Ray Heatherton

Ray Heatherton (June 1, 1909 – August 15, 1997) was an American singer, Broadway musical theatre performer, and a New York City television personality in the early days of the medium.

Early career

Ray Heatherton was born in the New York City suburb of Orange, New Jersey (some sources indicate Jersey City) and was first introduced to music upon joining a boys' choir at his church. He sang with the choir until his family moved to another of the city's suburbs, the Long Island village of Floral Park before moving to nearby Rockville Centre.

During his high school years, he continued to find outlets for his singing talents, performing with bands at various local functions and winning a radio talent contest sponsored by the manufacturer of radio sets, Atwater Kent. His first appearance on Broadway was in ''The Garrick Gaieties'', a revue which opened at the Guild Theatre on June 4, 1930, three days after his 21st birthday. During this time, Heatherton also attended Columbia University.

Shortly afterward, Ray Heatherton's singing talents came to the attention of the era's best-known radio bandleader-songwriter, Paul Whiteman. Whiteman hired the young man to become a featured vocalist on his 1929–30 CBS radio program ''The Old Gold Hour''. Heatherton continued to sing on the show, while also performing in the musical ''Midnight Frolics'' at Broadway's New Amsterdam Theatre.

Following his father's death during the Depression, he was temporarily forced to leave show business to work for the New York Telephone Company. His affection for performing, however, inspired him to continue auditioning for radio assignments and he was eventually able to return as a singer on numerous radio musical variety series, and also found opportunities to perform in nightclubs and theater. In the late 1930s, he became a bandleader with his own orchestra which made recordings and performed at New York's Biltmore Hotel.

Broadway shows, recordings and pre–World War II television

Heatherton appeared in the musicals ''Anniversary Waltz'', '' The Desert Song,'' and ''Babes in Arms'', in which he played the role of Val LaMar the character about whom "My Funny Valentine" was sung.

In 1938 Heatherton recorded two discs of songs for children on the Decca label, and in 1939 twice performed on the then-experimental medium of television, appearing on NBC's New York station W2XBS (now WNBC) in Gilbert and Sullivan's ''Pirates of Penzance'' (as Frederic) and ''H.M.S. Pinafore'' (as Ralph Rackstraw).

Single film appearance and war service in the Marines

As World War II arrived, Heatherton's career in the entertainment field was interrupted by service in the U.S. Marine Corps. Before leaving, he made his only film appearance, performing a song and a few lines of dialogue in PRC's musical ''Follies Girl'' (1943).

Heatherton was commissioned and rose to the rank of Captain. He served as Special Services officer of the 9th Marine Aircraft Wing at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point North Carolina as well as Guam and Okinawa.

Early television and ''The Merry Mailman''

Returning from the service, he worked in radio and began his full-time television career as the host, performer and interviewer of ''Heatherton House'', a weekday-morning talk/variety series. ''Heatherton House'' was one of the first daytime programs on ABC's newly opened New York flagship station WJZ (now WABC), Channel 7. The minor local-TV assignment, which was not shown on the fledgling network's other stations, only lasted from April to June 1949.

Heatherton's next TV series, ''The Merry Mailman'', was a more successful endeavor. In October 1949, independent station WOR Channel 9, the last of New York's seven VHF TV outlets, signed on the air. Station executives decided that one of the new venture's first showcases should be a quality children's program, and contacted Heatherton to audition as the host of a show that would appeal to the younger TV viewers. The successful audition launched the long-running show that he created and shaped with radio and TV producer-director (and future major film producer) Sandy Howard. ''The Merry Mailman'', based upon a character performed by Heatherton on one of his 1938 children's records, debuted on WOR-TV Monday evening, October 16, 1950.

Every weekday afternoon and evening, as well as on Saturday afternoons, Ray Heatherton and his comedy assistants Chick Darrow, who played "The Topsey-Turvey Auctioneer", and Milt Moss would entertain and inform their studio audiences and kids at home with games, songs, stories, craftmaking, hobbies, comedy, puppet skits, magic tricks, interviews with guest performers and personalities, and informational segments. As with virtually all children's shows of the 1950s and 60s, the format was structured so that the live segments were interspersed with cartoons—in this case, primarily the theatrical ''Terrytoons'' and the first made-for-TV animated series ''Crusader Rabbit''. At the same time, Heatherton hosted other radio and TV series, including a radio edition of ''The Merry Mailman'' which was heard on the Mutual Radio Network Monday, Wednesday and Friday evenings, and Saturday and Sunday afternoons from 1953 to 1955. Heatherton's gentle personality and pleasant singing voice and endearingly cheerful and reassuring demeanor made him one of the most beloved and recognizable regional personalities.

Career setback and continued work

In late 1955, Ray Heatherton fell victim to one of the excesses of the Cold War era. A number of innocent performers were accused of Communist affiliations and lost their careers. Unfounded public accusations of that nature were aimed at Heatherton by an individual from Upstate New York, resulting in the loss of sponsors and bad publicity for the station. WOR executives accepted Heatherton's word that the allegations were false and tried to keep ''The Merry Mailman'' on the air as a station-sustained program. It was not enough, however, and ''The Merry Mailman'' broadcast its final show on Friday, June 22, 1956. (Information about Mr. Heatherton’s hosting the WOR-TV Channel 9 New York City edition of ''The Merry Mailman'' can be found in The NYC Kids’ Shows Roundup section of TV Party.Com.)

Heatherton was able to clear his name of the defamation and went on to host two more programs for WOR-TV: ''The Ray Heatherton Theater'', a combination live-action and film musical anthology series for teens, and ''The Cartoon Parade'', both of which were seen during the remainder of the station’s 1956 season. He remained on the air for another year and a half, but no longer had a daily venue. Starting Saturday-Sunday, September 8–9, 1956 until Sunday, April 13, 1958, he served as the “sea captain” host-performer on the weekend evening edition of ''The Popeye

HOME


Content is Copyleft
Website design, code, and AI is Copyrighted (c) 2014-2017 by Stephen Payne


Consider donating to Wikimedia



As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases