Jump-Jump and The Ice Queen Radio Program

Series Derivatives:

Notes on Provenances:

All above cited provenances are in error in one form or another. The most accurate provenances were the logs of the RadioGOLDINdex and The Radio Archives website.

The Hickox's, Mary McConnell and Harry Hickox, c. 1948

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Jump-Jump and The Ice Queen Series Log

Jump-Jump and The Ice Queen Biographies

Robert Mitchell's mother sat him down at the piano at the age of 4. By age 10, Mitchell’s mother decided it was time for him to learn the organ so as to study traditional Episcopal Church music. As it was, the only organ in his home town, Sierra Madre, CA was at the local Episcopal parish. He and his mother met the pastor to inquire if young Master Mitchell could practice on the church’s organ.

“No, no, no. No one may play the organ in the church, but our own organist,” Mitchell is reported to have mimicked in the English Pastor's condescending accent. He goes on to relate that his mother’s reply was sharp and quick“Well, any man of the cloth that would not allow a child to learn an instrument needs to praise almighty God!” The pastor abruptly reversed his position. "Well I suppose we must make an exception in this case,” Mitchell mimicked the pastor again, “but without setting any precedents”

Quickly mastering the organ, he soon discovered the movies--and to his further delight, the integral part that the organ played in the fascinating new medium. Mitchell relates, “I told my mother, there’s a pipe organ and I really want to play it!.” And despite her natural aversion to the vulgarity of movies, his mother transported now 12-year-old Robert down to The Strand Theatre on Colorado Blvd. in Pasadena, CA where he was soon employed.

After talkies arrived en masse, Mitchell nimbly transitioned to the other exploding medium of the era--Radio. During the 1930s he was staff organist at variously, KMTR, KEME, KHJ and ultimately, from 1940 to 1965, famous Earl Anthony's KFI radio. Robert Mitchell's 25 years at KFI were a match made in Radio heaven. Working out of its famous Studio 'A', Mr. Mitchell set a Music standard for affiliate radio rarely equalled at the largest Network flagship stations.

But it was his early passion for choral music that propelled him into his signature contribution to Radio, Television and Film. He formed The Mitchell Boys Choir, which quickly gained the well-deserved reputation that catapulted The Choir into a string of appearances in dozens of high profile films including Angels with Dirty Faces with James Cagney, the Christmas classic, The Bishop’s Wife with Cary Grant and Loretta Young, and the other Christmas staple, White Christmas with Bing Crosby. The Mitchell Boys Choir became a tradional holiday treasure over every medium--Radio, Television and Film.

Bob Mitchell returned to work in the 1990s as part-time organist at "Silent Movie," a Fairfax area Los Angeles theatre which shows only silent films. He was still performing there in 2004--at the age of 92. Mr. Mitchell is considered to be the last remaining silent movie organist.