer(s): Harry Von Zell
Estimated Scripts or
Broadcasts:
17
Episodes in Circulation: 2
Total Episodes in Collection: 2
Provenances:

Notes on Provenances:

The most helpful provenances were newspaper listings.

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[Date, title, and episode column annotations in
red refer to either details we have yet to fully provenance or other unverifiable information as of this writing. Red highlights in the text of the 'Notes' columns refer to information upon which we relied in citing dates, date or time changes, or titles.]







The Frank Fontaine Show Radio Program Log

Date Episode Title Avail. Notes
52-06-01
--
--
52-06-01 Wisconsin State Journal
WKOW 7:00 Billboard Hit Parade.

52-06-01 New York Times
8:00-WCBS--Edgar Bergen--Charlie McCarthy; Ginger Rogers, Guest

52-06-01 Long Beach Independent
Ginger Rogers visits with Charlie McCarthy for the final Edgar Bergen show of the season on KNX at 5 p. m. and 9 p. m.
Frank Fontaine, who will begin a comedy--variety show next Sunday as summer replacement for Bergen, guests on the final Jack Benny show of the season at 4 p.m. and 9:30 p.m.
52-06-08
1
Guest Helen O'Connell
Y
[Premiere; Summer replacement for Edgar Bergen and Charlie McCarthy]

52-06-06 Pottstown Mercury
Fifty percent of Frank Fontaine's children are down with chicken pox. (He has eight!)

52-06-08 Wisconsin State Journal
7 p.m.--Frank Fontaine (WKOW):
new series; Helen O'Connell, guest.

52-06-08 San Antonio Express
7:00 P.M. KTSA
The FRANK FONTAINE SHOW
begins today for the summer season. The show features comedy, variety and songs, with four of Fontaine's children as members of the cast.

52-06-08 Syracuse Post Standard
Radio is making news again today as three new shows prepare debuts.
A half-hour of comedy, variety and song will start at 8 p m. on WFBL, starring Frank Fontaine.
Fontaine is famed for his John L. C. Silvoney portrayal and now he adds a new character, Fred Frump, the all-American bore. Helen O'Connell will help launch the premiere show, which also will introduce three of Fontaine's eight children to the radio audience.

52-06-08 Long Beach Independent
The Frank Fontaine Show bows on station KNX at 5 p. m. starring the inimitable comedian, four of the Fontaine children, also Harry Von Zell, Mary Jane Croft and tonight's guest star Helen O'Connell in a program of comedy, variety and song.
52-06-15
2
Guest Unknown
N
52-06-15 Wisconsin State Journal
WKOW 7:00 Frank Fontaine.

52-06-15 New York Times
8:00-WCBS--Frank Fontaine, Comedy; Lud Gluskin Orchestra.
52-06-22
3
Guest Unknown
N
52-06-22 Wisconsin State Journal
WKOW 7:00 Frank Fontaine
52-06-29
4
Guest Unknown
N
52-06-29 Wisconsin State Journal
WKOW 7:00 Frank Fontaine
52-07-06
5
Guest Liberace
N
52-07-06 Wisconsin State Journal
7 p.m.--Frank Fontaine (WKOW): with Liberance.

52-07-06 Long Beach Press-Telegram
Famed pianist Liberace will be guest on the Frank Fontaine Show on KNX at 5. Fontaine will portray a bumbling
butler at a cocktail party at which Liberace is the guest of honor. In another scene he will cheer up Harry Von Zell after an operation.
52-07-13
6
Guest Martha Tilton
N
52-07-13 Wisconsin State Journal
7 p.m.--Frank Fontaine (WKOW): with Martha Tilton.

52-07-13 San Mateo Times
Martha Tilton will be guest star on the Frank Fontaine Show over KCBS at 5 p.m.

52-07-13 San Antonio Express
Frank Fontaine (7:00 P.M., KTSA)
Liltin' Martha Tilton will be guest.
52-07-20
7
Guest Ann Sheridan
Y
52-07-20 New York Times
8:00-WCBS--Frank Fontaine Show

52-07-20 San Antonio Express
Frank Fontaine , Show, ,7:00
p.m., KTSA—Film Star -
Jeff Chandler visits.
52-07-27
8
Guest Martha Tilton
N
52-07-27 New York Times
8:00-WCBS--Frank Fontaine Show

52-07-26 San Mateo Times
Martha Tilton will be featured on the "Frank Fontaine Show" on KCBS at 9 o'clock
52-08-03
9
Guest Rosemary Clooney
N
52-08-03 Wisconsin State Journal
6 p.m.--Frank Fontaine (WBBM): with Rosemary Clooney.

52-08-03 Syracuse Herald Journal
ROSEMARY CLOONEY will visit Frank Fontaine on his radio show tonight at 8 on WFBL.•r
52-08-10
10
Guest Frankie Laine
N
52-08-10 Wisconsin State Journal
6 p.m.--Frank Fontaine (WBBM): with Frankie Laine.

52-07-06 Long Beach Press-Telegram
Frankie Laine guests on the Frank Fontaine Show on KNX at 9.
52-08-17
11
Guest Jeff Chandler
N
52-08-17 New York Times
8:00-WCBS--Frank Fontaine Show

52-07-06 Long Beach Press-Telegram
Screen star Jeff Chandler guests on the Frank Fontaine Show on KNX at 9 p. m.
52-08-24
12
Guest Martha Tilton
N
52-08-23 Tucson Daily Citizen
PICKS FOB TOMORROW
6:00 — Frank Fontaine. Singer
Martha Tilton pays her second visit to this show (KOPO).

52-08-24 New York Times
8:00-WCBS--Frank Fontaine Show
52-08-31
13
Guest Debbie Reynolds
N
52-08-31 Wisconsin State Journal
6 p.m.--Frank Fontaine (WBBM): and Debbie Reynolds.

52-08-31 San Mateo Times
Debbie Reynolds will be the guest star on the Frank Fontaine show on KCBS at 9 o'clock

52-08-31 San Antonio Express
Frank Fontaine Show, 7 p.m., KTSA:
Screen starlet Debbie Reynolds makes a guest appearance.
52-09-07
14
Guest Unknown
N
52-09-07 New York Times
8:00-WCBS--Frank Fontaine Show
52-09-14
15
Guest Unknown
N
52-09-14 New York Times
8:00-WCBS--Frank Fontaine Show
52-09-21
16
Guest Unknown
N
52-09-21 New York Times
8:00-WCBS--Frank Fontaine Show
52-09-28
17
Guest Unknown
N
[Final Program]

52-09-28 New York Times
8:00-WCBS--Frank Fontaine Show
52-10-05
--
--
52-10-05 Wisconsin State Journal
WKOW 7:00 Charlie McCarthy.

52-10-05 New York Times
8:00-WCBS--Edgar Bergen-Charlie McCarthy; Rosemary Clooney, Guest (Premiere)






The Frank Fontaine Show Radio Program Biographies




Frank Fontaine
(Lead)

(1920-1978)

Birthplace: Cambridge. Massachusetts, U.S.A.

Radiography:
1945 The Vaughn Monroe Show
1947 Marvelous Margie (Audition)
1948 Ballads and Ballots
1950 The Lucky Strike Program
1952 The Frank Fontaine Show

Frank Fontaine circa 1953
Frank Fontaine circa 1953

One of Frank Fontaine's most popular alter egos--Crazy Guggenheim
One of Frank Fontaine's most popular alter egos--Crazy Guggenheim
From the August 5th 1978 edition of the Alton Telegraph:

Comic Frank Fontaine dies
after encore performance

 
     SPOKANE (AP) - Comedian Frank Fontaine finished his fourth encore before 3,000 persons and accepted a check for $25,000, which he said he would donate for heart research.  Moments later, he lay dead off-stage.
     The man once known to millions as the irrepressible and insouciant "Crazy Guggenheim" died of an apparent heart attack Friday night.
     "He was coming off the stage.  Just behind the curtain, he said, 'Danny, help me,' said Dan Splain, Fontaine's longtime friend.
     His last appearance was part of a benefit show for the international convention of the Fraternal Order of Eagles.
     Splain, the organization's director of government relations, said Fontaine, 56, had been tabbed to serve as grand marshal for FOE's Aerie-Grand Auxiliary parade today.
     "The parade will roll as Frankie would have wanted it," Splain said.
     "He died doing what he loved," he said, "and whether it's a nightclub performance or a parade, the show must go on."
     The show for Fontaine, a native of Cambridge, Mass., began at age 16 when he won a Major Bowes Amateur Hour competition by doing impressions of Lionel Barrymore, Edward G. Robinson, Jimmy Durante, Gary Grant and James Cagney.
     That same year, he married his childhood sweetheart Alma and described his main ambition "to be as well liked and as great a performer as my father."  Fontaine's father was a guitarist.'




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