Pat McMahon (actor)
| Pat McMahon | |
|---|---|
| Born | Leavenworth, Kansas |
| Nationality | American |
| Occupation | actor, radio executive and disc jockey |
| Known for | The Wallace and Ladmo Show |
John Patrick Michael "Pat" McMahon is best known for his portrayal of numerous characters on The Wallace and Ladmo Show, a daily children's variety show broadcast on KPHO-TV in Phoenix, Arizona. McMahon is also a longstanding fixture on the Phoenix broadcasting scene where he has worked at KRIZ, KOY, and KTAR radio stations—serving as program director, disc jockey, and talk-show host, among other positions.
McMahon was born to vaudeville performers, Jack and Adelaide McMahon—billed as "McMahon and Adelaide" At age five, he joined the act and spent 12 years touring the world. The family eventually settled in Davenport, Iowa where McMahon attended high school and St. Ambrose College.
McMahon's broadcasting career began while he was in college when he took a job as a disc jockey at Davenport radio station KSTT. His career was interrupted by a stint in the Army, beginning in 1958.
He had gained some television experience while in the service and, after he was discharged, decided to try to break into the business in Phoenix. In 1960, he began working at KPHO TV in a variety of capacities. At that time, It's Wallace had already been on the air six years—hosted by Wallace (Bill Thompson) and Ladmo (Ladimir Kwiatkowski). They decided they needed a third person to play various characters in the skits they performed in between cartoons and McMahon was incorporated into the show. His most memorable role was as Gerald, a wealthy, spoiled boy who was ostensibly the station manager's nephew.
By the time Wallace and Ladmo, as it came to be known, went off the air almost 30 years later, McMahon had played dozens of characters, including "Boffo the Clown, a clown who hated children; Marshall Good, the cowboy from New Jersey who always bummed quarters from kids; Captain Super, the right-wing superhero that needed a night-light to sleep; and Aunt Maud, the senior citizen that told twisted fairy tales." One character, Hub Kapp, received national attention as the lead singer of Hub Kapp and the Wheels (also featuring Wallace and Ladmo regular, Mike Condello). The band recorded several singles and made appearances on Tonight Starring Steve Allen and The Joey Bishop Show.
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