Richard Wesson (February 20, 1919 – January 27, 1979) was an American movie and television announcer. He is best known as the announcer for '' The Wonderful World of Disney'' from 1954–1979, and many

Quinn Martin Quinn Martin (born Irwin Martin Cohn; May 22, 1922 – September 5, 1987) was an American television producer. He had at least one television series running in prime time every year for 21 straight years (from 1959 to 1980). Martin is a membe ...

series.

Personal life

Wesson was born in Boise, Idaho on February 20, 1919. He had three marriages, with three children by two of his wives. He committed suicide on January 27, 1979, aged 59.

Career

Wesson started in radio and worked as an announcer on early television shows, among them '' Space Patrol''. On the live television special covering the opening of

Disneyland Disneyland is a amusement park, theme park in Anaheim, California. Opened in 1955, it was the first theme park opened by The Walt Disney Company and the only one designed and constructed under the direct supervision of Walt Disney. Disney in ...

, Wesson appeared as the captain of the

Rocket to the Moon A rocket (from it, rocchetto, , bobbin/spool) is a vehicle that uses jet propulsion to accelerate without using the surrounding air. A rocket engine produces thrust by reaction to exhaust expelled at high speed. Rocket engines work entirely fr ...

ride and was interviewed by

Art Linkletter Arthur Gordon Linkletter (born Gordon Arthur Kelly or Arthur Gordon Kelly; sources differ; July 17, 1912 – May 26, 2010) was a Canadian-born American radio and television personality. He was the host of ''House Party'', which ran on CBS radio a ...

and Danny Thomas. He occasionally did some acting, including appearances in the

Golden Horseshoe Revue The Golden Horseshoe Saloon (referred to as Pecos Bill's Golden Horseshoe Saloon during construction) is a restaurant and attraction at Disneyland Park in Anaheim, California in the United States. It opened in 1955 with several other original att ...

show at

. Wesson did the narration for many movie trailers, Disney and non-Disney as well as the opening announcements for such television series as ''

Hawaiian Eye ''Hawaiian Eye'' is an American detective television series that ran from October 1959 to April 1963 on the ABC television network. Premise Private investigator Tracy Steele (Anthony Eisley) and his half-Hawaiian partner, Tom Lopaka (Robert Con ...

'', '' The Fugitive'', and '' The Invaders''.

External links

* 1919 births 1979 deaths Male actors from Idaho People from Costa Mesa, California Radio and television announcers Suicides by firearm in California People from Boise, Idaho 20th-century American male actors Disney people 1979 suicides {{US-actor-stub