Jack Ward Smith (November 16, 1913 – July 3, 2006), known as Smilin' Jack Smith, was an American

crooner Crooner is a term used to describe primarily male singers who performed using a smooth style made possible by better microphones which picked up quieter sounds and a wider range of frequencies, allowing the singer to access a more dynamic range ...

, radio host and actor. Born in

Seattle Seattle ( ) is a seaport city on the West Coast of the United States. It is the seat of King County, Washington. With a 2020 population of 737,015, it is the largest city in both the state of Washington and the Pacific Northwest region of ...

, Washington, United States, by 1933 Smith was in a singing trio, The Three Ambassadors. In 1939, he became a solo crooner with a voice described as a "strong baritone with a tenor lilt"; he was billed as "The Singer with a Smile in His Voice."Reinehr, Robert C. and Swartz, Jon D. (2008). ''The A to Z of Old-Time Radio''. Scarecrow Press, Inc. . p. 138. He also sang with the Phil Harris Orchestra, recording "Here It is Only Monday". Establishing a radio program, ''

The Jack Smith Show ''The Jack Smith Show'' was a radio program of popular music in the United States. It was broadcast on CBS Aug. 21, 1945-Dec. 26, 1952. It first originated from New York, but production was moved to Hollywood in 1948 to allow more opportunities fo ...

'', in 1945, he went on to host such guests as

Dinah Shore Dinah Shore (born Frances Rose Shore; February 29, 1916 – February 24, 1994) was an American singer, actress, and television personality, and the top-charting female vocalist of the 1940s. She rose to prominence as a recording artist during ...

Margaret Whiting Margaret Eleanor Whiting (July 22, 1924 – January 10, 2011) was an American popular music and country music singer who gained popularity in the 1940s and 1950s.Mapes, Jillian.Margaret Whiting, Iconic Standards Singer, Dies at 86. ''Billboard ...

John Serry Sr. John Serry Sr. (born John Serrapica; January 29, 1915 – September 14, 2003) was an American concert accordionist, arranger, composer, organist, and educator. He performed on the CBS Radio and Television networks and contributed to Voic ...

and

Ginny Simms Virginia Ellen SimmsSleeve notes from ''Ginny Simms – I'd Like To Set You To Music'', Jasmine JASCD 118, 2001. (May 25, 1913 – April 4, 1994) was an American popular singer and film actress. Simms sang with big bands and with Dinah Shore, ...

. In a 1945 poll of radio critics by ''

Motion Picture Daily ''Motion Picture Daily'' was an American daily magazine focusing on the film industry. It was published by Quigley Publishing Company, which also published the ''Motion Picture Herald''. The magazine was formed by the merging of three existing Qui ...

'', Smith was voted radio's "most promising star of tomorrow." Following a guest appearance in the musical film '' Make Believe Ballroom'' (1949), Smith was offered the second lead in Warner Bros.' '' On Moonlight Bay'' (1951) opposite

Doris Day Doris Day (born Doris Mary Kappelhoff; April 3, 1922 – May 13, 2019) was an American actress, singer, and activist. She began her career as a big band singer in 1939, achieving commercial success in 1945 with two No. 1 recordings, " Sen ...

. With the television's arrival, radio saw a decline in audiences, and Smith lost his show in 1952. In 1953, Smith briefly hosted the NBC game show ''Place the Face'',McNeil, Alex (1996). ''Total Television''. Penguin Books USA, Inc. . only to be replaced by Jack Bailey, who in turn was followed by

Bill Cullen William Lawrence Francis Cullen (February 18, 1920 – July 7, 1990) was an American radio and television personality whose career spanned five decades. His biggest claim to fame was as a game show host; over the course of his career, he host ...

. Smith became the host of ''

You Asked For It ''You Asked for It'' is a human interest television show created and hosted by Art Baker. Initially titled ''The Art Baker Show'', the program originally aired on American television between 1950 and 1959. Later versions of the series were se ...

'' in 1958, staying with it in various roles until 1991. He also appeared as himself in the "Fearless Fonzarelli" episode of ''

Happy Days ''Happy Days'' is an American television sitcom that aired first-run on the ABC network from January 15, 1974, to July 19, 1984, with a total of 255 half-hour episodes spanning 11 seasons. Created by Garry Marshall, it was one of the most succ ...

'', aired in 1975; in that episode, Smith hosted ''You Wanted To See It'', a fictionalized version of his real show, bearing witness to Fonzie's feat of leaping 14 garbage cans on his motorcycle. Jack Smith died in June 2006 in

Westlake Village Westlake Village is a city in Los Angeles County on its western border with Ventura County. The City of Westlake Village incorporated in 1981 becoming the 82nd municipality of Los Angeles County.Baker, Pam (2002). ''Thousand Oaks Westlake Vill ...

, California of leukemia, aged 92.

Filmography

References

External links

*
2 episodes of ''The Jack Smith Show'' from Old Time Radio Researchers Organization libraryArticle about Mr. and Mrs. Jack Smith from TV Radio MirrorAnother article about Mr. and Mrs. Jack Smith from Radio Mirror"With a Smile in His Voice" article from Radio TV Mirror
{{DEFAULTSORT:Smith, Jack, Smiling 1913 births 2006 deaths Deaths from cancer in California Deaths from leukemia Musicians from Seattle 20th-century American musicians People from Westlake Village, California Singers from Washington (state) American male film actors Male actors from Washington (state) 20th-century American male actors American game show hosts 20th-century American singers