The son of a railroad brakeman, Mack was born in Greeley, Colorado.[1] His mother was a teacher and a pianist. Mack graduated from Sacred Heart High School in Denver, Colorado, in 1922.[2] He was class president there for three years in addition to playing football and basketball and playing in the school's orchestra. He went on to graduate from the University of Denver, where he majored in Law and Commerce, and funded his college education by playing saxophone in an orchestra.[3]
Big bandsEdit
Mack's career in show business began in 1926 when he joined Ben Pollack's orchestra.[4] In the late 1920s, clarinetist and saxophonist[2] Mack formed a dance band, under his real name. A nightclub owner disliked how "Edward Maguiness" looked on his marquee, so he changed the bandleader's name to the shorter and snappier "Ted Mack".[5] At one point, Mack was known as "the performer with the longest run of any master of ceremonies at the Paramount theater, New York", having been in that role for five months.[6]
Mack and his orchestra spent the summer of 1933 entertaining at the Chicago World's Fair, after which they had an engagement for two months in New York City.[7] A 1934 newspaper review said, "Ted Mack and his bandmen furnish comedy fare and entertaining music in equal measure, and the group of personable young women who assist display talent as well as good looks."[8]
The show lasted on radio until 1952 and until 1970 on television, where it ran on all four major networks, ending as a Sunday afternoon CBS staple. A success in the early days of television, the program set the stage for numerous programs seeking talented stars, from The Gong Show to Star Search to American Idol to America's Got Talent.
Auditions for the show were generally held in New York'sRadio City Music Hall. Those who passed the initial screening were invited to compete on the program, featuring amateurs whose performance were judged by viewers, voting via letters and phone calls. Contestants who won three times earned cash prizes, scholarships, or participation in a traveling stage show associated with the program.
Ted Mack and producer Lewis Graham (the former Lou Goldberg) programmed something for everybody. A single broadcast (Easter Sunday, 1959) featured an opera singer, a trumpet sextet, a dulcimer player, a kiddie dance troupe, a young vocalist, a dancer, a rhythm-and-blues combo, a barbershop quartet, and mother-and-son Irish step dancers. Mack's pleasant manner and unflappable calm put many nervous contestants at ease, and he used the same down-to-earth tone for commercials and public-service announcements.
Other televisionEdit
In 1951, Mack was host of Ted Mack's Family Hour on ABC. A TV reference book summarized the show as "A Sunday evening program of music, songs and comedy."[9] In 1955, he had a daily afternoon program, Ted Mack's Matinee on NBC.[9] A review of the April 20 episode in the April 30, 1955, issue of Billboard said, "Unpretentious and easy-going, NBC's new Ted Mack's Matinee looks as if it's going to provide housewives with a smooth, relaxing stanza to break up her [sic] daytime chores."[10]
Personal lifeEdit
In 1926, Mack married Ellen Marguerite Overholt.[2] They had no children but fostered children from Catholic charities at their home.
After the Original Amateur Hour ended its broadcast run, Mack became a lecturer at colleges and served as host of local amateur shows.[11]
DeathEdit
Mack died of heart failure[11] July 12, 1976, at Phelps Memorial Hospital[4] in North Tarrytown, New York at the age of 72. He was survived by his wife.[2]
ReferencesEdit
^Richards, Bill (April 23, 1976). "Ted Mack is back, seeking talent on college circuit". The Daily Reporter. Ohio, Dover. The Washington Post. p. 29. Retrieved June 1, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
^ abcdQuick, Amanda (October 6, 1976). "Hard work made Ted Mack a star". Greeley Daily Tribune. Colorado, Greeley. p. 7. Retrieved June 1, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
^ ab"Ted Mack Will Emcee Oregon State Fair Revue". Daily Capital Journal. Oregon, Salem. August 14, 1954. p. 8. Retrieved June 1, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
^ ab"Talent scout Ted Mack, 72, dies". The Times Herald Recorder. New York, Middletown. United Press International. July 14, 1976. p. 16. Retrieved June 1, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
^"Jolly off stage, too". Kansas City Times. 23 November 1951. p. 1 – via Newspapers.com.
^"Ted Mack and His Merry-Makers to Be Show Feature". Las Vegas Daily Optic. New Mexico, East Las Vegas. April 30, 1934. p. 3. Retrieved May 31, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
^"Mack and World's Fair Revue Open At Theatre Here". The Post-Register. Idaho, Idaho Falls. February 7, 1934. p. 8. Retrieved May 31, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
^"Mack and Party Entertain Orpheum Fans". The Salt Lake Tribune. Utah, Salt Lake City. February 25, 1934. p. 57. Retrieved May 31, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
^ abTerrace, Vincent (2011). Encyclopedia of Television Shows, 1925 through 2010. McFarland & Company, Inc. ISBN978-0-7864-6477-7. P. 1057.
^Singer, Jack (April 30, 1955). "Ted Mack Plays To Wives on NBC" (PDF). Billboard. p. 4. Retrieved 27 June 2016.
^ ab"Original Amateur Hour host Ted Mack, 72, dies". Wisconsin State Journal. Wisconsin, Madison. Associated Press. July 14, 1976. p. 6. Retrieved June 1, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
External linksEdit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Ted Mack.
Museum of Broadcast Communications: The Original Amateur Hour
(archived)
Clip from the December 29, 1957, episode of Ted Mack and The Original Amateur Hour from YouTube
September 01, 2023
mack, radio, television, host, william, edward, maguiness, february, 1904, july, 1976, host, mack, original, amateur, hour, radio, television, mackmack, 1949, bornwilliam, edward, maguiness, 1904, february, 1904greeley, coloradodiedjuly, 1976, 1976, aged, nort. William Edward Maguiness February 12 1904 July 12 1976 was the host of Ted Mack and The Original Amateur Hour on radio and television Ted MackMack in 1949 BornWilliam Edward Maguiness 1904 02 12 February 12 1904Greeley ColoradoDiedJuly 12 1976 1976 07 12 aged 72 North Tarrytown New YorkNationalityAmericanOccupation s BroadcasterBandleaderMusicianKnown forBeing host of Original Amateur HourFor the Australian politician with the same name see Ted Mack politician Contents 1 Early years 2 Big bands 3 Film 4 Original Amateur Hour 5 Other television 6 Personal life 7 Death 8 References 9 External linksEarly years EditThe son of a railroad brakeman Mack was born in Greeley Colorado 1 His mother was a teacher and a pianist Mack graduated from Sacred Heart High School in Denver Colorado in 1922 2 He was class president there for three years in addition to playing football and basketball and playing in the school s orchestra He went on to graduate from the University of Denver where he majored in Law and Commerce and funded his college education by playing saxophone in an orchestra 3 Big bands EditMack s career in show business began in 1926 when he joined Ben Pollack s orchestra 4 In the late 1920s clarinetist and saxophonist 2 Mack formed a dance band under his real name A nightclub owner disliked how Edward Maguiness looked on his marquee so he changed the bandleader s name to the shorter and snappier Ted Mack 5 At one point Mack was known as the performer with the longest run of any master of ceremonies at the Paramount theater New York having been in that role for five months 6 Mack and his orchestra spent the summer of 1933 entertaining at the Chicago World s Fair after which they had an engagement for two months in New York City 7 A 1934 newspaper review said Ted Mack and his bandmen furnish comedy fare and entertaining music in equal measure and the group of personable young women who assist display talent as well as good looks 8 Film EditMack was musical supervisor for Metro Goldwyn Mayer where he was orchestra director for The Great Ziegfeld and Beat the Band 3 Original Amateur Hour EditThe Original Amateur Hour began on radio in 1934 as Major Bowes Amateur Hour and ran until the 1946 death of its creator Major Bowes Mack a talent scout who had directed the show under Bowes revived it in 1948 for ABC Radio and the DuMont Television Network nbsp The show lasted on radio until 1952 and until 1970 on television where it ran on all four major networks ending as a Sunday afternoon CBS staple A success in the early days of television the program set the stage for numerous programs seeking talented stars from The Gong Show to Star Search to American Idol to America s Got Talent Auditions for the show were generally held in New York s Radio City Music Hall Those who passed the initial screening were invited to compete on the program featuring amateurs whose performance were judged by viewers voting via letters and phone calls Contestants who won three times earned cash prizes scholarships or participation in a traveling stage show associated with the program Winners who went on to show business careers included singers Gladys Knight Ann Margret Pat Boone Raul Julia Teresa Brewer Irene Cara The Rock and Roll Trio and Los Concertinos from Puerto Rico Ted Mack and producer Lewis Graham the former Lou Goldberg programmed something for everybody A single broadcast Easter Sunday 1959 featured an opera singer a trumpet sextet a dulcimer player a kiddie dance troupe a young vocalist a dancer a rhythm and blues combo a barbershop quartet and mother and son Irish step dancers Mack s pleasant manner and unflappable calm put many nervous contestants at ease and he used the same down to earth tone for commercials and public service announcements Other television EditIn 1951 Mack was host of Ted Mack s Family Hour on ABC A TV reference book summarized the show as A Sunday evening program of music songs and comedy 9 In 1955 he had a daily afternoon program Ted Mack s Matinee on NBC 9 A review of the April 20 episode in the April 30 1955 issue of Billboard said Unpretentious and easy going NBC s new Ted Mack s Matinee looks as if it s going to provide housewives with a smooth relaxing stanza to break up her sic daytime chores 10 Personal life EditIn 1926 Mack married Ellen Marguerite Overholt 2 They had no children but fostered children from Catholic charities at their home After the Original Amateur Hour ended its broadcast run Mack became a lecturer at colleges and served as host of local amateur shows 11 Death EditMack died of heart failure 11 July 12 1976 at Phelps Memorial Hospital 4 in North Tarrytown New York at the age of 72 He was survived by his wife 2 References Edit Richards Bill April 23 1976 Ted Mack is back seeking talent on college circuit The Daily Reporter Ohio Dover The Washington Post p 29 Retrieved June 1 2016 via Newspapers com nbsp a b c d Quick Amanda October 6 1976 Hard work made Ted Mack a star Greeley Daily Tribune Colorado Greeley p 7 Retrieved June 1 2016 via Newspapers com nbsp a b Ted Mack Will Emcee Oregon State Fair Revue Daily Capital Journal Oregon Salem August 14 1954 p 8 Retrieved June 1 2016 via Newspapers com nbsp a b Talent scout Ted Mack 72 dies The Times Herald Recorder New York Middletown United Press International July 14 1976 p 16 Retrieved June 1 2016 via Newspapers com nbsp Jolly off stage too Kansas City Times 23 November 1951 p 1 via Newspapers com nbsp Ted Mack and His Merry Makers to Be Show Feature Las Vegas Daily Optic New Mexico East Las Vegas April 30 1934 p 3 Retrieved May 31 2016 via Newspapers com nbsp Mack and World s Fair Revue Open At Theatre Here The Post Register Idaho Idaho Falls February 7 1934 p 8 Retrieved May 31 2016 via Newspapers com nbsp Mack and Party Entertain Orpheum Fans The Salt Lake Tribune Utah Salt Lake City February 25 1934 p 57 Retrieved May 31 2016 via Newspapers com nbsp a b Terrace Vincent 2011 Encyclopedia of Television Shows 1925 through 2010 McFarland amp Company Inc ISBN 978 0 7864 6477 7 P 1057 Singer Jack April 30 1955 Ted Mack Plays To Wives on NBC PDF Billboard p 4 Retrieved 27 June 2016 a b Original Amateur Hour host Ted Mack 72 dies Wisconsin State Journal Wisconsin Madison Associated Press July 14 1976 p 6 Retrieved June 1 2016 via Newspapers com nbsp External links Edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Ted Mack Museum of Broadcast Communications The Original Amateur Hour Original Amateur Hour website archived Clip from the December 29 1957 episode of Ted Mack and The Original Amateur Hour from YouTube Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Ted Mack radio and television host amp oldid 1128652899, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
