Jerry Damon
Encyclopedia
H. Jerome D'Amato known professionally as Jerry Damon, was an American
radio
and television
announcer
and actor
.
in New York
from 1954 until his death. He was part of a core group that, during his years with the network, also included such other noted voice-over
artists as Bill Wendell
, Don Pardo
, Mel Brandt
, Wayne Howell
, Vic Roby
and Howard Reig
. As such, his duties included handling network program introductions and closes, bumper
s, promo
s, and teaser
s. He also handled such duties, as well as occasional sign-offs and live tag
s, for the network's New York flagship station WNBC-TV
and its radio sister stations (WNBC (AM)
, now WFAN
and WNBC-FM/WNWS/WYNY, now WQHT, respectively).
Damon's radio announcing credits include Monitor
, the original version of X Minus One
, and The Eternal Light. His most notable television credit was the 1964-65 American version of That Was the Week That Was, and other shows for which he announced included G.E.
College Bowl
, Haggis Baggis
and The Jan Murray Show
. He also was a spokesman
for coverage of political convention
s, and from 1975 to 1977, he was food editor
for NBC's ill-fated News and Information Service radio network.
Outside of the announcing booth, Damon owned a dairy farm
in Milford, New York
. In addition, in the early 1960s, he was part of a group that made a bid to purchase Ellis Island
.
Damon died of cancer
at Beth Israel Medical Center
in Newark, New Jersey
at age 51.
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...
and actor
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
.
Biography
Damon was a staff announcer for NBCNBC
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...
in 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...
from 1954 until his death. He was part of a core group that, during his years with the network, also included such other noted voice-over
Voice-over
Voice-over is a production technique where a voice which is not part of the narrative is used in a radio, television production, filmmaking, theatre, or other presentations...
artists as Bill Wendell
Bill Wendell
Bill Wendell was an NBC television staff announcer for almost his entire professional career.-Biography:...
, Don Pardo
Don Pardo
Dominick George "Don" Pardo is an American radio and television announcer. He is best known as the voice of the long-running late night sketch comedy show Saturday Night Live....
, Mel Brandt
Mel Brandt
Melville Brandt was an actor and NBC staff announcer. He was born in Brooklyn, New York.Brandt joined the network around 1948. His radio announcing credits included The Adventures of Frank Merriwell, Author Meets the Critics, and The Eternal Light...
, Wayne Howell
Wayne Howell
Wayne Clay Howell Chappelle , known professionally as Wayne Howell, was a voice-over announcer for the NBC television and radio networks from 1947 through 1986...
, Vic Roby
Vic Roby
Victor Mills "Vic" Roby, Jr. was a radio and television announcer, voice-over artist and public affairs show host, and served for years as a staff announcer with NBC.-Early life and career:...
and Howard Reig
Howard Reig
Howard Reig was an American radio and television announcer. His last name was pronounced "reeg."-Personal life:...
. As such, his duties included handling network program introductions and closes, bumper
Commercial bumper
In broadcasting, a commercial bumper, ident bumper or break-bumper is a brief announcement, usually two to 15 seconds that can contain a voice over, placed between a pause in the program and its commercial break, and vice versa...
s, promo
Promotion (marketing)
Promotion is one of the four elements of marketing mix . It is the communication link between sellers and buyers for the purpose of influencing, informing, or persuading a potential buyer's purchasing decision....
s, and teaser
Cold open
A cold open in a television program or movie is the technique of jumping directly into a story at the beginning or opening of the show, before the title sequence or opening credits are shown...
s. He also handled such duties, as well as occasional sign-offs and live tag
Tagline
A tagline is a variant of a branding slogan typically used in marketing materials and advertising. The idea behind the concept is to create a memorable phrase that will sum up the tone and premise of a brand or product , or to reinforce the audience's memory of a product...
s, for the network's New York flagship station 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...
and its radio sister stations (WNBC (AM)
WNBC (AM)
WNBC was a radio station that operated in New York City from 1922 to 1988. For most of its history, it was the flagship station of the NBC Radio Network...
, now WFAN
WFAN
WFAN , also known as "Sports Radio 66" or "The FAN", is a radio station in New York City. The station broadcasts on a clear channel and is owned by CBS Radio...
and WNBC-FM/WNWS/WYNY, now WQHT, respectively).
Damon's radio announcing credits include Monitor
Monitor (NBC Radio)
NBC Monitor was an American weekend radio program broadcast from June 12, 1955, until January 26, 1975. Airing live and nationwide on the NBC Radio Network, it originally aired beginning Saturday morning at 8am and continuing through the weekend until 12 midnight on Sunday...
, the original version of X Minus One
X Minus One
X Minus One was a half-hour science fiction radio drama series broadcast from April 24, 1955 to January 9, 1958 in various timeslots on NBC.-Overview:...
, and The Eternal Light. His most notable television credit was the 1964-65 American version of That Was the Week That Was, and other shows for which he announced included G.E.
General Electric
General Electric Company , or GE, is an American multinational conglomerate corporation incorporated in Schenectady, New York and headquartered in Fairfield, Connecticut, United States...
College Bowl
College Bowl
College Bowl was a format of college-level quizbowl run and operated by College Bowl Company, Incorporated. It had a format similar to the current NAQT format. College Bowl first aired on US radio stations in 1953, and aired on US television from 1959 to 1970...
, Haggis Baggis
Haggis Baggis
Haggis Baggis was an American game show that aired on NBC from 1958-1959. Jack Linkletter hosted the primetime version while Fred Robbins and Dennis James did the daytime show...
and The Jan Murray Show
Jan Murray
Jan Murray was an American stand-up comedian, actor, and game show host who made his name on the Borscht Belt.-Early life:Murray was born Murray Janofsky in The Bronx, New York City...
. He also was a spokesman
Spokesman
A spokesperson or spokesman or spokeswoman is someone engaged or elected to speak on behalf of others.In the present media-sensitive world, many organizations are increasingly likely to employ professionals who have received formal training in journalism, communications, public relations and...
for coverage of political convention
Political convention
In politics, a political convention is a meeting of a political party, typically to select party candidates.In the United States, a political convention usually refers to a presidential nominating convention, but it can also refer to state, county, or congressional district nominating conventions...
s, and from 1975 to 1977, he was food editor
Food critic
The terms food critic, food writer, and restaurant critic can all be used to describe a writer who analyzes food or restaurants and then publishes the results of their findings. While these terms are not strictly synonymous they are often used interchangeably, at least in some circumstances...
for NBC's ill-fated News and Information Service radio network.
Outside of the announcing booth, Damon owned a dairy farm
Dairy farming
Dairy farming is a class of agricultural, or an animal husbandry, enterprise, for long-term production of milk, usually from dairy cows but also from goats and sheep, which may be either processed on-site or transported to a dairy factory for processing and eventual retail sale.Most dairy farms...
in Milford, New York
Milford (village), New York
Milford is a village in Otsego County, New York, in the United States. As of the 2000 census, the village had a population of 511.The Village of Milford is in the northeast part of the Town of Milford...
. In addition, in the early 1960s, he was part of a group that made a bid to purchase Ellis Island
Ellis Island
Ellis Island in New York Harbor was the gateway for millions of immigrants to the United States. It was the nation's busiest immigrant inspection station from 1892 until 1954. The island was greatly expanded with landfill between 1892 and 1934. Before that, the much smaller original island was the...
.
Damon died of cancer
Cancer
Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
at Beth Israel Medical Center
Newark Beth Israel Medical Center
Newark Beth Israel Medical Center, previously Newark Beth Israel Hospital, is the largest hospital in Newark, New Jersey, in the United States. It was run under auspices of the Newark Jewish Community and its suburban successors from its inception in 1900-1901 until its purchase by the St Barnabas...
in Newark, New Jersey
Newark, New Jersey
Newark is the largest city in the American state of New Jersey, and the seat of Essex County. As of the 2010 United States Census, Newark had a population of 277,140, maintaining its status as the largest municipality in New Jersey. It is the 68th largest city in the U.S...
at age 51.
External links
- Jerry Damon radio credits
- Web page with audio clip of 1958 WRCA-TV (now WNBC) sign-off by Jerry Damon
- 1960 interview with Jerry Damon from The Jean Colbert Program on WTIC (Hartford) (.mp3)
- Video clip of 1965 opening of Karen episode with sponsor bumper announced by Jerry Damon
- Hall of Game Show Fame entry on Jerry Damon