Bill Kennedy
NHJM
Bill Kennedy, actor, announcer and TV movie host, has died.
Kennedy, though most famous for his role as announcer on the 1950's
Superman TV series("Faster than a speeding Bullet......"), appeared in
over 60 motion pictures, including Now Voyager, Destination Tokyo, and
Joan of Arc, in which he played the man who set star Ingrid Bergman
ablaze.
Kennedy hosted an afternoon movie show in the Detroit area from
1956-1983, first on Windsors's CKLW and later on WKBD.
Bill Kennedy was a flamboyant, larger than life figure, overflowing
with anecdotes, gossip about the stars he had rubbed shoulders with, and a
large measure of good natured self parody.
Every Detroiter has a favorite Bill Kennedy story. I recall one
program........the movie was Alice Adams. A viewer called in asking a
question about Doris Day. After handling the question Bill proclaimed, in
his usual overdramatic style "Thats the true story about Doris Day,
Americas favorite virgin.........Now back to our feature, starring
Katherine Hepburn, who was never a virgin......"
Detroit grieves for this wonderful character.
David Hamil
As a young boy growing up in Windsor, Ont I used to watch the Bill Kennedy
Movie Mat. I am sure glad you wrote this obit because I was thinking of
him not that long ago.
Do you remember the woman who always brought her little dog with her on
the show when Bill was not there?
------------------------------------------------------------
David R. Hamil - ha...@vcn.bc.ca
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Tom Pillon
NHJM wrote:
>
> Bill Kennedy, actor, announcer and TV movie host, has died.
> Kennedy, though most famous for his role as announcer on the 1950's
> Superman TV series("Faster than a speeding Bullet......"), appeared in
> over 60 motion pictures, including Now Voyager, Destination Tokyo, and
> Joan of Arc, in which he played the man who set star Ingrid Bergman
> ablaze.
> Kennedy hosted an afternoon movie show in the Detroit area from
> 1956-1983, first on Windsors's CKLW and later on WKBD.
> Bill Kennedy was a flamboyant, larger than life figure, overflowing
> with anecdotes, gossip about the stars he had rubbed shoulders with, and a
> large measure of good natured self parody.
> Every Detroiter has a favorite Bill Kennedy story. I recall one
> program........the movie was Alice Adams. A viewer called in asking a
> question about Doris Day. After handling the question Bill proclaimed, in
> his usual overdramatic style "Thats the true story about Doris Day,
> Americas favorite virgin.........Now back to our feature, starring
> Katherine Hepburn, who was never a virgin......"
> Detroit grieves for this wonderful character.
Bill was one of the few great local Detroit personalities. I'm sure Lou
Gordon and J.P. were there to greet him.
NHJM
I believe the woman with the little dog you refer to was gossip columnist
Shirley Eder
Lane Smith
David Hamil <ha...@vcn.bc.ca> wrote in article
<Pine.GSO.3.95.970128...@opus.vcn.bc.ca>...
> On 28 Jan 1997, NHJM wrote:
>
> > Bill Kennedy, actor, announcer and TV movie host, has died.
[...]
[...]
> Do you remember the woman who always brought her little dog with her on
> the show when Bill was not there?
I can remember staying home from school when I was sick, and my mom and I
would watch "Bill Kennedy At The Movies" in the afternoon at 1PM, right
after the original Jeopardy with Art Fleming and Don Pardo. I do recall,
however, that there was also a morning movie on WXYZ (Channel 7 in Detroit)
hosted by Rita Bell. I don't think that's who you're thinking of, though.
Anyone from southern Michigan know if Rita Bell is still with us?
lane
Lane Smith
la...@netonecom.net
Interlochen, Michigan USA
Bill Willoughby
Tom Pillon wrote:
>
> Bill was one of the few great local Detroit personalities. I'm sure Lou
> Gordon and J.P. were there to greet him.
Using Lou Gordon and J.P. in the same sentence? How awful!
Lou is approaching 20 years in the grave this spring. I wonder if they
buried that hairpiece with him.
I remember Lou Gordon as a blatant publicity seeker with one of the most
abrasive personalities I have seen ... including today's crop of talk
show hosts. His main claim to fame was the interview with then-Michigan
Gov George Romney, when Romney wanted to reverse his position on Vietnam
.... claimed he was "brainwashed". It killed his presidential campaign
in the year that Nixon eventually won.
In contrast, J.P. McCarthy was a far better interviewer, could always
put his guests at ease, and got far closer to the truth. And he was one
of the greatest morning DJs in the history of AM radio.
Mark McLean
I would agree with virtually everything you say. BUT, let's face it,
Joe's rug wasn't much better than Lou's.
Mark McLean
Bill Willoughby
Can't argue with that. If you want to remember great Detroit
personalities, what about Van Patrick, the oooold announcer? I always
loved to hear him enunciate "Philadelphia" ... never heard him say
"fellatio" on the air, but if he ever did, it would have been
memorable. He had a pretty bad piece of road kill too, as did Sonny
Eliot (still with us, I believe). What was it with old TV
personalities? You'd think they could get better 'dos.
Of course, in the present, and away from the Motor City, we have Marv
Albert and the absolute worst rug I have ever seen, Hank Stram. You'd
think they could afford better hair, or maybe be more like Jason
Alexander or Don Rickles (or Kareem Abdul-Jabbar), and accept what
Mother Nature gave them.
Bill
NHJM
To the best of my knowledge Rita Bell is still with us
David Hamil
On 4 Feb 1997, NHJM wrote:
> To the best of my knowledge Rita Bell is still with us
>
How about Miss Mary Morgan and her little dog,Liepschen???
Same channel,different day then Bill Kennedy.