Don Ameche

Don Ameche, originally named Dominic Felix Amici, was a prominent American actor, comedian, and vaudevillian, born on May 31, 1908, in Kenosha, Wisconsin. He began his career in college productions, repertory theatre, and vaudeville before achieving fame as a major radio star in the early 1930s, ultimately leading to a movie contract with 20th Century Fox in 1935.

Throughout the 1950s, Ameche expanded his repertoire to include Broadway and television, notably hosting NBC's International Showtime from 1961 to 1965. His later years saw a career resurgence marked by his role as a villain in the film Trading Places (1983). He received critical acclaim, winning the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his performance in Cocoon (1985) and the Volpi Cup for Best Actor for Things Change (1988).

Ameche was the second of eight children in a family with mixed heritage; his father, Felice Amici, was an Italian immigrant, while his mother, Barbara Etta Hertel, had Scottish, Irish, and German roots. He was educated at several institutions including Marquette University, Loras College, and the University of Wisconsin–Madison, where his cousin Alan Ameche notably won the Heisman Trophy in 1954.

Ameche's journey began at the University of Wisconsin, where his talent in college dramatics caught the attention of a friend, leading him to substitute for a missing lead actor in a stock company production of "Excess Baggage." This experience sparked his interest in acting, resulting in a juvenile lead role in "Jerry For Short" in New York and a subsequent tour in vaudeville with entertainer Texas Guinan, although he was later dropped from the act for being "too stiff."

In 1930, Ameche transitioned to a radio career in Chicago, starting with the program "Empire Builders" and soon becoming the leading man on notable shows such as the dramatic anthology "First Nighter" and the pioneering soap opera "Betty and Bob." His work in Chicago laid the groundwork for his future success in Hollywood, where he was brought in by 20th Century Fox producer Darryl Zanuck. Ameche quickly became known for his romantic lead roles alongside many of the era's top female stars.

His film career flourished in 1939, as he starred in the comedy "Midnight," and portrayed Alexander Graham Bell in "The Story of Alexander Graham Bell," a role that popularized the term "ameche" as slang for a telephone. This connection was so strong that by 1940, the film "Go West" referenced Ameche in a comedic dialogue regarding the invention of the telephone. His romantic trajectory continued as he starred alongside Alice Faye in "Hollywood Cavalcade," and further showcased his range by playing historical figures like Stephen Foster in "Swanee River" and Lillian Russell in the biopic of the same name. Ameche also made significant contributions to the musical genre with films like "Down Argentine Way" and "Moon Over Miami," the former of which advanced the careers of Betty Grable and Carmen Miranda. His popularity peaked in 1940, when he was ranked as the 21st most popular star in Hollywood, solidifying his status in the entertainment industry.

Don Ameche, a distinguished performer, gained fame in the late 1940s as a key participant in the radio comedy series The Bickersons, alongside Frances Langford. This popular show, which depicted the tumultuous relationship of a married couple, began its run on NBC in 1946 before moving to CBS the following year. Ameche’s early career included hosting his own show, The Old Gold Don Ameche Show, on NBC Red in the early 1940s. In 1950, he transitioned to television as the star of Holiday Hotel on ABC-TV.

Throughout his career, Ameche released numerous singles and albums, notably two that charted with Langford: The Bickersons (1962) and The Bickersons Fight Back (1962), which reached No. 76 and No. 109 on Billboard's Top LPs, respectively. From the 1930s until 1970, he appeared regularly in films before shifting focus to television and stage performances. His cinematic comeback occurred with Trading Places (1983), where he was cast after the director sought an actor from his era who had predominantly non-villainous roles. This resurgence led to subsequent film roles including Cocoon (1985), for which he won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor, and other notable films such as Harry and the Hendersons (1987) and Coming to America (1988).

Ameche received acclaim for his performance in Things Change (1988), with The New York Times praising his comedic timing. His later credits included an appearance in The Golden Girls (1990), and he lent his voice to the character Shadow in Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey (1993). His final film was Corrina, Corrina (1994), released posthumously.

In addition to his entertainment career, Ameche co-owned the Los Angeles Dons football team from 1946 to 1949, contributing significantly to its establishment and serving as team president. He had a complicated personal life; he was married to Honore Prendergast from 1932 until her death in 1986, although they were separated at that time. Together, they had six children. Ameche was a Roman Catholic and a Republican, publicly supporting Thomas Dewey during the 1944 presidential election.

Don Ameche passed away on December 6, 1993, from prostate cancer at his son Richard's home in Scottsdale, Arizona, at the age of 85. He was cremated, and his ashes were interred at Resurrection Catholic Cemetery in Asbury, Iowa.

Elvia Allman

Elvia Beatrice Allman (born on September 19, 1904) was a prominent American actress known for her work in Hollywood films and television for over five decades. She is particularly remembered for her semi-regular roles in popular television series such as The Beverly Hillbillies and Petticoat Junction, as well as for voicing Clarabelle Cow in Disney animations. One of her notable performances includes a memorable role as a stern boss in the classic I Love Lucy episode "Job Switching," and she made a repeat appearance as Nancy Graham in the 1955 episode "The Homecoming."

Allman was born in Enochville, North Carolina, and began her career in 1926 as a children's story reader at KHJ in Los Angeles, where she quickly gained acclaim for her linguistic talents. She married Wesley B. Tourtellotte on August 2, 1930, but the marriage ended in divorce a few years later. By 1933, she had relocated to the east coast, branding herself as the "California Cocktail" and launching a musical program on NBC. Her next major role came when she joined KNX for a 15-minute show that was initially intended to be long-term, but concluded on March 3, 1935.

Allman's career in network radio took off with notable shows such as the Blue Monday Jamboree, where she portrayed various characters including Auntie MacCasser and beauty expert Octavia Smith-Whiffen. She made her debut on The Pepsodent Show starring Bob Hope as a parody of Cobina Wright, which she later portrayed in films and parodied in the Merrie Melodies cartoon Goofy Groceries. Allman remained active in comedy radio programming through the 1950s and returned to the medium in the 1970s during a revival.

In the mid-1930s, Allman lent her voice to Warner Bros. cartoons as part of producer Leon Schlesinger's team. She is noted for her involvement in the Porky Pig cartoon I Haven't Got a Hat (1935) and may have originated the character of Clarabelle Cow, who appeared in 28 Disney cartoons from 1928 to 1942. In 1937, she voiced the lead in the cartoon Little Red Walking Hood, a spoof of the classic fairy tale. Her personal life included a marriage to sports promoter C. C. Pyle on July 3, 1937, who died shortly thereafter in 1939.

Throughout her career, Allman appeared in a variety of roles across many shows, including Tootsie Sagwell on The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show in the early 1940s. Other well-known characters included Mrs. Kennedy in The Adventures of Maisie, Penelope the Pelican in The Cinnamon Bear, and Cuddles Bongschnook on The Durante-Moore Show. She also featured regularly on programs such as The Abbott and Costello Show, The Baby Snooks Show, The Judy Canova Show, and The Ray Bolger Show. Her extensive career reflects a versatile talent that made a lasting impact on the entertainment industry.

In 1928, actress Allman participated in "The Living Corpse," staged by the Pasadena Community Players. Her film career began with an uncredited role in the 1940 movie "The Road to Singapore," where she portrayed a quirky woman pursuing Bob Hope, a role typical of her modest film appearances during the 1940s. Additionally, she featured prominently on radio, notably as Cora Dithers in the "Blondie" series, representing the strong-willed spouse of Dagwood Bumstead's employer.

Transitioning into television in the 1950s, Allman became a familiar face through numerous guest spots on popular sitcoms, including "I Married Joan," "December Bride," and "The Bob Cummings Show." She reprised her "Blondie" radio character for a TV adaptation in 1957 and added to her profile with seven episodes of "The Jack Benny Program," continuing her collaboration with Benny from radio.

The 1960s marked the peak of Allman's visibility, characterized by 58 television appearances across notable shows: “The Dick Van Dyke Show,” “The Addams Family,” and “The Munsters,” among others. Her most acclaimed role was as Elverna Bradshaw on "The Beverly Hillbillies," spanning 13 episodes from 1963 to 1970. This decade also saw Allman act in five films, including "Breakfast at Tiffany's" and "The Nutty Professor," showcasing her versatility as an actress.

Allman made an appearance as Oscar Madison’s mother in "The Odd Couple," and although her television work waned after 1972, she contributed to the 1977 TV film "Halloween with the New Addams Family." The subsequent decade revived her career slightly, with eleven appearances including roles in "Murder She Wrote." Besides acting, Allman diversified her career in the 1970s and 80s by working as a real estate agent, assisting celebrities like Mary Tyler Moore and Betty White in finding homes.

Her career came full circle when she returned to voice Clarabelle Cow for the first time in over 50 years in the 1990 animated feature "The Prince and the Pauper." Allman passed away on March 6, 1992, at the age of 87 due to pneumonia in Santa Monica, California, and was laid to rest at Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Glendale, California. She was preceded in death by her husband, Jerome L. Bayler, in 1978.

Dimension X

Dimension X was an NBC radio program that aired from April 8, 1950, to September 29, 1951, primarily as an unsponsored series. Initially, the first 13 episodes were broadcast live, followed by a series of prerecorded shows. Directors Fred Wiehe and Edward King, along with announcer and narrator Norman Rose, opened each episode with the phrase: "Adventures in time and space... told [or transcribed] in future tense." The program briefly received sponsorship from Wheaties starting July 7, 1950, for a two-month period.

Although not the pioneer of adult science fiction on radio, Dimension X quickly established itself in the science fiction community through the acquisition of notable published stories and the inclusion of renowned writers such as Isaac Asimov, Robert Bloch, Ray Bradbury, Fredric Brown, Robert A. Heinlein, Murray Leinster, H. Beam Piper, Frank M. Robinson, Clifford D. Simak, William Tenn, Jack Vance, Kurt Vonnegut, Jack Williamson, and Donald A. Wollheim. Ernest Kinoy and George Lefferts were responsible for adapting most of these stories and crafting original scripts for the series.

The 1950s marked a significant flourishing of science fiction on radio, as it coincided with its growing presence on television. Dimension X, along with Mutual's 2000 Plus, was an anthology series featuring a diverse array of tales centered on future technology and space exploration, often mirroring societal concerns regarding technological advancement.

The series premiered with "The Outer Limit," adapted by Ernest Kinoy from Graham Doar's short story featured in The Saturday Evening Post on December 24, 1949. The following week, it showcased Jack Williamson's acclaimed story, "With Folded Hands," originally published in July 1947's Astounding Science Fiction. Dimension X experienced a five-month hiatus between January and June of 1951 but managed to span a total of 17 months with 50 surviving episodes that remain accessible today. The series later influenced NBC's X Minus One, which aired from 1955 to 1958, utilizing many of the same actors and scripts.