Dick Dudley
Encyclopedia
Richard Allen "Dick" Dudley (birth name: Casper Bernard Kuhn, Jr.) (April 22, 1915, Louisville, Kentucky
– February 2, 2000, Lancaster, Pennsylvania
) was an American
radio
and television
announcer
.
Dudley's career began in 1925 on a children's radio program
on WTNT radio in Nashville, Tennessee
. Following graduation
from high school
, he started a repertory company in a renovated barn, and wrote play
s, some of which featured a young Dinah Shore
.
He later became an announcer on WSM (AM)
, and in 1938 moved to New York City
where, after holding several jobs, he joined NBC
as a page
, moving up the ranks to the position in staff announcer in 1940. He was among the first to announce the attack on Pearl Harbor
on December 7, 1941. During World War II
, Dudley was based in London
, where he served as program director
of the American Forces Network
.
After the war, Dudley returned to NBC, where he announced on such radio shows as The Adventures of Archie Andrews, The Aldrich Family
, The Catholic Hour, and The Eternal Light
. His television announcing credits included the original 1949 TV version of Ripley's Believe It or Not!, Arturo Toscanini's television concerts, the original 1950s version of The Price Is Right (as a substitute announcer), The Today Show, and Not for Women Only. In addition, he also handled local booth announcing work, including public service announcement
s, for NBC's New York outlet WNBC-TV
. He retired from NBC in 1985.
Dudley died of a brain tumor
at age 84.
Louisville, Kentucky
Louisville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Kentucky, and the county seat of Jefferson County. Since 2003, the city's borders have been coterminous with those of the county because of a city-county merger. The city's population at the 2010 census was 741,096...
– February 2, 2000, Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Lancaster is a city in the south-central part of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. It is the county seat of Lancaster County and one of the older inland cities in the United States, . With a population of 59,322, it ranks eighth in population among Pennsylvania's cities...
) was an American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
radio
Radio
Radio is the transmission of signals through free space by modulation of electromagnetic waves with frequencies below those of visible light. Electromagnetic radiation travels by means of oscillating electromagnetic fields that pass through the air and the vacuum of space...
and television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
announcer
Announcer
An announcer is a presenter who makes "announcements" in an audio medium or a physical location.-Television and other media:Some announcers work in television production , radio or filmmaking, usually providing narrations, news updates, station identification, or an introduction of a product in...
.
Dudley's career began in 1925 on a children's radio program
Radio programming
Radio programming is the Broadcast programming of a Radio format or content that is organized for Commercial broadcasting and Public broadcasting radio stations....
on WTNT radio in Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville is the capital of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat of Davidson County. It is located on the Cumberland River in Davidson County, in the north-central part of the state. The city is a center for the health care, publishing, banking and transportation industries, and is home...
. Following graduation
Graduation
Graduation is the action of receiving or conferring an academic degree or the ceremony that is sometimes associated, where students become Graduates. Before the graduation, candidates are referred to as Graduands. The date of graduation is often called degree day. The graduation itself is also...
from high school
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
, he started a repertory company in a renovated barn, and wrote play
Play (theatre)
A play is a form of literature written by a playwright, usually consisting of scripted dialogue between characters, intended for theatrical performance rather than just reading. There are rare dramatists, notably George Bernard Shaw, who have had little preference whether their plays were performed...
s, some of which featured a young Dinah Shore
Dinah Shore
Dinah Shore was an American singer, actress, and television personality...
.
He later became an announcer on WSM (AM)
WSM (AM)
WSM is the callsign of a 50,000 watt AM radio station located in Nashville, Tennessee. Operating at 650 kHz, its clear channel signal can reach much of North America and various countries, especially late at night...
, and in 1938 moved to New York City
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...
where, after holding several jobs, he joined NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
as a page
NBC page
An NBC page is a person usually in his or her early twenties working in various departments of the NBC television network during a one-year period as a training ground for careers in television broadcasting and entertainment...
, moving up the ranks to the position in staff announcer in 1940. He was among the first to announce the attack on Pearl Harbor
Attack on Pearl Harbor
The attack on Pearl Harbor was a surprise military strike conducted by the Imperial Japanese Navy against the United States naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, on the morning of December 7, 1941...
on December 7, 1941. During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, Dudley was based in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, where he served as program director
Program director
In service industries, such as education, a program director or programme director researches, plans, develops and implements one or more of the firm's professional services...
of the American Forces Network
American Forces Network
The American Forces Network is the brand name used by the United States Armed Forces American Forces Radio and Television Service for its entertainment and command internal information networks worldwide...
.
After the war, Dudley returned to NBC, where he announced on such radio shows as The Adventures of Archie Andrews, The Aldrich Family
The Aldrich Family
The Aldrich Family, a popular radio teenage situation comedy , was also presented in films, television and comic books. In the radio series' well-remembered weekly opening exchange, awkward teen Henry's mother called, "Hen-reeeeeeeeeeeee! Hen-ree Al-drich!", and he responded with a breaking...
, The Catholic Hour, and The Eternal Light
The Eternal Light
The Eternal Light is a long-running American radio and television program on the NBC Radio Network, produced in conjunction with the Jewish Theological Seminary, that was broadcast between 1944 and 1989. Featuring interviews, commentary, and award-winning dramas from the perspective of Judaism, it...
. His television announcing credits included the original 1949 TV version of Ripley's Believe It or Not!, Arturo Toscanini's television concerts, the original 1950s version of The Price Is Right (as a substitute announcer), The Today Show, and Not for Women Only. In addition, he also handled local booth announcing work, including public service announcement
Public service announcement
A public service announcement or public service ad is a type of advertisement featured on television, radio, print or other media...
s, for NBC's New York outlet WNBC-TV
WNBC
WNBC, virtual channel 4 , is the flagship station of the NBC television network, located in New York City. WNBC's studios are co-located with NBC corporate headquarters at 30 Rockefeller Plaza in midtown Manhattan...
. He retired from NBC in 1985.
Dudley died of a brain tumor
Brain tumor
A brain tumor is an intracranial solid neoplasm, a tumor within the brain or the central spinal canal.Brain tumors include all tumors inside the cranium or in the central spinal canal...
at age 84.