Michael Raffetto (born Elwyn Creighton Raffetto; December 31, 1899 – May 31, 1990) was an American radio actor who starred as Paul Barbour (1932–1956) in the

NBC Radio The National Broadcasting Company's NBC Radio Network (known as the NBC Red Network prior to 1942) was an American commercial radio network which was in operation from 1926 through 2004. Along with the NBC Blue Network it was one of the first t ...

series ''

One Man's Family ''One Man's Family'' is an American radio soap opera, heard for almost three decades, from 1932 to 1959. Created by Carlton E. Morse, it was the longest-running uninterrupted dramatic serial in the history of American radio. Television versions ...

'' and as Jack Packard in ''

I Love a Mystery ''I Love a Mystery'' is an American radio drama series that aired 1939–44, about three friends who ran a detective agency and traveled the world in search of adventure. Written by Carlton E. Morse, the program was the polar opposite of Morse's ...

'' during the heyday of radio in the 1930s and 1940s.

Early life

Elwyn Creighton Raffetto was born in

Placerville, California Placerville (, ; formerly Old Dry Diggings, Dry Diggings, and Hangtown) is a city in and the county seat of El Dorado County, California. The population was 10,747 as of the 2020 census, up from 10,389 as of the 2010 census. It is part of the Sa ...

, the son of

John Augustus Raffetto John Augustus Raffetto, Sr. (March 1, 1864 October 11, 1954) was an Italian-American businessman who founded the First National Bank of Placerville and ran the Ivy House and Cary House hotels. Background John Augustus Raffetto Sr. was born ...

, a hotelier, and Adela Creighton. (His grandparents, Domenico Raffetto and Anna Pensa, came first to nearby Newtown, California, from Ognio, a mountain village northeast of Genoa.) He graduated cum laude from the

University of California at Berkeley The University of California, Berkeley (UC Berkeley, Berkeley, Cal, or California) is a public land-grant research university in Berkeley, California. Established in 1868 as the University of California, it is the state's first land-grant univ ...

Boalt Hall The University of California, Berkeley, School of Law (commonly known as Berkeley Law or UC Berkeley School of Law) is the law school of the University of California, Berkeley, a public research university in Berkeley, California. It is one of ...

in 1925. He practiced law in San Francisco until 1928, when he directed drama at Berkeley as well as Los Angeles'

Greek Theatre Ancient Greek theatre was a theatrical culture that flourished in ancient Greece from 700 BC. The city-state of Athens, which became a significant cultural, political, and religious place during this period, was its centre, where the theatre was ...

Career

Raffetto pitched a program concept to NBC Radio's Tom Hutchinson in San Francisco. He went on to star, direct, and produce the show, called '' Arm of the Law''. Soon after, he became the network's West Coast program director through 1933. During that time, he produced ''

Death Valley Days ''Death Valley Days'' is an American old-time radio and television anthology series featuring true accounts of the American Old West, particularly the Death Valley country of southeastern California. Created in 1930 by Ruth Woodman, the program ...

'' (1930). In 1946, he also directed ''

Michael Shayne Michael "Mike" Shayne is a fictional private detective character created during the late 1930s by writer Brett Halliday, a pseudonym of Davis Dresser. The character appeared in a series of seven films starring Lloyd Nolan for Twentieth Century Fo ...

, Private Detective''.

Acting

Although he approached radio through programming, directing, and producing, Raffetto's career took off in acting.

''One Man's Family''

In 1932, writer

Carlton E. Morse Carlton Errol Morse (June 4, 1901 - May 24, 1993) was a Louisiana-born producer/journalist best known for his creation of the radio serial ''One Man's Family'', which debuted in 1932 and ran until 1959 as one of the most popular as well as long-r ...

, with whom Raffetto had already collaborated, created ''

''. Raffetto landed the lead role as the family's eldest son, Paul Barbour, a fighter pilot wounded in World War I. NBC Radio first broadcast the show on April 29, 1932. Raffetto stayed with the show through 1956 (and the show ended on May 8, 1959). Paul Barbour ended many episodes with the line "That's how it is with the Barbours today."

''I Love a Mystery''

In 1939, Morse started ''

'' with three cast members from ''One Man's Family'', including Raffetto as Jack Packard, "a soft-spoken, taciturn hero in the best traditions of the West." Together with characters Doc Long (a "brawling womanizer") and Reggie York (a "proper Englishman"), the threesome formed a team of "specialists in adventure."

Other

"After the first several years," Raffetto often "substituted" for creator Morse, "directing and writing while he was away." Raffetto also starred in ''Death Valley Days'' (1930) and ''Attorney for the Defense'' (1944).

Personal life and death

Raffetto's second wife was sculptor Constance Murray Raffetto (a "Californio" and brother of

Alexander Howison Murray Jr. Alexander Howison Murray Jr. (1907–1993), known as Sandy Murray, was a two-time mayor of Placerville, California and three-time president of the county's chamber of commerce, who championed regional development, including the building of U. ...

, descended from Eulalia Perez de Guillen Marine). Raffetto suffered from tuberculosis for much of his life. He had to leave radio twice to recover. Morse often picked him up from the hospital to act. "He'd drive me home, or I'd take the train back to the hospital," Raffetto later said. At times, episodes were broadcast from Raffetto's bedside. After leaving radio in 1956, Raffetto and his wife lived in Spain and Italy until 1960. During that time, he wrote unpublished works, including a family history. Raffetto died of throat cancer at his home in Berkeley. At the time of his death, he had four daughters and five grandchildren.

Acting credits

Radio

Raffetto's radio work lasted from 1930 to 1956 and included: * Arm of the Law (1930) * Numb and Dumb (1931?) * Chinatown Squad (1932) *

(1932-1956) – Paul Barber *

(1939-1952) – Jack Packard *

Attorney for the Defense ''Attorney for the Defense'' is a 1932 American pre-Code crime film directed by Irving Cummings and starring Edmund Lowe, Evelyn Brent, and Constance Cummings. Cast * Edmund Lowe as William J. Burton * Evelyn Brent as Val Lorraine * Constance ...

(1944) – Jonathan Brixton
voice sample
* NBC Parade of the Stars (1946) – Himself * Saturday's Children (1947) (

The Screen Guild Theater ''The Screen Guild Theater'' is a radio anthology series broadcast from 1939 until 1952 during the Golden Age of Radio. Leading Hollywood stars performed adaptations of popular motion pictures. Originating on CBS Radio, it aired under several dif ...

– CBS) *

I Love Adventure I, or i, is the ninth letter and the third vowel letter of the Latin alphabet, used in the modern English alphabet, the alphabets of other western European languages and others worldwide. Its name in English is ''i'' (pronounced ), plural ...

(1948) *

Behold a Woman Behold is an American brand of furniture polish produced by Nakoma Products, LLC. Behold furniture polish and Endust dusting aid were previously produced by Sara Lee. When Drackett was sold to S. C. Johnson & Son in 1992, these two products, End ...

(1948) – Narrator *

Families Need Parents Family (from la, familia) is a group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its members and of society. Ideall ...

(undated)

Film

Raffetto acted in small roles as early as the

silent film A silent film is a film with no synchronized recorded sound (or more generally, no audible dialogue). Though silent films convey narrative and emotion visually, various plot elements (such as a setting or era) or key lines of dialogue may, when ...

era in films like ''Tillie's Punctured Romance'' starring

W. C. Fields William Claude Dukenfield (January 29, 1880 – December 25, 1946), better known as W. C. Fields, was an American comedian, actor, juggler, and writer. Fields's comic persona was a misanthropic and hard-drinking egotist who remained a sympathe ...

. He continued to act in the 1940s and 1950s, including major films like ''

A Foreign Affair ''A Foreign Affair'' is a 1948 American romantic comedy-drama film directed by Billy Wilder and starring Jean Arthur, Marlene Dietrich, and John Lund. The screenplay by Wilder, Charles Brackett, and Richard L. Breen is based on a story by David ...

'' (1948) with

Marlene Dietrich Marie Magdalene "Marlene" DietrichBorn as Maria Magdalena, not Marie Magdalene, according to Dietrich's biography by her daughter, Maria Riva ; however Dietrich's biography by Charlotte Chandler cites "Marie Magdalene" as her birth name . (, ; ...

and ''

Storm Center ''Storm Center'' is a 1956 American film noir drama directed by Daniel Taradash. The screenplay by Taradash and Elick Moll focuses on what were at the time two very controversial subjects—Communism and book banning—and took a strong stance a ...

'' (1956) with

Bette Davis Ruth Elizabeth "Bette" Davis (; April 5, 1908 – October 6, 1989) was an American actress with a career spanning more than 50 years and 100 acting credits. She was noted for playing unsympathetic, sardonic characters, and was famous for her pe ...

. Raffetto's film work lasted from 1928 to 1957 and included: * '' Tillie's Punctured Romance'' (1928) * ''

Today I Hang Today (archaically to-day) may refer to: * Day of the present, the time that is perceived directly, often called ''now'' * Current era, present * The current calendar date Arts, entertainment, and media Films * ''Today'' (1930 film), a 1930 A ...

'' (1942) - Roger Lanning * ''

Eyes of the Underworld Eyes of the Underworld may refer to: * Eyes of the Underworld (1942 film) ''Eyes of the Underworld'' is a 1942 American film noir crime film directed by Roy William Neill starring Richard Dix, Wendy Barrie and Lon Chaney Jr.Weaver, Brunas & Bru ...

'' (1943) - District Attorney * ''

Seven Doors to Death ''Seven Doors to Death'' (also known as ''Vanishing Corpses'' in its American reissue title) is a 1944 American film directed by Elmer Clifton and starring Chick Chandler, June Clyde and George Meeker. The film is a comedy/mystery film that was w ...

'' (1944) - Captain William Jaffe * ''

Sunbonnet Sue ''Sunbonnet Sue'' is a 1945 American comedy musical film directed by Ralph Murphy and starring Gale Storm, Phil Regan and George Cleveland. The film's composer, Edward J. Kay, was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Score in 1946. ...

'' (1945) - Commentator (voice) * ''

Pirates of Monterey ''Pirates of Monterey'' is a 1947 American Technicolor Western film directed by Alfred L. Werker starring Maria Montez and Rod Cameron. It was the last movie she made for Universal. Plot It is 1840 and California is ruled by the Mexican gove ...

'' (1947) - Sergeant Gomara * ''

To the Ends of the Earth ''To the Ends of the Earth'' is the title given to a trilogy of nautical, relational novels—''Rites of Passage'' (1980), ''Close Quarters'' (1987), and ''Fire Down Below'' (1989)—by British author William Golding. Set on a former British ...

'' (1948) - Professor Salim (uncredited) * ''

The Miracle of the Bells ''The'' () is a grammatical article in English, denoting persons or things already mentioned, under discussion, implied or otherwise presumed familiar to listeners, readers, or speakers. It is the definite article in English. ''The'' is the m ...

'' (1948) - Harold Tanby (uncredited) * ''

'' (1948) - Congressman Salvatore * ''

The Babe Ruth Story ''The Babe Ruth Story'' is a 1948 biographical film of Babe Ruth, the famed New York Yankees slugger. It stars William Bendix (New York Yankee batboy in the 1920s) as the ballplayer and Claire Trevor as his wife Claire Merritt Hodgson. Critics fa ...

'' (1948) - Customer (uncredited) * ''

Nancy Goes to Rio ''Nancy Goes to Rio'' is a Technicolor musical comedy film released by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer in 1950. It was directed by Robert Z. Leonard and produced by Joe Pasternak from a screenplay by Sidney Sheldon, based on a story by Ralph Block, Frederic ...

'' (1950) - Purser (uncredited) * ''

I Was a Shoplifter ''I Was a Shoplifter'' is a 1950 American film noir crime film directed by Charles Lamont and starring Scott Brady and Mona Freeman. Plot A shoplifter, Faye Burton, is being watched by Herb Klaxon, a security guard at a Los Angeles department sto ...

'' (1950) - Sherriff Bascom * ''

'' (1956) - Edgar Greenbaum * ''

Istanbul Istanbul ( , ; tr, İstanbul ), formerly known as Constantinople ( grc-gre, Κωνσταντινούπολις; la, Constantinopolis), is the List of largest cities and towns in Turkey, largest city in Turkey, serving as the country's economic, ...

'' (1957) - Priest (uncredited)

Television

Raffetto's television credits include: * ''

Medic A medic is a person involved in medicine such as a medical doctor, medical student, paramedic or an emergency medical responder. Among physicians in the UK, the term "medic" indicates someone who has followed a "medical" career path in postgradu ...

'' (1956) - Dr. Franklin McCall * ''

Telephone Time ''Telephone Time'' is an American anthology drama series that aired on CBS in 1956, and on ABC from 1957 to 1958. The series features plays by John Nesbitt who hosted the first season. Frank C. Baxter hosted the 1957 and 1958 seasons. The progr ...

'' (1956) - Joe Palermo * ''

Law of the Plainsman ''Law of the Plainsman'' is a Western television series starring Michael Ansara that aired on NBC from October 1, 1959, until September 22, 1960. The character of Native American U.S. Marshal Sam Buckhart was introduced in two episodes ("The I ...

'' (1960) - Father Robles * ''

Zane Grey Theater ''Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre'' is an American Western anthology television series that was broadcast on CBS from October 5, 1956, until September 20, 1962. Format Many episodes were based on novels by Zane Grey, to all of which Four Star F ...

'' (1960) - Reverend Masters * ''

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 ...

'' (1959-1960) - Papa Haone / Pappa Haone * ''

This Man Dawson ''This Man Dawson'' is a syndicated drama television series that was broadcast during 1959-60, starring Keith Andes as a former United States Marine Corps colonel hired to clean up police corruption in an undisclosed American city. The series wa ...

'' (1960) * '' Klondike'' (1961) - Arnold Jackson (final appearance)

Writings

* He's a Trooper: A Comedy-Drama in 3 Acts (copyrighted but unpublished)

Images

Photo
1930s
Photo
(2nd from left)
Caricature
Jack Packard (left)
Photo
1944
Michael Photo
1947
Photo
1948 (right)
Photo
undated

References

External links

*
Turner Movie Classics (TCM)

OTRRpedia
bio {{DEFAULTSORT:Raffetto, Michael 1899 births 1990 deaths Male actors from California American male film actors American male radio actors American male television actors Deaths from cancer in California People from Placerville, California 20th-century American male actors UC Berkeley School of Law alumni