E. Frank Hummert
| Frank Hummert | |
|---|---|
| Born |
Edward Frank Hummert, Jr. June 2, 1884 St. Louis, Missouri, U.S. |
| Died | March 12, 1966 (aged 81) Manhattan, New York City]], U.S. |
| Other names | E. Frank Hummert |
| Alma mater |
Stonyhurst College Saint Louis University |
| Occupation | Advertising agent, producer |
| Years active | 1904-1960 |
| Known for | Creator/writer of Just Plain Bill The Romance of Helen Trent Ma Perkins Backstage Wife |
| Spouse(s) | Adeline E. Woodlock (m. 1908-1934; her death) Anne Ashenhurst (m. 1935-1966; his death) |
| Children | John Ashenhurst, Jr. (stepson) |
Edward Frank Hummert, Jr. (June 2, 1884 – March 12, 1966), professionally known as Frank Hummert and sometimes credited as E. Frank Hummert, was an American advertising agent originally but was best known for writing/producing episodes of nearly 100 daytime/primetime radio serials between the 1930s and the 1950s.
Hummert, along with his wife Anne Hummert, became the monarchs of daytime radio with dramas such as Just Plain Bill (1932–55), The Romance of Helen Trent (1933–60), Ma Perkins (1933–60), and Backstage Wife (1935–59). After the success of these dramas, the Hummerts formed Hummert Radio Productions. Under Hummert Productions, creating the basic plots and assigning an assembly line of writers to complete the scripts, they produced more than 40 radio shows, including the soap operas Stella Dallas (1938–55) and Young Widder Brown (1938–56); the mystery shows Mr. Keen, Tracer of Lost Persons (1937–54), and Mr. Chameleon (1948–51); and the musical programs The American Album of Familiar Music (1931–51) and Manhattan Merry-Go-Round (1933–49). In all, the Hummerts are credited with the creation/production of 61 radio soap operas.
By 1937, with his success on radio and potential advertisers lining up to become clients, Hummert had become advertising's highest paid executive.
Edward Frank Hummert, Jr. was born to parents Edward F. and Carrie Hummert in St. Louis, Missouri on June 2 in the disputed year of 1884. According to a majority of sources and public records on Frank Hummert, Hummert was born June 2, 1884. However, this date is disputed against many sources and radio historians. For example, the Encyclopædia Britannica lists Hummert's birth year as 1879, while media historian Christopher H. Sterling lists Hummert's birth year as 1885. Even radio historian Jim Cox lists two different birth years in two separate books. In The Great Radio Soap Operas, published in 1999, Cox lists Hummert's birth year as 1882. But in Frank and Anne Hummert's Radio Factory, published in 2003, he gives the birth year as 1884.
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