Smilin' Jack Smith
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John Ward Smith (November 16, 1913 – July 3, 2006), known as Smilin' Jack Smith, was an American crooner, radio host and actor.
Born in Seattle, Washington, United States,Script error: No such module "Unsubst". by 1933 Smith was in a singing trio, The Three Ambassadors.[1] In 1939, he became a solo crooner with a voice described as a "strong baritone with a tenor lilt"; he was billed as "The Singer with a Smile in His Voice."[2] He also sang with the Phil Harris Orchestra,[1] recording "Here It is Only Monday".
Establishing a radio program, The Jack Smith Show,[1] in 1945, he went on to host such guests as Dinah Shore, Margaret Whiting, John Serry Sr. and Ginny Simms. In a 1945 poll of radio critics by Motion Picture Daily, Smith was voted radio's "most promising star of tomorrow."[3]
Following a guest appearance in the musical film Make Believe Ballroom (1949), Smith was offered the second lead in Warner Bros.' On Moonlight Bay (1951) opposite Doris Day.[1]
With the television's arrival, radio saw a decline in audiences, and Smith lost his show in 1952.[1] In 1953, Smith briefly hosted the NBC game show Place the Face,[4] only to be replaced by Jack Bailey, who in turn was followed by Bill Cullen. Smith became the host of You Asked For It in 1958,[4] staying with it in various roles until 1991. He also appeared as himself in the "Fearless Fonzarelli" episode of Happy Days, aired in 1975; in that episode, Smith hosted You Wanted To See It, a fictionalized version of his real show, bearing witness to Fonzie's feat of leaping 14 garbage cans on his motorcycle.Script error: No such module "Unsubst".
Jack Smith died in June 2006 in Westlake Village, California of leukemia, aged 92.Script error: No such module "Unsubst".
Filmography
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1933 | King Kong | Reporter | Uncredited |
| 1936 | Walking on Air | Singer at dance | Uncredited |
| 1949 | Make Believe Ballroom | Singer Jack Smith | |
| 1951 | On Moonlight Bay | Hubert Wakely | |
| 1971 | The Barefoot Executive | Clathworthy | |
| 1984 | Cannonball Run II | Announcer Jack Smith | (final film role) |
References
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- ↑ a b c d e Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Reinehr, Robert C. and Swartz, Jon D. (2008). The A to Z of Old-Time Radio. Scarecrow Press, Inc. Template:ISBN. p. 138.
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ a b McNeil, Alex (1996). Total Television. Penguin Books USA, Inc. Template:ISBN.
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External links
- Jack Smith (III) at IMDbTemplate:EditAtWikidataScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
- 2 episodes of The Jack Smith Show from Old Time Radio Researchers Organization library
- Article about Mr. and Mrs. Jack Smith from TV Radio Mirror
- Another article about Mr. and Mrs. Jack Smith from Radio Mirror
- "With a Smile in His Voice" article from Radio TV Mirror
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- Pages with script errors
- 1913 births
- 2006 deaths
- Deaths from leukemia in California
- Musicians from Seattle
- 20th-century American musicians
- People from Westlake Village, California
- Singers from Washington (state)
- American male film actors
- Male actors from Washington (state)
- 20th-century American male actors
- American game show hosts
- 20th-century American singers