Joseph Reeves Bolton III
Encyclopedia
Joe Bolton was the host of the WPIX
show "The Clubhouse Gang" and "The Three Stooges Funhouse" as Officer Joe Bolton. Bolton was also The Police Chief host of "The Dick Tracy Show".
where his father was a sales manager for hotel supplies.
He started his broadcast career in 1927 as a staff announcer for WOR
in Newark, New Jersey
. He was the announcer for DuMont Television Network
's talent show Doorway to Fame
in 1947, but he left DuMont for WPIX
on May 15, 1948 to be a news announcer and weatherman.
On January 17, 1955, he appeared as "Officer Joe" and hosted The Clubhouse Gang, and showed the Little Rascals. WPIX lost the rights to The Little Rascals, and in September 1958, he switched to hosting The Three Stooges Funhouse. This program aired on weekdays at 5:30 pm. He showed Three Stooges
shorts until May 7, 1970. At one time, he showed Dick Tracy
cartoons as "Police Chief Joe".
Bolton also acted in The Outlaws Is Coming
(1965), the last feature film by The Three Stooges. He and eight other hosts of local
television shows for children were cast as villains. (More information about Bolton's performance in The Outlaws is Coming can be found in "The NYC Kids Shows Round Up" section of TV Party.Com.)
Bolton retired in 1975 to Santa Monica, California
, and died in 1986 at Santa Monica Hospital of a heart attack.
Bolton has two children: a daughter, Catherine Bolton of Manhattan
, and a son, Joseph Reeves Bolton IV of Port Salerno, Florida
WPIX
WPIX, channel 11, is a television station in New York City built, signed on, and owned by the Tribune Company. WPIX also serves as the flagship station of The CW Television Network...
show "The Clubhouse Gang" and "The Three Stooges Funhouse" as Officer Joe Bolton. Bolton was also The Police Chief host of "The Dick Tracy Show".
Biography
Bolton was born in Flushing, New York to Florence Youngling and Joseph Reeves Bolton II. By 1920, his parents were living in ManhattanManhattan
Manhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York...
where his father was a sales manager for hotel supplies.
He started his broadcast career in 1927 as a staff announcer for WOR
WOR (AM)
WOR is a class A , AM radio station located in New York, New York, U.S., operating on 710 kHz. The station has a talk format and has been owned by Buckley Broadcasting since 1987, after the station was sold by RKO. The station has conservative, or right-of-center hosts.Its call letters have no...
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...
. He was the announcer for DuMont Television Network
DuMont Television Network
The DuMont Television Network, also known as the DuMont Network, DuMont, Du Mont, or Dumont was one of the world's pioneer commercial television networks, rivalling NBC for the distinction of being first overall. It began operation in the United States in 1946. It was owned by DuMont...
's talent show Doorway to Fame
Doorway to Fame
Doorway to Fame is an early American television program broadcast on the now defunct DuMont Television Network.-Broadcast history:The series ran from May 1947 to July 1949. It was a talent show hosted by Johnny Olson, who would go on to host the DuMont daytime variety show Johnny Olson's Rumpus...
in 1947, but he left DuMont for WPIX
WPIX
WPIX, channel 11, is a television station in New York City built, signed on, and owned by the Tribune Company. WPIX also serves as the flagship station of The CW Television Network...
on May 15, 1948 to be a news announcer and weatherman.
On January 17, 1955, he appeared as "Officer Joe" and hosted The Clubhouse Gang, and showed the Little Rascals. WPIX lost the rights to The Little Rascals, and in September 1958, he switched to hosting The Three Stooges Funhouse. This program aired on weekdays at 5:30 pm. He showed Three Stooges
Three Stooges
The Three Stooges were an American vaudeville and comedy act of the early to mid–20th century best known for their numerous short subject films. Their hallmark was physical farce and extreme slapstick. In films, the Stooges were commonly known by their first names: "Moe, Larry, and Curly" and "Moe,...
shorts until May 7, 1970. At one time, he showed Dick Tracy
Dick Tracy
Dick Tracy is a comic strip featuring Dick Tracy, a hard-hitting, fast-shooting and intelligent police detective. Created by Chester Gould, the strip made its debut on October 4, 1931, in the Detroit Mirror. It was distributed by the Chicago Tribune New York News Syndicate...
cartoons as "Police Chief Joe".
Bolton also acted in The Outlaws Is Coming
The Outlaws Is Coming
The Outlaws IS Coming! is the sixth and last theatrical feature film to star the Three Stooges after their 1959 resurgence in popularity. By this time, the trio consisted of Moe Howard, Larry Fine, and Joe DeRita . Like its predecessor, The Three Stooges Go Around the World in a Daze...
(1965), the last feature film by The Three Stooges. He and eight other hosts of local
television shows for children were cast as villains. (More information about Bolton's performance in The Outlaws is Coming can be found in "The NYC Kids Shows Round Up" section of TV Party.Com.)
Bolton retired in 1975 to Santa Monica, California
Santa Monica, California
Santa Monica is a beachfront city in western Los Angeles County, California, US. Situated on Santa Monica Bay, it is surrounded on three sides by the city of Los Angeles — Pacific Palisades on the northwest, Brentwood on the north, West Los Angeles on the northeast, Mar Vista on the east, and...
, and died in 1986 at Santa Monica Hospital of a heart attack.
Bolton has two children: a daughter, Catherine Bolton of Manhattan
Manhattan
Manhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York...
, and a son, Joseph Reeves Bolton IV of Port Salerno, Florida
Port Salerno, Florida
Port Salerno is a census-designated place in Martin County, Florida, United States. The population was 10,141 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Port St...
Film appearances
- Home Run On The Keys (1936)
- Stop, Look and LaughStop, Look and LaughStop! Look! and Laugh! is a 1960 feature-length Three Stooges compilation featuring Moe Howard, Larry Fine, and Curly HowardEleven of the Stooges shorts were shown and bridged together with segments featuring Paul Winchell and his dummies, Jerry Mahoney and Knucklehead Smiff...
(1960) - The Outlaws Is ComingThe Outlaws Is ComingThe Outlaws IS Coming! is the sixth and last theatrical feature film to star the Three Stooges after their 1959 resurgence in popularity. By this time, the trio consisted of Moe Howard, Larry Fine, and Joe DeRita . Like its predecessor, The Three Stooges Go Around the World in a Daze...
(1965)