Jack Haskell

John Thomas Haskell (April 30, 1919 – September 26, 1998) was an American singer and announcer in the era of old-time radio and later in television.

Jack Haskell
Publicity photo of Dave Garroway, singer-actress Connie Russell and Jack Haskell from the WMAQ radio show, Dial Dave Garroway (1951)
Born
John Thomas Haskell

April 30, 1919[1]
Akron, Ohio
DiedSeptember 26, 1998 (aged 79)
Englewood, New Jersey
NationalityAmerican
Alma materNorthwestern University
OccupationSinger, actor, announcer
Spouse(s)Doris Lee Dahme Haskell, (died 1978), Helen Haskell
Children1 son, Thomas Haskell

Early years

Haskell was born in Akron, Ohio and raised in Cleveland, Ohio. He majored in music at Northwestern University in Chicago, Illinois.[2]

Radio

While he was in college, Haskell sang on two Chicago stations, WBBM and WGN. and did commercials on The Fitch Bandwagon.[2] Over the years, he was a regular on Varieties,[3] The Jim Backus Show[4] The Peter Lind Hayes Show,[5] Stop the Music, and Music from the Heart of America.[6]

Later in his career, he was one of the hosts for Monitor.[7]

Personal appearances

After finishing college, Haskell sang with Les Brown and his orchestra.[2] Later in his career, he sang in supper clubs.[8]

Military service

During World War II, Haskell was initially a flight instructor at NAS Corpus Christi, Texas and later a Naval Air Transport Service pilot flying R5D transport planes extensively throughout the Pacific Theater for the United States Navy.[2]

Television

Haskell moved from Chicago to New York City to be with Dave Garroway on the first iteration of Today.[8] He was also on The Ed Sullivan Show, The Mike Douglas Show, The Bell Telephone Hour, The Garry Moore Show,[8] Garroway at Large,[9] The Dave Garroway Show, The Jack Paar Show, Of All Things, Stop the Music, and The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson.[10]

Stage

Haskell played Pat Gregory in the Broadway production of Mr. President.[11] He was also active in summer stock theatre, including Gypsy in 1970.[12]

Recording

Recorded solo album, “Jack Swings for Jack (Paar) for the Strand label and the cover cast album of “Destry Rides Again” on RCA Camden, CAL 540. Haskell was the first vocalist signed by Thunderbird Record Company when it began in 1955. He was featured on the company's first recording, I Remember Mambo, backed with Who Can Say.[13]

Personal life

Haskell had a wife, Doris Lee Dahme Haskell, who he married while a US Naval Aviator and Flight Instructor at NAS Corpus Christi, Texas. They had a son Thomas. After Doris’ untimely death at age 57, he later married Helen.[8]

After serving in the US Navy, Haskell was the co-owner in a cattle ranch is Cuero, Texas, only to later relocate to Chicago, Illinois to join early television pioneer, Dave Garroway, and the cast of the television show Garroway At Large.

Haskell was an avid off-shore racing sailor, and amateur photographer.

Death

Haskell died September 26, 1998, at the Actors Fund Nursing Home in Englewood, New Jersey.[8]

Partial discography
  • It Couldn't Be True - 1946, with Les Brown's Orchestra (Columbia 36977)[14]
  • In Love in Vain - 1946, with Les Brown's Orchestra (Columbia 36972)[15]
  • Years and Years Ago - 1946, with Les Brown's Orchestra (Columbia 37153)[16]
  • Beware My Heart - 1947, with Les Brown's Orchestra (Columbia 37235[17])
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References
  1. U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007
  2. Cox, Jim (2007). Radio Speakers: Narrators, News Junkies, Sports Jockeys, Tattletales, Tipsters, Toastmasters and Coffee Klatch Couples Who Verbalized the Jargon of the Aural Ether from the 1920s to the 1980s--A Biographical Dictionary. McFarland & Company, Inc. ISBN 978-0-7864-6086-1. P. 127.
  3. "NBC's "Ellery Q" Vamps Till Ready" (PDF). Billboard. June 14, 1947. p. 15. Retrieved 14 May 2016.
  4. "There's a million-dollar sales staff on American -- and you can own it". U.S. Radio. 1 (2): 6–7. November 1957. Retrieved 14 May 2016.
  5. Terrace, Vincent (1999). Radio Programs, 1924-1984: A Catalog of More Than 1800 Shows. McFarland & Company, Inc. ISBN 978-0-7864-4513-4. P. 270.
  6. Sies, Luther F. (2014). Encyclopedia of American Radio, 1920-1960, 2nd Edition. McFarland & Company, Inc. ISBN 978-0-7864-5149-4. P. 467.
  7. "What's on the Air". The Times Recorder. Ohio, Zanesville. October 12, 1968. p. 8 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. "Jack Haskell, 79, a Singer and TV Announcer". The New York Times. October 1, 1998. Retrieved 14 May 2016.
  9. "Garroway Fan". The Lawton Constitution And Morning Press. Oklahoma, Lawton. September 17, 1972. p. 64. Retrieved May 13, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. Terrace, Vincent (2011). Encyclopedia of Television Shows, 1925 through 2010. McFarland & Company, Inc. ISBN 978-0-7864-6477-7.
  11. "Mr. President-Cast". Playbill. Retrieved 13 May 2016.
  12. "Janis Paige Stars in Gypsy At Hershey". Lebanon Daily News. Pennsylvania, Lebanon. August 17, 1970. p. 17. Retrieved May 13, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. "Thunderbird Records Releases First Disk" (PDF). The Cash Box. January 8, 1955. p. 10. Retrieved 14 June 2017.
  14. "Reviews" (PDF). Billboard. May 25, 1946. p. 34. Retrieved 14 May 2016.
  15. "Advance Record Releases" (PDF). Billboard. April 13, 1946. p. 32. Retrieved 14 May 2016.
  16. "Record Reviews" (PDF). Billboard. December 21, 1946. p. 26. Retrieved 14 May 2016.
  17. "Advance Record Releases" (PDF). Billboard. February 22, 1947. Retrieved 14 May 2016.
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