John Harlan (announcer)

John Henry Harlan (December 21, 1925 – February 27, 2017) was an American television announcer who worked on numerous television projects for over 40 years, particularly game and variety shows. He was from Sonoma County, California.

John Harlan
Born	John Henry Harlan (1925-12-21)December 21, 1925 Sonoma County, California, U.S.
Died	February 27, 2017(2017-02-27) (aged 91) Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Alma mater	Fresno State University
Occupation	TV announcer

Perhaps his best-known work was for the Bob Hope specials aired on NBC during the 1960s through the 1990s. Among game show fanciers, his most memorable outings were the versions of Name That Tune produced between 1974 and 1985.

Harlan attended California State University, Fresno, graduating in 1948. He served as class president for the fall term. At school he was friends with Wendell Bell, serving as his best man at his 1947 wedding.[1]

Harlan died on February 27, 2017 at the age of 91.[2]

Shows announced

• Golden Globe Awards
• People's Choice Awards[3]
• Comic Relief (first special only; HBO, 1986)
• The Muppets: A Celebration of 30 Years (CBS special, 1986)
• Password (ABC, 1971–75)[4]
• Tattletales (CBS, 1974)
• The Flip Wilson Show[5]
• The Merv Griffin Show (when based in Los Angeles)
• You Don't Say! (all versions)[5]
• Face the Music (1980–81)
• Queen for a Day[5]
• The Cross-Wits
• Catchphrase
• Jeopardy! (NBC, 1978–79)[5]
• The Krypton Factor
• American Gladiators (Syndicated, 1990–93)[5][6]
• Press Your Luck[5] (as a fill-in[5] for Rod Roddy)
• Password Plus[5] (as a fill-in for Gene Wood)
• Name That Tune;[5] he also served as one of the show's associate producers
• Your New Day with Vidal Sassoon
• Lucky Numbers (pilot similar to High Rollers in 1985)
• 50 Grand Slam[5]
• Wipeout[5]
• All Star Blitz[5]
• Celebrity Sweepstakes[5]
• It Takes Two[5]
• Relatively Speaking
• Sports Challenge (final season)
• Book of Lists
• General Hospital
• Jackpot! (Syndicated, 1989–90)
• UHF (Film, 1989; voice of in-film promos for U-62)

Harlan worked on occasional TV specials up until his death in 2017. He was also president of Pacific Pioneer Broadcasters.

Sources

1. Memories of the Future by Wendell Bell
2. Voice-over announcer John Harlan dies
3. Johnny Gilbert on IMDb
4. John Harlan on IMDb
5. https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0363217/#self1970
6. https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0363217/filmoseries#tt0096532

External links

• John Harlan on IMDb
• John Harlan at Find a Grave

Media offices
Preceded by Don Pardo	Announcer on Jeopardy! 1978-1979	Succeeded by Johnny Gilbert