Born in Brooklyn, New York, Mel Brandt’s military records state that he attended college for two years, and his civilian occupation was actor. He enlisted on February 17, 1941 in New York City, and served in the Medical Department.[2]
In September of 1945 Brandt auditioned for NBC radio’s Welcome Home,[3] a program started in 1944 as a way to help World War II veterans obtain work in radio.[4] Encouraged by his "A plus" audition rating he auditioned for numerous radio series, and was hired to work in a commercial on a daytime radio serial on another network.[3]
He was one of the stars of the first television soap opera, Faraway Hill, broadcast in 1946 on the DuMont Television Network.[6] He announced the opening of the television soap opera, The Doctors.[7] His introduction was "The Doctors: The Emmy Award winning program, dedicated to the brotherhood of healing."
Brandt was the series announcer for other NBC-TV programs including The Bell Telephone Hour from 1959 through 1968,[8] and GE College Bowl on NBC from 1963–70, in which his introduction was "Match wits with the champions in America's favorite question and answer game, live from New York, the General Electric College Bowl,", and after a brief plug for General Electric would introduce "the man with the questions, Robert Earle."[9][10]
From 1962 to 1975 Brandt was the NBC announcer who stated "The following program is brought to you in living color on NBC"[11] as the second animated version of the NBC Peacock was seen.
Mel Brandt was elected president of AFTRA – the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists – from 1967 to 1970.[13] He was especially interested in the international aspects of performers' rights, and in 1972 he received the George Heller Memorial Gold Card (a gold-plated membership card) for his efforts to improve union and members' rights.[3] That was AFTRA's highest honor.[14]
^First "Welcome Home Auditions" Year Reveals Impressive Record of Career Aid to Veterans, NBC Transmitter, November 1945, page 2
^Terrace, Vincent, From Radio to Television: Programs That Made the Transition, 1929-2021, page 5, McFarland, Inc., 2022
^Richard Irvin, The Early Shows: A Reference Guide to Network and Syndicated Prime Time Television Series from 1944 to 1949, Chapter 8, Bear Manor Media, 2018
^Extensions of Remarks, The Congressional Record, January 14, 1969, page 665, U.S. Government Printing
^Hyatt, Wesley, Emmy Award Winning Nighttime Television Shows, 1948-2004, page 179, McFarland, Inc, 2015
^Mel Brandt radio credits, radiogoldindex.com; accessed August 19, 2014.
^Mel Brandt's obituary, ocregister.com; accessed August 19, 2014.
^Irvin, Richard, The Early Shows: A Reference Guide to Network and Syndicated Prime Time Television Series from 1944 to 1949 (ebook version), Chapter 8, Bear Manor Media, 2018
^Tropiano, Stephen, Saturday Night Live FAQ, Applause, 2013
brandt, melville, brandt, june, 1919, march, 2008, actor, staff, announcer, born, 1919, june, 1919brooklyn, york, city, diedmarch, 2008, 2008, aged, occupationsactorannounceryears, active1946, 2008, contents, early, life, announcing, acting, career, aftra, pre. Melville Brandt June 18 1919 March 14 2008 1 was an actor and NBC staff announcer Mel BrandtBorn 1919 06 18 June 18 1919Brooklyn New York City U S DiedMarch 14 2008 2008 03 14 aged 88 OccupationsActorannouncerYears active1946 2008 Contents 1 Early life 2 Announcing and acting career 3 AFTRA president 4 Personal life 5 References 6 External linksEarly life EditBorn in Brooklyn New York Mel Brandt s military records state that he attended college for two years and his civilian occupation was actor He enlisted on February 17 1941 in New York City and served in the Medical Department 2 In September of 1945 Brandt auditioned for NBC radio s Welcome Home 3 a program started in 1944 as a way to help World War II veterans obtain work in radio 4 Encouraged by his A plus audition rating he auditioned for numerous radio series and was hired to work in a commercial on a daytime radio serial on another network 3 Announcing and acting career EditBrandt joined NBC around 1948 His radio announcing credits included The Adventures of Frank Merriwell 5 Author Meets the Critics and The Eternal Light In 1975 he announced for a syndicated radio program called Faces of Love He was one of the stars of the first television soap opera Faraway Hill broadcast in 1946 on the DuMont Television Network 6 He announced the opening of the television soap opera The Doctors 7 His introduction was The Doctors The Emmy Award winning program dedicated to the brotherhood of healing Brandt was the series announcer for other NBC TV programs including The Bell Telephone Hour from 1959 through 1968 8 and GE College Bowl on NBC from 1963 70 in which his introduction was Match wits with the champions in America s favorite question and answer game live from New York the General Electric College Bowl and after a brief plug for General Electric would introduce the man with the questions Robert Earle 9 10 From 1962 to 1975 Brandt was the NBC announcer who stated The following program is brought to you in living color on NBC 11 as the second animated version of the NBC Peacock was seen Brandt replaced Don Pardo as the announcer on Saturday Night Live during the 1981 82 season except for two episodes from that season in which Brandt was replaced by Bill Hanrahan better known then as the voice of NBC Nightly News 12 AFTRA president EditMel Brandt was elected president of AFTRA the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists from 1967 to 1970 13 He was especially interested in the international aspects of performers rights and in 1972 he received the George Heller Memorial Gold Card a gold plated membership card for his efforts to improve union and members rights 3 That was AFTRA s highest honor 14 Personal life EditFor many years Brandt lived in Montclair New Jersey He had a wife Doris and three children 15 He later moved to Florida and is buried at the Florida National Cemetery 16 References Edit Social Security Death Index Brandt Military Records a b c SAG AFTRA Mel Brandt bio First Welcome Home Auditions Year Reveals Impressive Record of Career Aid to Veterans NBC Transmitter November 1945 page 2 Terrace Vincent From Radio to Television Programs That Made the Transition 1929 2021 page 5 McFarland Inc 2022 Richard Irvin The Early Shows A Reference Guide to Network and Syndicated Prime Time Television Series from 1944 to 1949 Chapter 8 Bear Manor Media 2018 Extensions of Remarks The Congressional Record January 14 1969 page 665 U S Government Printing Hyatt Wesley Emmy Award Winning Nighttime Television Shows 1948 2004 page 179 McFarland Inc 2015 Mel Brandt radio credits radiogoldindex com accessed August 19 2014 Mel Brandt s obituary ocregister com accessed August 19 2014 Irvin Richard The Early Shows A Reference Guide to Network and Syndicated Prime Time Television Series from 1944 to 1949 ebook version Chapter 8 Bear Manor Media 2018 Tropiano Stephen Saturday Night Live FAQ Applause 2013 AFTRA Presidents Heller Memorial Card Clarke Mary Mel Brandt Divides Time Between Soaps and Union The Herald News March 23 1970 page 24 U S VA Gravesite LocatorExternal links EditMel Brandt NBC living color clipMedia officesPreceded byDon Pardo Saturday Night Live announcer1981 1982 Succeeded byDon Pardo Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Mel Brandt amp oldid 1180590269, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
