Paul Shannon
This article includes a list of general references, but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations. (February 2008) |
Paul Shannon | |
---|---|
Born | Crafton, Pennsylvania, U.S.[1] | November 11, 1909
Died | July 25, 1990 Lantana, Florida, U.S. | (aged 80)
Resting place | Queen of Heaven Catholic Cemetery |
Occupation | Actor |
Paul Vincent Shannon (November 11, 1909 – July 25, 1990) was a Pittsburgh radio and television announcer best known for hosting the local children's television show, Adventure Time, and for his part in bringing about the early sixties resurgence of The Three Stooges.
Career
Shannon worked for years at
After moving to WTAE-TV, Shannon became a Pittsburgh legend, particularly to the
Shannon played to a studio audience that attended each broadcast, usually scout troops, and amused his audiences with his alter ego, "Nosmo King", a play on "No Smoking" signs (but not to be confused with H. Vernon Watson (1886–1949), the British music hall artist who also performed as
He used a prop he dubbed "The Magic Sword".[1]
A high point of the show came each Christmas season, when Shannon read children's letters to Santa Claus, placed them into a rocket, and launched it to the North Pole.
Shannon was one of several 1950s–1960s children's TV hosts to begin presenting reruns of the Three Stooges on Adventure Time, bringing the trio's 1930s and 1940s comedy shorts to an entirely new audience. It helped revive the Stooges as a viable act at a time when they were considered ancient history, leading to an entirely new career of stage and film appearances. In gratitude to Shannon and several other hosts, the Stooges featured them in cameo roles in their feature films. Shannon played Wild Bill Hickok in the Three Stooges film The Outlaws Is Coming.[1]
He retired and moved to Lantana, Florida, in 1975, and died there of
References
- ^ a b c Carpenter, Mackenzie (July 26, 1990). "Paul Shannon, former host of TV show, dies". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. p. 6.
- ^ The Dream Weaver show was the brainchild of "Marjorie Thoma McCormick Michaux", who wrote the original poetry that Shannon read.
- ^ Fritz, Jose "Adventures in Research", Arcane Radio Trivia, November 30, 2007. Accessed December 1, 2007. "Host Paul Shannon was a Pennsylvania native, born near Washington, PA in 1909. He worked at KDKA (AM) for years eventually leaving for a gig at WTAE-TV doing children's programming including the locally popular Adventure Time".
- ^ a b Eagleston, Leigh Ann (July 26, 1990). "Memories are memorial to Shannon". The Pittsburgh Press. p. B1.
Further reading
- Leonard, Vince (March 22, 1964). "Small Fry's Delight". The Pittsburgh Press. TV Page 4
External links
- "Paul Shannon" (obituary), Orlando Sentinel, July 27, 1990
- "Marjorie Thoma McCormick Michaux" (obituary), Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, August 26, 1999
- Arcane Radio Trivia article
- Paul Shannon at IMDb
- The Outlaws Is Coming at Kiddiematinee.com
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