Eloise McElhone ( – July 1, 1974) was an American radio and television personality in the 1950s.

Early years

McElhone was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Johnston McElhone, and she had a sister. She attended St. Lawrence Academy and graduated from the Todhunter School. Before she began working on radio and television, she was a supervisor of 24 clerks at the Food Rationing Board in the Bronx.

Career

McElhone's entry into broadcasting resulted from her mother's attendance at a dinner party hosted by

Martha Rountree Martha Jane Rountree (October 23, 1911 – August 23, 1999) was an American pioneering broadcast journalist and entrepreneur. She was the creator and first moderator of a public-affairs program, first on radio as ''The American Mercury'' f ...

in the spring of 1945. During the event, Rountree commented that she needed one more woman to complete the panel of her upcoming radio program, ''

Leave It to the Girls ''Leave It to the Girls'' is an American radio and television talk show, created by Martha Rountree, and broadcast, in various forms, from the 1940s through the 1980s. Broadcast details Radio version The series was originally a radio program ...

'', and that the woman needed to be "young, smart, pretty and a good talker". McElhone's mother suggested Eloise, who was selected after a successful audition the next day.

Radio

McElhone was a regular panelist on ''Leave It to the Girls'' on the Mutual Broadcasting System from 1945 to 1949. She portrayed the secretary to John K. M. McCaffrey when he began a commentary program on WNBC in New York City in October 1947. She and Walter Kiernan were co-hosts of ''Sparring Partners'' on WJZ radio in New York City. The talk show began in January 1953.

Television

In 1948 McElhone became a fashion commentator on ''Paris Cavalcade of Fashion'' on TV. She hosted an interview program on

WABD WABD (97.5 FM) is an American radio station licensed to serve the community of Mobile, Alabama. The station, established in 1973 as WABB-FM, is owned and operated by Cumulus Media. Its studios are on Dauphin Street in Midtown Mobile, and its ...

in New York City in 1949. A review of one episode in the trade publication ''

Billboard A billboard (also called a hoarding in the UK and many other parts of the world) is a large outdoor advertising structure (a billing board), typically found in high-traffic areas such as alongside busy roads. Billboards present large advertise ...

'' described the sessions with guests as "moderately interesting" and added, "It's tough to make interviews sparkle and these don't." McElhone continued being a panelist on ''Leave It to the Girls'' when the show moved to television, "the most constant panel member over the years". She was master of ceremonies on ''

Quick on the Draw ''Quick on the Draw'' was an American game show that aired on the now-defunct DuMont Television Network. Broadcast history ''Quick on the Draw'' featured cartoonist Bob Dunn, was first hosted by Eloise McElhone (1921-1974) and then by Robin Cha ...

'' when it began as a local show on

WNBT-TV WNBC (channel 4) is a television station in New York City, serving as the flagship of the NBC network. It is owned and operated by the network's NBC Owned Television Stations division alongside Linden, New Jersey–licensed Telemundo station WN ...

in New York City in May 1950. A review of that program in ''Billboard'' called McElhone "the only real strong point on the show." It continued, "Lush to look at and quick of manner and speech, she is always an interesting and capable performer . . ." Beginning on October 5, 1953, she had the ''Eloise McElhone Show'' on weekday afternoons on

WPIX WPIX (channel 11) is a television station in New York City. Owned by Mission Broadcasting, it is operated under a local marketing agreement (LMA) by Nexstar Media Group, making it a ''de facto'' owned-and-operated station and flagship (broadcas ...

in New York City. Topics on the 30-minute show included women's and girls' fashions. In 1954, McElhone was a "weather girl" on Channel 4 in New York City. She also appeared regularly on TV on ''

Eloise Salutes the Stars ''Eloise Salutes the Stars'' is a talk show hosted by Eloise McElhone (1921-1974) which aired on an 8-station network including the DuMont flagship station WABD. The series started on WABD in November 1949. The series aired Tuesdays at 7:30pm ET i ...

'', ''

'', and ''Meet the Experts''.

Advertising

McElhone appeared in print advertising for Regimen Tablets, a weight-loss product.

Personal life and death

McElhone worked as a volunteer with cerebral palsy. She married advertising executive William Paul Warwick on April 6, 1951, in New York City. They had two daughters, and they were divorced. On July 1, 1974, she died of a heart attack at her home in New York City, aged 53.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:McElhone, Eloise 1920s births 1974 deaths 20th-century American women