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{{short description|American broadcaster}}
⚫
'''Royce Pollokoff''' (b. 1929), better known by the [[stage name]] '''Royal Parker''', is an [[United States|American]] television personality. In a broadcasting career spanning the 1940s&ndash;1990s, he appeared in various roles in the [[Baltimore, Maryland]], market.<ref name=Olesker>{{cite news|last=Olesker|first=Michael|authorlink=Michael Olesker|title=Here's a Royal cheer for a charitable guy|work=[[The Baltimore Examiner]]|date=May 20, 2008|page=6}}</ref>
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2020}}
{{Infobox person
|name = Royal Parker
|birth_name = Royal Pollokoff
|image = Royal Pollokoff (Royal Parker).jpg
|image_size = 200px
|caption = Royal Parker in the 1980s
|birth_date = {{birth date|1929|4|8}}
|birth_place = [[Baltimore, Maryland]], U.S.
|death_date = {{death date and age|2016|1|8|1929|4|8}}
|death_place = [[Pikesville, Maryland]], U.S.
|death_cause =
|resting_place =
|occupation = {{plainlist|
*Television broadcaster
*television host
*television producer
*radio announcer
*radio programmer}}
|years_active = 1940a–1994
|spouse = Phyllis
|children = 3
}}


⚫
'''Royal Pollokoff''' (April 8, 1929 &ndash; January 8, 2016), better known by the [[stage name]] '''Royal Parker''', was an American television personality. In a broadcasting career spanning the 1940s&ndash;1990s, he appeared in various roles, becoming a staple on television screens in the [[Baltimore, Maryland]], area.<ref name=Olesker>{{cite news|last=Olesker|first=Michael|author-link=Michael Olesker|title=Here's a Royal cheer for a charitable guy|work=[[The Baltimore Examiner]]|date=May 20, 2008|page=6}}</ref>
⚫
Parker began his broadcasting career in the late 1940s on WASA (now [[WJSS]]), an [[AM broadcasting|AM radio]] station in [[Havre de Grace, Maryland]], hosting a music program called the ''Royal Record Review''.<ref name=Olesker />. He moved to television when the medium was in its infancy, joining WAAM-TV (now [[WJZ-TV]]) in Baltimore in 1951, becoming a staple on the area's television screens for the next four decades in a variety of roles.


==Early years==
As a television newscaster, Parker covered the 1952 elections, when [[Dwight D. Eisenhower]] was elected U. S. President. He created a children's television character, ''Mister Poplolly'', in which he would don an oversized hat and glasses, along with a clown's nose, for a daily show.<ref name=Olesker /> Other characters he later played were ''P. W. Doodle'', a newsboy, and a [[Popeye]]-like sailor. <ref>{{cite news|last=Kelly|first=Jacques|title=Local Television's Royal Parker|work=[[The Baltimore Sun]]|date=November 11, 2006|page=2B}}</ref> Parker also did commercials, including the ''[[Buddy Deane Show]]'' between 1957&ndash;1962. In 1962, he moved to [[WBAL-TV]], where he hosted such popular televised [[bowling]] programs as ''Pinbusters'' and ''Bowling for Dollars'' in the 1970s.<ref>{{cite news|last=Cohen|first=Charles|title=Broadcast Muse|work=Baltimore City Paper|date=April 24, 2002|url=
⚫
Born in Baltimore, Maryland, on April 8, 1929, Parker graduated from [[Baltimore City College]] in 1946. He began his broadcasting career in the late 1940s on WASA (now [[WHGM]]), an [[AM broadcasting|AM radio]] station in [[Havre de Grace, Maryland]], hosting a music program called the ''Royal Record Review''.<ref name=Olesker /> He moved to television when the medium was in its infancy, joining WAAM-TV (now [[WJZ-TV]]) in Baltimore in 1951.
http://www.citypaper.com/arts/story.asp?id=2385|accessdate=2009-02-17}}</ref>


==Television career==
⚫
Parker remained at WBAL-TV until his retirement in the mid-1990s.<ref>"Royal Parker, WBAL-TV personality", ''[[The Baltimore Sun]]'', July 1, 2008.</ref> Reflecting on his varied roles in the early pioneering years of commercial television, Parker recalled in 2008 that when he started at WAAM in 1951, earning $45 per week, "We just figured things out as we went along. In six months, you did everything. I could run a control board, or put on a cooking show".<ref name=Olesker />
Parker served in diverse roles during his more than four decade career in television (1951&ndash;1994), including newscasts, sports events, children's programs, announcing duties, and commercials. As a television newscaster with WAAM-TV in Baltimore, Parker covered the 1952 elections, when [[Dwight D. Eisenhower]] was [[1952 United States presidential election|elected U. S. President]] and [[James Glenn Beall|J. Glenn Beall]] was elected U.S. Senator from Maryland. He created a children's television character, ''Mister Poplolly'', in which he would don an oversized hat and glasses, along with a clown's nose, for a daily show.<ref name=Olesker /> Later, he portrayed a [[Popeye]]-like sailor hosting a daily cartoon show. Parker also did commercials, including ''[[The Buddy Deane Show]]'' between 1957&ndash;1962 (by then, WAAM had been sold to Westinghouse and its call letters changed to WJZ-TV).


In 1962, Parker moved to [[WBAL-TV]], where he hosted such popular televised [[bowling]] programs as ''Pinbusters'' and ''Bowling for Dollars'' in the 1970s.<ref>{{cite news|last=Cohen|first=Charles|title=Broadcast Muse|work=Baltimore City Paper|date=April 24, 2002|url=http://www.citypaper.com/arts/story.asp?id=2385|accessdate=2009-02-17|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110814160633/http://www2.citypaper.com/arts/story.asp?id=2385|archivedate=August 14, 2011}}</ref> While at WBAL, he played ''P. W. Doodle'', a newsboy character he created based on his own experience selling newspapers in Baltimore as a youth.<ref name=Sun06>{{cite news|last=Kelly|first=Jacques|title=Local Television's Royal Parker|work=[[The Baltimore Sun]]|date=November 11, 2006|url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/baltsun/access/1160874081.html?dids=1160874081:1160874081&FMT=FT&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Nov+11%2C+2006&author=Jacques+Kelly&pub=The+Sun&desc=LOCAL+TELEVISION%27S+ROYAL+PARKER&pf=1|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130131133249/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/baltsun/access/1160874081.html?dids=1160874081:1160874081&FMT=FT&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Nov+11,+2006&author=Jacques+Kelly&pub=The+Sun&desc=LOCAL+TELEVISION'S+ROYAL+PARKER&pf=1|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 31, 2013|page=2B}}</ref> On November 22, 1963, he was called upon to broadcast the news flash of [[John F. Kennedy assassination|U.S. President John F. Kennedy's assassination]].<ref name=Sun06 />
⚫
Parker and his wife, Phyllis, continue to live in the Baltimore area. He remains active in local charitable work, including benefit appearances for the Mount Washington Pediatric Hospital.<ref name=Olesker />

Later on his career, Parker broadcast the resignation of [[Richard Nixon]], economic disasters facing the United States, the [[Iran hostage crisis]] and the [[Assassination attempt of Ronald Reagan|attempted assassination]] of [[Ronald Reagan]].

⚫
Parker remained at WBAL-TV until his retirement in 1994.<ref name=Sun06 /> Reflecting on his varied roles in the early pioneering years of commercial television, Parker recalled in 2008 that when he started at WAAM in 1951, earning $45 per week, "We just figured things out as we went along. In six months, you did everything. I could run a control board, or put on a cooking show".<ref name=Olesker />

==Later years and personal life==
Parker and his wife, Phyllis, had three sons.<ref name=Sun06 />

After leaving broadcasting, he ran for a seat in the [[Maryland House of Delegates]] in 1994, but lost in the [[Partisan primary|primary election]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Primary Election Results|date=September 14, 1994|work=[[The Baltimore Sun]]| page=4B}}</ref> He later took a job as an inspector for the Baltimore City Liquor License Board, retiring from that position in 2006.<ref>Michael Dresser, [http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/obituaries/bs-md-ob-royal-parker-20160108-story.html Royal Parker Pollikoff, Baltimore TV pioneer, dies], ''[[Baltimore Sun]]'' (January 9, 2016). Retrieved on January 9, 2016.</ref>

⚫
In his retirement, Parker remained active in local charitable work, which included frequent benefit appearances for the Mount Washington Pediatric Hospital.<ref name=Olesker />

He died of [[heart failure|congestive heart failure]] on January 8, 2016, in [[Pikesville, Maryland]], a Baltimore suburb, at age&nbsp;86.<ref>[http://www.wbaltv.com/news/longtime-baltimore-tv-broadcaster-royal-parker-dies-at-86/37335332 Longtime Baltimore TV Broadcaster Royal Parker dies at 86], [[WBAL-TV]]. Retrieved on January 8, 2016.</ref>


==References==
==References==
Line 14: Line 51:


==External links==
==External links==
* [http://www.geocities.com/gwhelton/royal.html The Royal Parker Photo Album]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20070702193551/http://www.geocities.com/gwhelton/royal.html The Royal Parker Photo Album]


{{Authority control}}
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{{lifetime|1929||Parker, Royal}}


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{{DEFAULTSORT:Parker, Royal}}
[[Category:1929 births]]
[[Category:2016 deaths]]
[[Category:American television personalities]]
[[Category:American television personalities]]
[[Category:People from Baltimore, Maryland]]
[[Category:Mass media people from Baltimore]]
[[Category:Baltimore City College alumni]]

[[Category:People from Pikesville, Maryland]]
{{US-tv-bio-stub}}

Latest revision as of 10:33, 17 October 2024

Royal Parker
Royal Parker in the 1980s
Born
Royal Pollokoff

(1929-04-08)April 8, 1929
Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.
DiedJanuary 8, 2016(2016-01-08) (aged 86)
Pikesville, Maryland, U.S.
Occupations
  • Television broadcaster
  • television host
  • television producer
  • radio announcer
  • radio programmer
Years active1940a–1994
SpousePhyllis
Children3

Royal Pollokoff (April 8, 1929 – January 8, 2016), better known by the stage name Royal Parker, was an American television personality. In a broadcasting career spanning the 1940s–1990s, he appeared in various roles, becoming a staple on television screens in the Baltimore, Maryland, area.[1]

Early years

[edit]

Born in Baltimore, Maryland, on April 8, 1929, Parker graduated from Baltimore City College in 1946. He began his broadcasting career in the late 1940s on WASA (now WHGM), an AM radio station in Havre de Grace, Maryland, hosting a music program called the Royal Record Review.[1] He moved to television when the medium was in its infancy, joining WAAM-TV (now WJZ-TV) in Baltimore in 1951.

Television career

[edit]

Parker served in diverse roles during his more than four decade career in television (1951–1994), including newscasts, sports events, children's programs, announcing duties, and commercials. As a television newscaster with WAAM-TV in Baltimore, Parker covered the 1952 elections, when Dwight D. Eisenhower was elected U. S. President and J. Glenn Beall was elected U.S. Senator from Maryland. He created a children's television character, Mister Poplolly, in which he would don an oversized hat and glasses, along with a clown's nose, for a daily show.[1] Later, he portrayed a Popeye-like sailor hosting a daily cartoon show. Parker also did commercials, including The Buddy Deane Show between 1957–1962 (by then, WAAM had been sold to Westinghouse and its call letters changed to WJZ-TV).

In 1962, Parker moved to WBAL-TV, where he hosted such popular televised bowling programs as Pinbusters and Bowling for Dollars in the 1970s.[2] While at WBAL, he played P. W. Doodle, a newsboy character he created based on his own experience selling newspapers in Baltimore as a youth.[3] On November 22, 1963, he was called upon to broadcast the news flash of U.S. President John F. Kennedy's assassination.[3]

Later on his career, Parker broadcast the resignation of Richard Nixon, economic disasters facing the United States, the Iran hostage crisis and the attempted assassination of Ronald Reagan.

Parker remained at WBAL-TV until his retirement in 1994.[3] Reflecting on his varied roles in the early pioneering years of commercial television, Parker recalled in 2008 that when he started at WAAM in 1951, earning $45 per week, "We just figured things out as we went along. In six months, you did everything. I could run a control board, or put on a cooking show".[1]

Later years and personal life

[edit]

Parker and his wife, Phyllis, had three sons.[3]

After leaving broadcasting, he ran for a seat in the Maryland House of Delegates in 1994, but lost in the primary election.[4] He later took a job as an inspector for the Baltimore City Liquor License Board, retiring from that position in 2006.[5]

In his retirement, Parker remained active in local charitable work, which included frequent benefit appearances for the Mount Washington Pediatric Hospital.[1]

He died of congestive heart failure on January 8, 2016, in Pikesville, Maryland, a Baltimore suburb, at age 86.[6]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c d e Olesker, Michael (May 20, 2008). "Here's a Royal cheer for a charitable guy". The Baltimore Examiner. p. 6.
  2. ^ Cohen, Charles (April 24, 2002). "Broadcast Muse". Baltimore City Paper. Archived from the original on August 14, 2011. Retrieved February 17, 2009.
  3. ^ a b c d Kelly, Jacques (November 11, 2006). "Local Television's Royal Parker". The Baltimore Sun. p. 2B. Archived from the original on January 31, 2013.
  4. ^ "Primary Election Results". The Baltimore Sun. September 14, 1994. p. 4B.
  5. ^ Michael Dresser, Royal Parker Pollikoff, Baltimore TV pioneer, dies, Baltimore Sun (January 9, 2016). Retrieved on January 9, 2016.
  6. ^ Longtime Baltimore TV Broadcaster Royal Parker dies at 86, WBAL-TV. Retrieved on January 8, 2016.
[edit]
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