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'''Art Hellyer, Jr.''' is a radio and television broadcaster whose professional career spanned the years 1947–2012. He broadcasted local and national network radio programs as a disc jockey, radio and television news reporter and anchor, was part of the Chicago White Sox radio on-air announcing team 1953–1955, hosted the "It's In The Name" television game show, and was the voice of many live and recorded TV and radio commercials throughout the country.
'''Art Hellyer, Jr.''' is a radio and television broadcaster whose professional career spanned the years 1947–2012. He broadcasted local and national network radio programs as a disc jockey, radio and television news reporter and anchor, was part of the Chicago White Sox radio on-air announcing team 1953–1955, hosted the "It's In The Name" television game show, and was the voice of many live and recorded TV and radio commercials throughout the country.<ref>McGuire, Dan. "Music... And Mischief! The Mad, Mad, Mad World of Art Hellyer", ''Nostalgia Digest'' magazine, Summer 2013, Nostalgia Digest, Box 421, Morton Grove, Illinois 60053. pp. 8-12.</ref>


During his career Hellyer's shows achieved #1 in ratings (numbers of listeners) on three different Chicago radio stations during his program time slots.<ref>Zorn, Eric. ''Chicago Tribune'' newspaper, Sec. 3, p.1 and p.4, October 4, 1982.</ref><ref>Ghrist, John Russell. ''Valley Voices: A Chicago Radio History''. Crossroads Communications, 1992, p. 68, pp. 83-85.</ref><ref>Dahl, Bill. ''Radio Chicago'' magazine, p. 23, Spring 1991.</ref> He was awarded the National RCA Victor Disc Jockey of the Year Award for 1956 which was presented to him live on the nationally broadcast NBC television "Perry Como Show." Hellyer "became the originator and perhaps the foremost exponent of zany, off-the-wall comedy on the air."<ref>Schaden, Chuck. ''Speaking of Radio: An Oral History of the Golden Days of Radio''. 2017. http://www.speakingofradio.com/interviews/hellyer-art/.</ref>
During his career Hellyer's shows achieved #1 in ratings (numbers of listeners) on three different Chicago radio stations during his program time slots.<ref>Zorn, Eric. ''Chicago Tribune'' newspaper, Sec. 3, p.1 and p.4, October 4, 1982.</ref><ref>Ghrist, John Russell. ''Valley Voices: A Chicago Radio History''. Crossroads Communications, 1992, p. 68, pp. 83-85.</ref><ref>Dahl, Bill. ''Radio Chicago'' magazine, p. 23, Spring 1991.</ref> He was awarded the National RCA Victor Disc Jockey of the Year Award for 1956 which was presented to him live on the nationally broadcast NBC television "Perry Como Show." Hellyer "became the originator and perhaps the foremost exponent of zany, off-the-wall comedy on the air."<ref>Schaden, Chuck. ''Speaking of Radio: An Oral History of the Golden Days of Radio''. 2017. http://www.speakingofradio.com/interviews/hellyer-art/.</ref><ref>McGuire, Dan. "Music... And Mischief! The Mad, Mad, Mad World of Art Hellyer", ''Nostalgia Digest'' magazine, Summer 2013, Nostalgia Digest, Box 421, Morton Grove, Illinois 60053. pp. 8-12.</ref>


Hellyer succeeded with innovative on-air antics and creativity that were not typical yet on radio in the 1950s including wisecracks, offbeat and topical humor, ad-libbed interplay with recorded sound bites including comedy album soundtracks thrown at him by his studio engineer, playing up to four recorded commercials simultaneously to reduce commercial time, playing Christmas music in July, humorously faking live interviews and commercial products, reporting time one hour off or the wrong music performers on April Fools' Days, betting a competitor deejay on another radio station he could play the same songs simultaneously which he won by actually streaming on air the competitor's broadcast live on his station, and taking creative liberties with commercial announcements that sometimes led to friction with management.<ref>Passman, Arnold. ''The Deejays''.The MacMillan Company, 1971, pp. 192-193.</ref><ref>Passman, Arnold. ''The Deejays''.The MacMillan Company, 1971, pp. 198-199.</ref><ref>Ghrist, John Russell. ''Valley Voices: A Chicago Radio History''. Crossroads Communications, 1992, pp. 43-44.</ref> Later in his career Hellyer gained a national radio audience hosting on the Satellite Music Network.<ref>Grossman, James R., Keating, Ann Durkin, and Reiff, Janice L. ''The Encyclopedia of Chicago''. University of Chicago Press, 2004, p. 241.</ref><ref>Godfried, Nathan. WCFL: Chicago's Voice of Labor 1926–1978, pp. 258-259.</ref>
Hellyer succeeded with innovative on-air antics and creativity that were not typical yet on radio in the 1950s including wisecracks, offbeat and topical humor, ad-libbed interplay with recorded sound bites including comedy album soundtracks thrown at him by his studio engineer, playing up to four recorded commercials simultaneously to reduce commercial time, playing Christmas music in July, humorously faking live interviews and commercial products, reporting time one hour off or the wrong music performers on April Fools' Days, betting a competitor deejay on another radio station he could play the same songs simultaneously which he won by actually streaming on air the competitor's broadcast live on his station, and taking creative liberties with commercial announcements that sometimes led to friction with management.<ref>Passman, Arnold. ''The Deejays''.The MacMillan Company, 1971, pp. 192-193.</ref><ref>Passman, Arnold. ''The Deejays''.The MacMillan Company, 1971, pp. 198-199.</ref><ref>Ghrist, John Russell. ''Valley Voices: A Chicago Radio History''. Crossroads Communications, 1992, pp. 43-44.</ref> Later in his career Hellyer gained a national radio audience hosting on the Satellite Music Network.<ref>Grossman, James R., Keating, Ann Durkin, and Reiff, Janice L. ''The Encyclopedia of Chicago''. University of Chicago Press, 2004, p. 241.</ref><ref>Godfried, Nathan. WCFL: Chicago's Voice of Labor 1926–1978, pp. 258-259.</ref><ref>McGuire, Dan. "Music... And Mischief! The Mad, Mad, Mad World of Art Hellyer", ''Nostalgia Digest'' magazine, Summer 2013, Nostalgia Digest, Box 421, Morton Grove, Illinois 60053. pp. 8-12.</ref>


== Radio career ==
== Radio career ==
{{BLP sources section}}
{{BLP sources section}}
Following military service Hellyer enrolled in broadcasting classes March, 1946, at the Radio Institute of Chicago where he studied with experienced broadcasters and radio actors including Paul Barnes and Ted Liss, and worked on studio projects with fellow students including future TV actor, Tom Bosley.<ref>Dahl, Bill. ''Radio Chicago'' magazine, p. 23, Spring 1991.</ref>
Following military service Hellyer enrolled in broadcasting classes March, 1946, at the Radio Institute of Chicago where he studied with experienced broadcasters and radio actors including Paul Barnes, Bob Cunningham and Ted Liss, and worked on studio projects with fellow students including future TV actor, Tom Bosley.<ref>Dahl, Bill. ''Radio Chicago'' magazine, p. 23, Spring 1991.</ref><ref>McGuire, Dan. "Music... And Mischief! The Mad, Mad, Mad World of Art Hellyer", ''Nostalgia Digest'' magazine, Summer 2013, Nostalgia Digest, Box 421, Morton Grove, Illinois 60053. pp. 8-12.</ref>


Hellyer started his professional broadcasting career January 1, 1947 at WKNA-AM, Charleston, West Virginia, hosting the first program on this newly-licensed radio station's initial day of broadcasting. His early career 1947–1950 included hosting radio programs at WOWO-AM Fort Wayne, Indiana; WMRO-AM Aurora, Illinois; and WISN-AM, WMAW-AM and WMIL-AM, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where he also reported news throughout the night of the 1948 Truman-Dewey election. In Milwaukee he often broadcasted live from "remote" local music venues emceeing stage and ballroom performances with Patti Page, Liberace, Ken Griffin, Frankie Laine and other entertainers.<ref>Ghrist, John Russell. ''Valley Voices: A Chicago Radio History''. Crossroads Communications, 1992, p. 82.</ref>
Hellyer started his professional broadcasting career January 1, 1947 at WKNA-AM, Charleston, West Virginia, hosting the first program on this newly-licensed radio station's initial day of broadcasting. His early career 1947–1950 included hosting radio programs at WOWO-AM Fort Wayne, Indiana; WMRO-AM Aurora, Illinois; and WISN-AM, WMAW-AM and WMIL-AM, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where he also reported news throughout the night of the 1948 Truman-Dewey election. In Milwaukee he often broadcasted live from "remote" local music venues emceeing stage and ballroom performances with Patti Page, Liberace, Ken Griffin, Frankie Laine and other entertainers.<ref>Ghrist, John Russell. ''Valley Voices: A Chicago Radio History''. Crossroads Communications, 1992, p. 82.</ref><ref>McGuire, Dan. "Music... And Mischief! The Mad, Mad, Mad World of Art Hellyer", ''Nostalgia Digest'' magazine, Summer 2013, Nostalgia Digest, Box 421, Morton Grove, Illinois 60053. pp. 8-12.</ref>


Hellyer's break into a major market was in May, 1950, when his daily postcards mailed to WCFL-AM Chicago's program director asking to "rescue" him from Milwaukee resulted in an unorthodox on-air live audition for 50,000 watt WCFL while broadcasting his show on air on WMIL-AM in Milwaukee. WCFL hired Hellyer, and by 1952 Hellyer was given the drive-time 6am – 10am radio slot where he was promoted as the "Morning Madcap." During this time Hellyer also freelanced with radio shows broadcasted on as many as seven different radio stations the same week, emceeing many celebrity events, and building a successful career with radio and television commercial work as the regular voice of national sponsors, including announcing live in-studio commercials on the CBS network show "What's My Line" in New York.<ref>Ghrist, John Russell. ''Valley Voices: A Chicago Radio History''. Crossroads Communications, 1992, pp. 80, 83.</ref>
Hellyer's break into a major market was in May, 1950, when his daily postcards mailed to WCFL-AM Chicago's program director asking to "rescue" him from Milwaukee resulted in an unorthodox on-air live audition for 50,000 watt WCFL while broadcasting his show on air on WMIL-AM in Milwaukee. WCFL hired Hellyer, and by 1952 Hellyer was given the drive-time 6am – 10am radio slot where he was promoted as the "Morning Madcap." During this time Hellyer also freelanced with radio shows broadcasted on as many as seven different radio stations the same week, emceeing many celebrity events, and building a successful career with radio and television commercial work as the regular voice of national sponsors, including announcing live in-studio commercials on the CBS network show "What's My Line" in New York.<ref>Ghrist, John Russell. ''Valley Voices: A Chicago Radio History''. Crossroads Communications, 1992, pp. 80, 83.</ref><ref>McGuire, Dan. "Music... And Mischief! The Mad, Mad, Mad World of Art Hellyer", ''Nostalgia Digest'' magazine, Summer 2013, Nostalgia Digest, Box 421, Morton Grove, Illinois 60053. pp. 8-12.</ref>


[[File:Art Hellyer interviewing Andy Griffith on WCFL-AM Chicago in 1953.jpg|thumbnail|Hellyer interviewing Andy Griffith in 1953 on WCFL-AM in Chicago]]
[[File:Art Hellyer interviewing Andy Griffith on WCFL-AM Chicago in 1953.jpg|thumbnail|Hellyer interviewing Andy Griffith in 1953 on WCFL-AM in Chicago]]
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=== Radio highlights chronology ===
=== Radio highlights chronology ===
{{BLP unsourced section}}
{{BLP unsourced section}}
* 1947 WKNA Charleston, West Virginia<ref>Ghrist, John Russell. ''Valley Voices: A Chicago Radio History''. Crossroads Communications, 1992, pp. 82, 85.</ref>
* 1947 WKNA Charleston, West Virginia<ref>Ghrist, John Russell. ''Valley Voices: A Chicago Radio History''. Crossroads Communications, 1992, pp. 82, 85.</ref><ref>McGuire, Dan. "Music... And Mischief! The Mad, Mad, Mad World of Art Hellyer", ''Nostalgia Digest'' magazine, Summer 2013, Nostalgia Digest, Box 421, Morton Grove, Illinois 60053. pp. 8-12.</ref>
* 1947 WOWO Fort Wayne, Indiana<ref>Ghrist, John Russell. ''Valley Voices: A Chicago Radio History''. Crossroads Communications, 1992, p. 82.</ref>,
* 1947 WOWO Fort Wayne, Indiana<ref>Ghrist, John Russell. ''Valley Voices: A Chicago Radio History''. Crossroads Communications, 1992, p. 82.</ref>,
* 1947 WMRO Aurora, Illinois<ref>Ghrist, John Russell. ''Valley Voices: A Chicago Radio History''. Crossroads Communications, 1992, p. 68,74-75, 82.</ref>
* 1947 WMRO Aurora, Illinois<ref>Ghrist, John Russell. ''Valley Voices: A Chicago Radio History''. Crossroads Communications, 1992, p. 68,74-75, 82.</ref>
* 1948 WMAW Milwaukee, Wisconsin<ref>Ghrist, John Russell. ''Valley Voices: A Chicago Radio History''. Crossroads Communications, 1992, p. 82.</ref>
* 1948 WMAW Milwaukee, Wisconsin<ref>Ghrist, John Russell. ''Valley Voices: A Chicago Radio History''. Crossroads Communications, 1992, p. 82.</ref><ref>McGuire, Dan. "Music... And Mischief! The Mad, Mad, Mad World of Art Hellyer", ''Nostalgia Digest'' magazine, Summer 2013, Nostalgia Digest, Box 421, Morton Grove, Illinois 60053. pp. 8-12.</ref>
* 1948-1949 WISN (CBS) Milwaukee, Wisconsin<ref>Ghrist, John Russell. ''Valley Voices: A Chicago Radio History''. Crossroads Communications, 1992, p. 82.</ref>
* 1948-1949 WISN (CBS) Milwaukee, Wisconsin<ref>Ghrist, John Russell. ''Valley Voices: A Chicago Radio History''. Crossroads Communications, 1992, p. 82.</ref>
* 1949-1950 WMIL Milwaukee, Wisconsin<ref>Ghrist, John Russell. ''Valley Voices: A Chicago Radio History''. Crossroads Communications, 1992, p. 82.</ref> – Disk jockey and news reporter at radio stations in West Virginia, Indiana, Illinois, and Wisconsin.
* 1949-1950 WMIL Milwaukee, Wisconsin<ref>Ghrist, John Russell. ''Valley Voices: A Chicago Radio History''. Crossroads Communications, 1992, p. 82.</ref> – Disk jockey and news reporter at radio stations in West Virginia, Indiana, Illinois, and Wisconsin.
* 1950–1957 WCFL-AM Chicago including "Morning Madcap" drive time disc jockey 1952–1957.<ref>Ghrist, John Russell. ''Valley Voices: A Chicago Radio History''. Crossroads Communications, 1992, p. 68, p. 83.</ref><ref>Godfried, Nathan. WCFL: Chicago's Voice of Labor 1926–1978, pp. 258-259.</ref>
* 1950–1957 WCFL-AM Chicago including "Morning Madcap" drive time disc jockey 1952–1957.<ref>Ghrist, John Russell. ''Valley Voices: A Chicago Radio History''. Crossroads Communications, 1992, p. 68, p. 83.</ref><ref>Godfried, Nathan. WCFL: Chicago's Voice of Labor 1926–1978, pp. 258-259.</ref><ref>McGuire, Dan. "Music... And Mischief! The Mad, Mad, Mad World of Art Hellyer", ''Nostalgia Digest'' magazine, Summer 2013, Nostalgia Digest, Box 421, Morton Grove, Illinois 60053. pp. 8-12.</ref>
* 1951–1955 WGN-AM and WCFL-AM Chicago – Host of Chicago radio's "The Marriage License Show" from Cook County (IL) Clerk, Richard J. Daley's office. Hellyer then became the radio and TV announcer for Mayor Richard J. Daley's political ads in his campaigns for mayor of Chicago in the elections of 1955 and 1959.<ref>Ghrist, John Russell. ''Valley Voices: A Chicago Radio History''. Crossroads Communications, 1992, p. 83.</ref>
* 1951–1955 WGN-AM and WCFL-AM Chicago – Host of Chicago radio's "The Marriage License Show" from Cook County (IL) Clerk, Richard J. Daley's office. Hellyer then became the radio and TV announcer for Mayor Richard J. Daley's political ads in his campaigns for mayor of Chicago in the elections of 1955 and 1959.<ref>Ghrist, John Russell. ''Valley Voices: A Chicago Radio History''. Crossroads Communications, 1992, p. 83.</ref>
* 1951–1956 WMAQ-AM (NBC) Chicago – Weekend host of "Downtown with Hellyer" show.<ref>''Nostalgia Digest'' magazine, October/November 2000, Nostalgia Digest, Box 421, Morton Grove, Illinois 60053. p.5</ref><ref>Ghrist, John Russell. ''Valley Voices: A Chicago Radio History''. Crossroads Communications, 1992, p. 38.</ref>
* 1951–1956 WMAQ-AM (NBC) Chicago – Weekend host of "Downtown with Hellyer" show.<ref>''Nostalgia Digest'' magazine, October/November 2000, Nostalgia Digest, Box 421, Morton Grove, Illinois 60053. p.5</ref><ref>Ghrist, John Russell. ''Valley Voices: A Chicago Radio History''. Crossroads Communications, 1992, p. 38.</ref>
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* 1983–1985 WJJD-AM Chicago, Illinois - Radio host playing music of the "Big Band" era and the 1950s.<ref>Ghrist, John Russell. ''Valley Voices: A Chicago Radio History''. Crossroads Communications, 1992, p. 49, pp 85-86.</ref><ref>Dahl, Bill. ''Radio Chicago'' magazine, p. 23, Spring 1991.</ref>
* 1983–1985 WJJD-AM Chicago, Illinois - Radio host playing music of the "Big Band" era and the 1950s.<ref>Ghrist, John Russell. ''Valley Voices: A Chicago Radio History''. Crossroads Communications, 1992, p. 49, pp 85-86.</ref><ref>Dahl, Bill. ''Radio Chicago'' magazine, p. 23, Spring 1991.</ref>
* 1985–1988 Daily program host on national Satellite Music Network's "Stardust Division" broadcasting into 19 metropolitan areas across the U.S. plus Bermuda and the Virgin Islands.<ref>Ghrist, John Russell. ''Valley Voices: A Chicago Radio History''. Crossroads Communications, 1992, p. 68.</ref><ref>Ghrist, John Russell. ''Valley Voices: A Chicago Radio History''. Crossroads Communications, 1992, p. 86.</ref>
* 1985–1988 Daily program host on national Satellite Music Network's "Stardust Division" broadcasting into 19 metropolitan areas across the U.S. plus Bermuda and the Virgin Islands.<ref>Ghrist, John Russell. ''Valley Voices: A Chicago Radio History''. Crossroads Communications, 1992, p. 68.</ref><ref>Ghrist, John Russell. ''Valley Voices: A Chicago Radio History''. Crossroads Communications, 1992, p. 86.</ref>
* 1988–2002 WJOL-AM and WJOL.com, Joliet, Illinois – Weekend radio host featuring music from the 1930s – 1960s, talk, and remote broadcasts at sponsor sites.<ref>''Nostalgia Digest'' October/November 2000, Nostalgia Digest, Box 421, Morton Grove, Illinois 60053. pp. 4-5</ref><ref>''Nostalgia Digest'' magazine, February/March 1996, Nostalgia Digest, Box 421, Morton Grove, Illinois 60053. P.24</ref><ref>Ghrist, John Russell. ''Valley Voices: A Chicago Radio History''. Crossroads Communications, 1992, p. 68.</ref><ref>Ghrist, John Russell. ''Valley Voices: A Chicago Radio History''. Crossroads Communications, 1992, pp. 86-87.</ref>
* 1988–2002 WJOL-AM and WJOL.com, Joliet, Illinois – Weekend radio host featuring music from the 1930s – 1960s, talk, and remote broadcasts at sponsor sites.<ref>''Nostalgia Digest'' October/November 2000, Nostalgia Digest, Box 421, Morton Grove, Illinois 60053. pp. 4-5</ref><ref>''Nostalgia Digest'' magazine, February/March 1996, Nostalgia Digest, Box 421, Morton Grove, Illinois 60053. P.24</ref><ref>Ghrist, John Russell. ''Valley Voices: A Chicago Radio History''. Crossroads Communications, 1992, p. 68.</ref><ref>Ghrist, John Russell. ''Valley Voices: A Chicago Radio History''. Crossroads Communications, 1992, pp. 86-87.</ref><ref>McGuire, Dan. "Music... And Mischief! The Mad, Mad, Mad World of Art Hellyer", ''Nostalgia Digest'' magazine, Summer 2013, Nostalgia Digest, Box 421, Morton Grove, Illinois 60053. pp. 8-12.</ref>
* 2011–2012 Host of Sunday afternoon "Art Hellyer Show" on Party 93.4 Worldwide Internet network and network of upstate New York FM stations.
* 2011–2012 Host of Sunday afternoon "Art Hellyer Show" on Party 93.4 Worldwide Internet network and network of upstate New York FM stations.


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== Teaching career ==
== Teaching career ==
* Radio broadcasting instructor at Columbia College in Chicago 1970–1986 and Saint Francis University, Joliet, IL, 1974–1986.<ref>Ghrist, John Russell. ''Valley Voices: A Chicago Radio History''. Crossroads Communications, 1992, pp. 68, 85.</ref><ref>Dahl, Bill. ''Radio Chicago'' magazine, p. 23, Spring 1991.</ref>{{cn}}
* Radio broadcasting instructor at Columbia College in Chicago 1970–1986 and Saint Francis University, Joliet, IL, 1974–1986.<ref>Ghrist, John Russell. ''Valley Voices: A Chicago Radio History''. Crossroads Communications, 1992, pp. 68, 85.</ref><ref>Dahl, Bill. ''Radio Chicago'' magazine, p. 23, Spring 1991.</ref><ref>McGuire, Dan. "Music... And Mischief! The Mad, Mad, Mad World of Art Hellyer", ''Nostalgia Digest'' magazine, Summer 2013, Nostalgia Digest, Box 421, Morton Grove, Illinois 60053. pp. 8-12.</ref>{{cn}}


== Honors ==
== Honors ==
Line 73: Line 73:
== Personal life ==
== Personal life ==
{{BLP unsourced section}}
{{BLP unsourced section}}
Born Arthur Lawrence Hellyer, Jr., August 7, 1923, in Chicago, Illinois, Hellyer enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps December 12, 1942 serving until honorably discharged February 18, 1946. Earned private pilot's license at Chanute Field, Illinois, then completed a U.S. Armed Services certificate program in Meteorology at Baer Field, Indiana, after which he served in the weather corps of the United States Army Air Corps (USAAC) stateside supporting pilot training flights during World War II. Married Elaine Miller in 1947 and together raised 5 children.<ref>Schaden, Chuck. ''Speaking of Radio: An Oral History of the Golden Days of Radio''. 2017. http://www.speakingofradio.com/interviews/hellyer-art/.</ref>
Born Arthur Lawrence Hellyer, Jr., August 7, 1923, in Chicago, Illinois, Hellyer enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps December 12, 1942 serving until honorably discharged February 18, 1946. Earned private pilot's license at Chanute Field, Illinois, then completed a U.S. Armed Services certificate program in Meteorology at Baer Field, Indiana, after which he served in the weather corps of the United States Army Air Corps (USAAC) stateside supporting pilot training flights during World War II. Married Elaine Miller in 1947 and together raised 5 children.<ref>Schaden, Chuck. ''Speaking of Radio: An Oral History of the Golden Days of Radio''. 2017. http://www.speakingofradio.com/interviews/hellyer-art/.</ref><ref>McGuire, Dan. "Music... And Mischief! The Mad, Mad, Mad World of Art Hellyer", ''Nostalgia Digest'' magazine, Summer 2013, Nostalgia Digest, Box 421, Morton Grove, Illinois 60053. pp. 8-12.</ref>


== References ==
== References ==

Revision as of 15:51, 5 February 2017

  • Comment: There's no automatic inherited notability from anything or anyone and what's here is simply not significant for independent notability. SwisterTwister talk 23:39, 28 January 2017 (UTC)

Art Hellyer, Jr. is a radio and television broadcaster whose professional career spanned the years 1947–2012. He broadcasted local and national network radio programs as a disc jockey, radio and television news reporter and anchor, was part of the Chicago White Sox radio on-air announcing team 1953–1955, hosted the "It's In The Name" television game show, and was the voice of many live and recorded TV and radio commercials throughout the country.[1]

During his career Hellyer's shows achieved #1 in ratings (numbers of listeners) on three different Chicago radio stations during his program time slots.[2][3][4] He was awarded the National RCA Victor Disc Jockey of the Year Award for 1956 which was presented to him live on the nationally broadcast NBC television "Perry Como Show." Hellyer "became the originator and perhaps the foremost exponent of zany, off-the-wall comedy on the air."[5][6]

Hellyer succeeded with innovative on-air antics and creativity that were not typical yet on radio in the 1950s including wisecracks, offbeat and topical humor, ad-libbed interplay with recorded sound bites including comedy album soundtracks thrown at him by his studio engineer, playing up to four recorded commercials simultaneously to reduce commercial time, playing Christmas music in July, humorously faking live interviews and commercial products, reporting time one hour off or the wrong music performers on April Fools' Days, betting a competitor deejay on another radio station he could play the same songs simultaneously which he won by actually streaming on air the competitor's broadcast live on his station, and taking creative liberties with commercial announcements that sometimes led to friction with management.[7][8][9] Later in his career Hellyer gained a national radio audience hosting on the Satellite Music Network.[10][11][12]

Radio career

Following military service Hellyer enrolled in broadcasting classes March, 1946, at the Radio Institute of Chicago where he studied with experienced broadcasters and radio actors including Paul Barnes, Bob Cunningham and Ted Liss, and worked on studio projects with fellow students including future TV actor, Tom Bosley.[13][14]

Hellyer started his professional broadcasting career January 1, 1947 at WKNA-AM, Charleston, West Virginia, hosting the first program on this newly-licensed radio station's initial day of broadcasting. His early career 1947–1950 included hosting radio programs at WOWO-AM Fort Wayne, Indiana; WMRO-AM Aurora, Illinois; and WISN-AM, WMAW-AM and WMIL-AM, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where he also reported news throughout the night of the 1948 Truman-Dewey election. In Milwaukee he often broadcasted live from "remote" local music venues emceeing stage and ballroom performances with Patti Page, Liberace, Ken Griffin, Frankie Laine and other entertainers.[15][16]

Hellyer's break into a major market was in May, 1950, when his daily postcards mailed to WCFL-AM Chicago's program director asking to "rescue" him from Milwaukee resulted in an unorthodox on-air live audition for 50,000 watt WCFL while broadcasting his show on air on WMIL-AM in Milwaukee. WCFL hired Hellyer, and by 1952 Hellyer was given the drive-time 6am – 10am radio slot where he was promoted as the "Morning Madcap." During this time Hellyer also freelanced with radio shows broadcasted on as many as seven different radio stations the same week, emceeing many celebrity events, and building a successful career with radio and television commercial work as the regular voice of national sponsors, including announcing live in-studio commercials on the CBS network show "What's My Line" in New York.[17][18]

Hellyer interviewing Andy Griffith in 1953 on WCFL-AM in Chicago

Radio highlights chronology

  • 1947 WKNA Charleston, West Virginia[19][20]
  • 1947 WOWO Fort Wayne, Indiana[21],
  • 1947 WMRO Aurora, Illinois[22]
  • 1948 WMAW Milwaukee, Wisconsin[23][24]
  • 1948-1949 WISN (CBS) Milwaukee, Wisconsin[25]
  • 1949-1950 WMIL Milwaukee, Wisconsin[26] – Disk jockey and news reporter at radio stations in West Virginia, Indiana, Illinois, and Wisconsin.
  • 1950–1957 WCFL-AM Chicago including "Morning Madcap" drive time disc jockey 1952–1957.[27][28][29]
  • 1951–1955 WGN-AM and WCFL-AM Chicago – Host of Chicago radio's "The Marriage License Show" from Cook County (IL) Clerk, Richard J. Daley's office. Hellyer then became the radio and TV announcer for Mayor Richard J. Daley's political ads in his campaigns for mayor of Chicago in the elections of 1955 and 1959.[30]
  • 1951–1956 WMAQ-AM (NBC) Chicago – Weekend host of "Downtown with Hellyer" show.[31][32]
  • 1953–1955 WCFL-AM Chicago – Host of the "Dugout Show," a live in-stadium pre-game interview show of Major League baseball players, coaches, managers and executives prior to all Chicago White Sox major league home baseball games at Comiskey Park, Chicago, Illinois. Worked with Baseball "Hall of Fame" announcer, Bob Elson.[33][34]
  • 1957–1959 WAIT-AM Chicago – Morning "drive time" show host
  • 1959–1960 WEAW-FM Evanston, Illinois – Morning host on WEAW-AM.
  • 1959–1961 and 1963–1979 ABC Television and Radio Chicago and Network announcer providing show introductions to radio and television shows including "Paul Harvey News" and "Alex Dreier News." Hosted the radio shows of Paul Harvey and Alex Dreier on the air during their some of their absences.[35][36][37]
  • 1961–1963 WBBM-AM (CBS) Chicago - Announcer and radio host of live entertainment show and also live news reporting. From 1961–1962 hosted live nightly WBBM-AM "Supper Club" broadcast featuring in-studio music and comedy acts, interviews and skits.[38]
  • 1964–1967 WOPA-AM Oak Park, Illinois, host of daily 4-hour radio show.[39][40]
  • 1967–1969 WLS-FM (ABC) Chicago, Illinois - Hosted the "Art Hellyer Morning Show" during drive time.[41][42]
  • 1983–1985 WJJD-AM Chicago, Illinois - Radio host playing music of the "Big Band" era and the 1950s.[43][44]
  • 1985–1988 Daily program host on national Satellite Music Network's "Stardust Division" broadcasting into 19 metropolitan areas across the U.S. plus Bermuda and the Virgin Islands.[45][46]
  • 1988–2002 WJOL-AM and WJOL.com, Joliet, Illinois – Weekend radio host featuring music from the 1930s – 1960s, talk, and remote broadcasts at sponsor sites.[47][48][49][50][51]
  • 2011–2012 Host of Sunday afternoon "Art Hellyer Show" on Party 93.4 Worldwide Internet network and network of upstate New York FM stations.
Art and Elaine Hellyer dining with Irving Berlin 1956

Television career

"It's In the Name" game show 1958 on WGN-TV Chicago hosted by Mr. Hellyer

Hellyer hosted a live show on WENR-TV (later WLS-TV) in 1950 called "Rate Your Mate", during which he and another performer, Carmelita Pope, entertained with live improvised skits based on audience suggestions.

Host of 1958 TV game show "It's in the Name" on WGN-TV in Chicago.[52][53]

ABC-TV staff network announcer 1959–1979 including providing voice-over live introductions to "Monday Night Football", "Monday Night Baseball", "Wide World of Sports,""Pabst Blue Ribbon Beer Friday Night Fights," and the Summer and Winter Olympics programming on ABC for the 1964, 1968 and 1972 Summer and Winter Olympics.

Provided on-air ABC-TV news anchoring on Chicago's WBKB (now WLS-TV) coverage while working 24 hours a day November 22 – 24, 1963 following President John F. Kennedy's assassination. TV News reporter for WBKB-TV (ABC) Chicago including on-the-street reporting. Late night station "sign-off" news anchor 1964–1966 on WBKB-TV (now WLS-TV) in Chicago.

From the 1950s to the 1970s Hellyer was the announcer for many live and recorded radio and television commercials including serving as the regular commercial voice for national retail, food and other sponsors. On network television Hellyer announced live commercials in-studio on the weekly CBS television game show "What's My Line" and in the mid-1950s was the featured announcer for Quaker Oats television commercials on the "Jane Wyman" and "Sergeant Preston of the Yukon" shows.

Teaching career

  • Radio broadcasting instructor at Columbia College in Chicago 1970–1986 and Saint Francis University, Joliet, IL, 1974–1986.[54][55][56][citation needed]

Honors

  • 1956 RCA Victor Disc Jockey of the Year – award presented live on Perry Como's NBC-TV network television show[citation needed]
  • 1958 New York Advertising Club's Winners for 1958 – Television: Arthur Godfrey (Bufferin), Radio: Art Hellyer (Simmons Mattress)[citation needed]
  • 1960 Voice actor on the "Chicago Radio Commercial of the Year" awarded by the Chicago Copywriters Advertising Club[citation needed]

Personal life

Born Arthur Lawrence Hellyer, Jr., August 7, 1923, in Chicago, Illinois, Hellyer enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps December 12, 1942 serving until honorably discharged February 18, 1946. Earned private pilot's license at Chanute Field, Illinois, then completed a U.S. Armed Services certificate program in Meteorology at Baer Field, Indiana, after which he served in the weather corps of the United States Army Air Corps (USAAC) stateside supporting pilot training flights during World War II. Married Elaine Miller in 1947 and together raised 5 children.[57][58]

References

  1. ^ McGuire, Dan. "Music... And Mischief! The Mad, Mad, Mad World of Art Hellyer", Nostalgia Digest magazine, Summer 2013, Nostalgia Digest, Box 421, Morton Grove, Illinois 60053. pp. 8-12.
  2. ^ Zorn, Eric. Chicago Tribune newspaper, Sec. 3, p.1 and p.4, October 4, 1982.
  3. ^ Ghrist, John Russell. Valley Voices: A Chicago Radio History. Crossroads Communications, 1992, p. 68, pp. 83-85.
  4. ^ Dahl, Bill. Radio Chicago magazine, p. 23, Spring 1991.
  5. ^ Schaden, Chuck. Speaking of Radio: An Oral History of the Golden Days of Radio. 2017. http://www.speakingofradio.com/interviews/hellyer-art/.
  6. ^ McGuire, Dan. "Music... And Mischief! The Mad, Mad, Mad World of Art Hellyer", Nostalgia Digest magazine, Summer 2013, Nostalgia Digest, Box 421, Morton Grove, Illinois 60053. pp. 8-12.
  7. ^ Passman, Arnold. The Deejays.The MacMillan Company, 1971, pp. 192-193.
  8. ^ Passman, Arnold. The Deejays.The MacMillan Company, 1971, pp. 198-199.
  9. ^ Ghrist, John Russell. Valley Voices: A Chicago Radio History. Crossroads Communications, 1992, pp. 43-44.
  10. ^ Grossman, James R., Keating, Ann Durkin, and Reiff, Janice L. The Encyclopedia of Chicago. University of Chicago Press, 2004, p. 241.
  11. ^ Godfried, Nathan. WCFL: Chicago's Voice of Labor 1926–1978, pp. 258-259.
  12. ^ McGuire, Dan. "Music... And Mischief! The Mad, Mad, Mad World of Art Hellyer", Nostalgia Digest magazine, Summer 2013, Nostalgia Digest, Box 421, Morton Grove, Illinois 60053. pp. 8-12.
  13. ^ Dahl, Bill. Radio Chicago magazine, p. 23, Spring 1991.
  14. ^ McGuire, Dan. "Music... And Mischief! The Mad, Mad, Mad World of Art Hellyer", Nostalgia Digest magazine, Summer 2013, Nostalgia Digest, Box 421, Morton Grove, Illinois 60053. pp. 8-12.
  15. ^ Ghrist, John Russell. Valley Voices: A Chicago Radio History. Crossroads Communications, 1992, p. 82.
  16. ^ McGuire, Dan. "Music... And Mischief! The Mad, Mad, Mad World of Art Hellyer", Nostalgia Digest magazine, Summer 2013, Nostalgia Digest, Box 421, Morton Grove, Illinois 60053. pp. 8-12.
  17. ^ Ghrist, John Russell. Valley Voices: A Chicago Radio History. Crossroads Communications, 1992, pp. 80, 83.
  18. ^ McGuire, Dan. "Music... And Mischief! The Mad, Mad, Mad World of Art Hellyer", Nostalgia Digest magazine, Summer 2013, Nostalgia Digest, Box 421, Morton Grove, Illinois 60053. pp. 8-12.
  19. ^ Ghrist, John Russell. Valley Voices: A Chicago Radio History. Crossroads Communications, 1992, pp. 82, 85.
  20. ^ McGuire, Dan. "Music... And Mischief! The Mad, Mad, Mad World of Art Hellyer", Nostalgia Digest magazine, Summer 2013, Nostalgia Digest, Box 421, Morton Grove, Illinois 60053. pp. 8-12.
  21. ^ Ghrist, John Russell. Valley Voices: A Chicago Radio History. Crossroads Communications, 1992, p. 82.
  22. ^ Ghrist, John Russell. Valley Voices: A Chicago Radio History. Crossroads Communications, 1992, p. 68,74-75, 82.
  23. ^ Ghrist, John Russell. Valley Voices: A Chicago Radio History. Crossroads Communications, 1992, p. 82.
  24. ^ McGuire, Dan. "Music... And Mischief! The Mad, Mad, Mad World of Art Hellyer", Nostalgia Digest magazine, Summer 2013, Nostalgia Digest, Box 421, Morton Grove, Illinois 60053. pp. 8-12.
  25. ^ Ghrist, John Russell. Valley Voices: A Chicago Radio History. Crossroads Communications, 1992, p. 82.
  26. ^ Ghrist, John Russell. Valley Voices: A Chicago Radio History. Crossroads Communications, 1992, p. 82.
  27. ^ Ghrist, John Russell. Valley Voices: A Chicago Radio History. Crossroads Communications, 1992, p. 68, p. 83.
  28. ^ Godfried, Nathan. WCFL: Chicago's Voice of Labor 1926–1978, pp. 258-259.
  29. ^ McGuire, Dan. "Music... And Mischief! The Mad, Mad, Mad World of Art Hellyer", Nostalgia Digest magazine, Summer 2013, Nostalgia Digest, Box 421, Morton Grove, Illinois 60053. pp. 8-12.
  30. ^ Ghrist, John Russell. Valley Voices: A Chicago Radio History. Crossroads Communications, 1992, p. 83.
  31. ^ Nostalgia Digest magazine, October/November 2000, Nostalgia Digest, Box 421, Morton Grove, Illinois 60053. p.5
  32. ^ Ghrist, John Russell. Valley Voices: A Chicago Radio History. Crossroads Communications, 1992, p. 38.
  33. ^ Dahl, Bill. Radio Chicago magazine, p. 23, Spring 1991.
  34. ^ Ghrist, John Russell. Valley Voices: A Chicago Radio History. Crossroads Communications, 1992, pp. 83-84.
  35. ^ Nostalgia Digest magazine, August/September 2000, "Off Mike" by Wayne Atkinson, Nostalgia Digest, Box 421, Morton Grove, Illinois 60053. pp. 35-39
  36. ^ Ghrist, John Russell. Valley Voices: A Chicago Radio History. Crossroads Communications, 1992, p. 80.
  37. ^ Dahl, Bill. Radio Chicago magazine, p. 23, Spring 1991.
  38. ^ Ghrist, John Russell. Valley Voices: A Chicago Radio History. Crossroads Communications, 1992, p. 43-44.
  39. ^ Ghrist, John Russell. Valley Voices: A Chicago Radio History. Crossroads Communications, 1992, p. 84.
  40. ^ Ghrist, John Russell. Valley Voices: A Chicago Radio History. Crossroads Communications, 1992, pp. 74-75.
  41. ^ Ghrist, John Russell. Valley Voices: A Chicago Radio History. Crossroads Communications, 1992, p. 68.
  42. ^ Ghrist, John Russell. Valley Voices: A Chicago Radio History. Crossroads Communications, 1992, p. 85.
  43. ^ Ghrist, John Russell. Valley Voices: A Chicago Radio History. Crossroads Communications, 1992, p. 49, pp 85-86.
  44. ^ Dahl, Bill. Radio Chicago magazine, p. 23, Spring 1991.
  45. ^ Ghrist, John Russell. Valley Voices: A Chicago Radio History. Crossroads Communications, 1992, p. 68.
  46. ^ Ghrist, John Russell. Valley Voices: A Chicago Radio History. Crossroads Communications, 1992, p. 86.
  47. ^ Nostalgia Digest October/November 2000, Nostalgia Digest, Box 421, Morton Grove, Illinois 60053. pp. 4-5
  48. ^ Nostalgia Digest magazine, February/March 1996, Nostalgia Digest, Box 421, Morton Grove, Illinois 60053. P.24
  49. ^ Ghrist, John Russell. Valley Voices: A Chicago Radio History. Crossroads Communications, 1992, p. 68.
  50. ^ Ghrist, John Russell. Valley Voices: A Chicago Radio History. Crossroads Communications, 1992, pp. 86-87.
  51. ^ McGuire, Dan. "Music... And Mischief! The Mad, Mad, Mad World of Art Hellyer", Nostalgia Digest magazine, Summer 2013, Nostalgia Digest, Box 421, Morton Grove, Illinois 60053. pp. 8-12.
  52. ^ Ghrist, John Russell. Valley Voices: A Chicago Radio History. Crossroads Communications, 1992, p. 68.
  53. ^ Ghrist, John Russell. Valley Voices: A Chicago Radio History. Crossroads Communications, 1992, p. 84.
  54. ^ Ghrist, John Russell. Valley Voices: A Chicago Radio History. Crossroads Communications, 1992, pp. 68, 85.
  55. ^ Dahl, Bill. Radio Chicago magazine, p. 23, Spring 1991.
  56. ^ McGuire, Dan. "Music... And Mischief! The Mad, Mad, Mad World of Art Hellyer", Nostalgia Digest magazine, Summer 2013, Nostalgia Digest, Box 421, Morton Grove, Illinois 60053. pp. 8-12.
  57. ^ Schaden, Chuck. Speaking of Radio: An Oral History of the Golden Days of Radio. 2017. http://www.speakingofradio.com/interviews/hellyer-art/.
  58. ^ McGuire, Dan. "Music... And Mischief! The Mad, Mad, Mad World of Art Hellyer", Nostalgia Digest magazine, Summer 2013, Nostalgia Digest, Box 421, Morton Grove, Illinois 60053. pp. 8-12.
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