Walter O'Keefe
Encyclopedia
Walter O'Keefe was an American
songwriter
, actor, syndicated columnist, Broadway
composer, radio
legend, screenwriter, musical arranger and TV host.
O'Keefe was born in Hartford, Connecticut
. He attended the College of the Sacred Heart in Wimbledon, London
before entering the University of Notre Dame
in South Bend, Indiana
in 1916. At Notre Dame, he was a member of the Glee Club and a Class Poet. He graduated cum laude in 1921.
O'Keefe began as a vaudeville
performer in the midwest for several years. In 1925, he went to New York
and became a Broadway performer. By 1937, he wrote a syndicated humor column and filled-in for such radio personalities as Walter Winchell
, Edgar Bergen
, Don McNeill
and Garry Moore
. He became the long-time master of ceremonies of the NBC show Double or Nothing
and was a regular on that network's Monitor
series.
O'Keefe also worked in television, presiding over talk shows and quiz shows for the CBS network. Producers Mark Goodson
and Bill Todman
hired him for their game show Two for the Money
. When the show's usual host, Herb Shriner
, had other commitments during the summer of 1954, O'Keefe took over for three months. He was the host for the first Emmy Awards
ceremony, held on January 25, 1949 at the Hollywood Athletic Club.
O'Keefe was also a songwriter responsible for the musical scores of several Hollywood films. He introduced the very popular song "The Daring Young Man on the Flying Trapeze
" in 1934, and it became permanently associated with him.
O'Keefe became addicted to alcohol
, and sought treatment at the Sister Ignatia Group in Cleveland, Ohio
during the late 1960s. He would later speak at Alcoholics Anonymous
meetings.
He has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame
in the category of radio. He died in Torrance, California
of congestive heart failure
at the age
of 82.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
songwriter
Songwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
, actor, syndicated columnist, Broadway
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...
composer, 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...
legend, screenwriter, musical arranger and TV host.
O'Keefe was born in Hartford, Connecticut
Hartford, Connecticut
Hartford is the capital of the U.S. state of Connecticut. The seat of Hartford County until Connecticut disbanded county government in 1960, it is the second most populous city on New England's largest river, the Connecticut River. As of the 2010 Census, Hartford's population was 124,775, making...
. He attended the College of the Sacred Heart in Wimbledon, London
Wimbledon, London
Wimbledon is a district in the south west area of London, England, located south of Wandsworth, and east of Kingston upon Thames. It is situated within Greater London. It is home to the Wimbledon Tennis Championships and New Wimbledon Theatre, and contains Wimbledon Common, one of the largest areas...
before entering the University of Notre Dame
University of Notre Dame
The University of Notre Dame du Lac is a Catholic research university located in Notre Dame, an unincorporated community north of the city of South Bend, in St. Joseph County, Indiana, United States...
in South Bend, Indiana
South Bend, Indiana
The city of South Bend is the county seat of St. Joseph County, Indiana, United States, on the St. Joseph River near its southernmost bend, from which it derives its name. As of the 2010 Census, the city had a total of 101,168 residents; its Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 316,663...
in 1916. At Notre Dame, he was a member of the Glee Club and a Class Poet. He graduated cum laude in 1921.
O'Keefe began as a vaudeville
Vaudeville
Vaudeville was a theatrical genre of variety entertainment in the United States and Canada from the early 1880s until the early 1930s. Each performance was made up of a series of separate, unrelated acts grouped together on a common bill...
performer in the midwest for several years. In 1925, he went 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...
and became a Broadway performer. By 1937, he wrote a syndicated humor column and filled-in for such radio personalities as Walter Winchell
Walter Winchell
Walter Winchell was an American newspaper and radio gossip commentator.-Professional career:Born Walter Weinschel in New York City, he left school in the sixth grade and started performing in a vaudeville troupe known as Gus Edwards' "Newsboys Sextet."His career in journalism was begun by posting...
, Edgar Bergen
Edgar Bergen
Edgar John Bergen was an American actor and radio performer, best known as a ventriloquist.-Early life:...
, Don McNeill
Don McNeill (performer)
Don McNeill was an American radio personality, best known as the creator and host of The Breakfast Club, which ran for more than 30 years.-Early career:...
and Garry Moore
Garry Moore
Garry Moore was an American entertainer, game show host and comedian best known for his work in television...
. He became the long-time master of ceremonies of the NBC show Double or Nothing
Double or Nothing
Double or nothing in gambling, is to repeat the same bet with the same wager.Double or Nothing may also refer to:-Films:* Double or Nothing , a 1936 short film* Double or Nothing , a 1937 musical film-Books:...
and was a regular on that network's 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...
series.
O'Keefe also worked in television, presiding over talk shows and quiz shows for the CBS network. Producers Mark Goodson
Mark Goodson
Mark Goodson was an American television producer who specialized in game shows.-Life and early career:...
and Bill Todman
Bill Todman
William S. "Bill" Todman was an American television producer born in New York City. He produced many of television's longest running shows with business partner Mark Goodson.-Early life:...
hired him for their game show Two for the Money
Two for the Money (game show)
Two for the Money is an American game show television program which ran from 1952 to 1957. The show ran for one season on NBC, and four seasons on CBS. It was a Mark Goodson-Bill Todman production, and was initially sponsored by Old Gold cigarettes...
. When the show's usual host, Herb Shriner
Herb Shriner
Herbert Arthur "Herb" Shriner was an American humorist, radio personality and television host. Shriner was known for his homespun monologues, usually about his home state of Indiana...
, had other commitments during the summer of 1954, O'Keefe took over for three months. He was the host for the first Emmy Awards
1st Primetime Emmy Awards
The 1st Annual Emmy Awards, retroactively known as the 1st Annual Primetime Emmy Awards after the debut of the Daytime Emmys, were presented at the Hollywood Athletic Club in Los Angeles, California on January 25, 1949. Only shows produced in Los Angeles County, California and aired in the Los...
ceremony, held on January 25, 1949 at the Hollywood Athletic Club.
O'Keefe was also a songwriter responsible for the musical scores of several Hollywood films. He introduced the very popular song "The Daring Young Man on the Flying Trapeze
The Daring Young Man on the Flying Trapeze
"The Daring Young Man on the Flying Trapeze", originally published under the title "The Flying Trapeze" and also known as "The Man on the Flying Trapeze", is a 19th century popular song about a flying trapeze circus performer, Jules Léotard...
" in 1934, and it became permanently associated with him.
O'Keefe became addicted to alcohol
Alcohol
In chemistry, an alcohol is an organic compound in which the hydroxy functional group is bound to a carbon atom. In particular, this carbon center should be saturated, having single bonds to three other atoms....
, and sought treatment at the Sister Ignatia Group in Cleveland, Ohio
Cleveland, Ohio
Cleveland is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and is the county seat of Cuyahoga County, the most populous county in the state. The city is located in northeastern Ohio on the southern shore of Lake Erie, approximately west of the Pennsylvania border...
during the late 1960s. He would later speak at Alcoholics Anonymous
Alcoholics Anonymous
Alcoholics Anonymous is an international mutual aid movement which says its "primary purpose is to stay sober and help other alcoholics achieve sobriety." Now claiming more than 2 million members, AA was founded in 1935 by Bill Wilson and Dr. Bob Smith in Akron, Ohio...
meetings.
He has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame
Hollywood Walk of Fame
The Hollywood Walk of Fame consists of more than 2,400 five-pointed terrazzo and brass stars embedded in the sidewalks along fifteen blocks of Hollywood Boulevard and three blocks of Vine Street in Hollywood, California...
in the category of radio. He died in Torrance, California
Torrance, California
Torrance is a city incorporated in 1921 and located in the South Bay region of Los Angeles County, California, United States. Torrance has of shore-front beaches on the Pacific Ocean, quieter and less well-known by tourists than others on the Santa Monica Bay, such as those of neighboring...
of congestive heart failure
Congestive heart failure
Heart failure often called congestive heart failure is generally defined as the inability of the heart to supply sufficient blood flow to meet the needs of the body. Heart failure can cause a number of symptoms including shortness of breath, leg swelling, and exercise intolerance. The condition...
at the age
Ageing
Ageing or aging is the accumulation of changes in a person over time. Ageing in humans refers to a multidimensional process of physical, psychological, and social change. Some dimensions of ageing grow and expand over time, while others decline...
of 82.
Filmography
- 1929 The Sophomore - actor and music composer
- 1929 Red Hot Rhythm - actor, music composer and lyricist
- 1930 Dancing Sweeties - music composer
- 1930 Sweet Kitty Bellairs - music composer
- 1931 The Smart Set-Up - actor
- 1935 Vagabond Lady - music composer and lyricist
- 1936 Prison Shadows - actor
- 1938 Go Chase Yourself - screenwriter
- 1941 Too Many Blondes - music arranger
- 1952 Two for the Money (TV Series) - guest host
- 1954 Screen Snapshots: Hollywood Stars on Parade - himself
- 1956 The NBC Comedy Hour (Episode #1.16) - actor (himself)