Bob Russell (Entertainer)
Encyclopedia
Bob Russell was an America
n entertainer, best known for hosting the Miss America
pageant
during the years of 1940 to 1946, 1948 to 1950 and 1954. He also served as emcee
for the Miss Universe
, Miss World
, and Miss Canada
pageants.
When the Miss America pageant was first televised in 1954, Russell rejected the song "There She Is, Miss America" in favor of two of his own. His recommended replacement, Bert Parks
, in 1955 sang this promenade tune into history. Lee Meriwether
, age 19 from California, was crowned Miss America on September 11, 1954, by a panel of judges including movie queen Grace Kelly
. It was watched by 27 million people.
In 1952 he co-created, directed and hosted the very first Miss Universe pageant in Long Beach
, California
, and continued with the pageant through 1957.
Bob Russell moved to New York
at age nine and began his career appearing in Broadway musicals
in the 1920s. In the 1930s, he moved on to Philadelphia
, where he became a local star as the singing master of ceremonies at the elegant Cafe Marguery in the old Adelphia Hotel. He helped to start many early television game show
s, such as Name That Tune
(1954–59). He appeared as the emcee of Bonnie Maid's Versatile Varieties (1950–51) and Your Pet Parade (1951), and was the announcer on the quiz show Time Will Tell (1954).
He retired from the limelight to Sarasota, Florida
, where he kept busy as Reservation Manager at the Aku Tiki Inn on Lido Key
, and later at the Meadows Golf and Tennis Resort.
Bob Russell and his wife, Mignon Simpson Russell, had one child, a daughter, Ingrid.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
n entertainer, best known for hosting the Miss America
Miss America
The Miss America pageant is a long-standing competition which awards scholarships to young women from the 50 states plus the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands...
pageant
Beauty contest
A beauty pageant or beauty contest, is a competition that mainly focuses on the physical beauty of its contestants, although such contests often incorporate personality, talent, and answers to judges' questions as judged criteria...
during the years of 1940 to 1946, 1948 to 1950 and 1954. He also served as emcee
Master of Ceremonies
A Master of Ceremonies , or compere, is the host of a staged event or similar performance.An MC usually presents performers, speaks to the audience, and generally keeps the event moving....
for the Miss Universe
Miss Universe
Miss Universe is an annual international beauty contest that is run by the Miss Universe Organization. The pageant is the most publicized beauty contest in the world with 600 million viewers....
, Miss World
Miss World
The Miss World pageant is the oldest surviving major international beauty pageant. It was created in the United Kingdom by Eric Morley in 1951...
, and Miss Canada
Miss Canada
Miss Canada was a scholarship competition for young women in Canada. It was founded in Hamilton in 1946. The first broadcast of the Miss Canada pageant aired in 1963 on CTV. The late Peter Jennings was host of the pageant in 1964....
pageants.
When the Miss America pageant was first televised in 1954, Russell rejected the song "There She Is, Miss America" in favor of two of his own. His recommended replacement, Bert Parks
Bert Parks
Bert Parks, born Bertram Jacobson , was an American actor, singer, and radio and television announcer, best known for hosting the annual Miss America telecast from 1955 to 1979....
, in 1955 sang this promenade tune into history. Lee Meriwether
Lee Meriwether
Lee Ann Meriwether is an American actress, former model, and the winner of the 1955 Miss America pageant. She is perhaps best known for her role as Betty Jones, the crime-solving partner in the long-running 1970s crime drama, Barnaby Jones. The role earned her two Golden Globe Award nominations in...
, age 19 from California, was crowned Miss America on September 11, 1954, by a panel of judges including movie queen Grace Kelly
Grace Kelly
Grace Patricia Kelly was an American actress who, in April 1956, married Rainier III, Prince of Monaco, to become Princess consort of Monaco, styled as Her Serene Highness The Princess of Monaco, and commonly referred to as Princess Grace.After embarking on an acting career in 1950, at the age of...
. It was watched by 27 million people.
In 1952 he co-created, directed and hosted the very first Miss Universe pageant in Long Beach
Long Beach, California
Long Beach is a city situated in Los Angeles County in Southern California, on the Pacific coast of the United States. The city is the 36th-largest city in the nation and the seventh-largest in California. As of 2010, its population was 462,257...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, and continued with the pageant through 1957.
Bob Russell moved to New York
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
at age nine and began his career appearing in Broadway musicals
Broadway theatre
Broadway theatre, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 40 professional theatres with 500 or more seats located in the Theatre District centered along Broadway, and in Lincoln Center, in Manhattan in New York City...
in the 1920s. In the 1930s, he moved on to Philadelphia
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Philadelphia County, with which it is coterminous. The city is located in the Northeastern United States along the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers. It is the fifth-most-populous city in the United States,...
, where he became a local star as the singing master of ceremonies at the elegant Cafe Marguery in the old Adelphia Hotel. He helped to start many early television game show
Game show
A game show is a type of radio or television program in which members of the public, television personalities or celebrities, sometimes as part of a team, play a game which involves answering questions or solving puzzles usually for money and/or prizes...
s, such as Name That Tune
Name That Tune
Name That Tune is a television game show that put two contestants against each other to test their knowledge of songs. Premiering in the United States on NBC Radio in 1952, the show was created and produced by Harry Salter and his wife Roberta....
(1954–59). He appeared as the emcee of Bonnie Maid's Versatile Varieties (1950–51) and Your Pet Parade (1951), and was the announcer on the quiz show Time Will Tell (1954).
He retired from the limelight to Sarasota, Florida
Sarasota, Florida
Sarasota is a city located in Sarasota County on the southwestern coast of the U.S. state of Florida. It is south of the Tampa Bay Area and north of Fort Myers...
, where he kept busy as Reservation Manager at the Aku Tiki Inn on Lido Key
Lido Key
Lido Key is a barrier island of the coast of Sarasota, Florida in the United States. The island has sandy beaches that face the Gulf of Mexico. The island has a seasonal nightclub scene, as well as a park called "South Lido Park", which has a beach and a woodland trail...
, and later at the Meadows Golf and Tennis Resort.
Bob Russell and his wife, Mignon Simpson Russell, had one child, a daughter, Ingrid.
TV shows
- Yours for a SongYours for a SongYours for a Song is an American game show, created by Bob Russell, that aired on ABC from 1961-1963 with Bert Parks as host and Johnny Gilbert as announcer...
- Stand Up and Be Counted
- Bonnie Maid's Versatile Varieties (1949) – emcee, 1950–1951
- Live Like a Millionaire (1951)
- Your Pet Parade (1951) – host
- Name That TuneName That TuneName That Tune is a television game show that put two contestants against each other to test their knowledge of songs. Premiering in the United States on NBC Radio in 1952, the show was created and produced by Harry Salter and his wife Roberta....
(1953) – co-creator - Time Will Tell (1954) – announcer