Harry Von Zell

Harry von Zell
Harry von Zel in 1940
Born	(1906-07-11)July 11, 1906 Indianapolis, Indiana, U.S.
Died	November 21, 1981(1981-11-21) (aged 75) Woodland Hills, California, U.S.
Cause of death	Cancer
Alma mater	University of California, Los Angeles
Occupation	Radio announcer, film and television actor
Years active	1929–1975
Spouse(s)	Minerva McGarvey (married 1925–1981)
Children	Kenneth von Zell, Linda von Zell

Harry von Zell (July 11, 1906 – November 21, 1981) was an American announcer of radio programs and an actor in films and television shows. He is best remembered for his work on The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show, and for once mispronouncing President Herbert Hoover's name on the air, a slip that was exaggerated on a later comedy record album.

Harry von Zell was born July 11, 1906, in Indianapolis, Indiana, where his father was a sports reporter. The family moved to Sioux City, Iowa, where von Zell graduated from high school. Later, the family moved to California, where von Zell studied music and drama at the University of California, Los Angeles and worked at a variety of jobs. After friends tricked him into singing on a radio program, he received offers from radio stations, and his radio career began.

Von Zell broke into show business as a singer and announcer at radio station KMIC in Inglewood, California in the mid-1920s. In late 1926, Von Zell sang on the "Times de Luxe Program" on KHJ in Los Angeles and was eventually employed as the manager of KMTR Los Angeles, moving to KGB San Diego in January 1929. Auditioning for Paul Whiteman's radio show later that year, he was chosen from a field of 250 announcers. When that series came to an end in 1930, he headed for New York and became a CBS staff announcer, working with Fred Allen, Phil Baker, Eddy Duchin and Ed Wynn. He also announced for The Aldrich Family, The Amazing Mr. Smith, and The March of Time. During the 1920s and 1930s von Zell served as announcer on some 20 shows a week.

His longest-running radio partnership was his nine seasons with veteran comedian Eddie Cantor. From October 1940 to June 1949 von Zell served as Cantor's commercial spokesperson and straight man. As Cantor cast member Dinah Shore's solo career began to blossom, she brought von Zell in as announcer on her Birds Eye Open House program.