American radio personality and television entertainer (1903–1983)
Arthur Godfrey
Godfrey in 1953
Born
Arthur Morton Leo Godfrey
(1903-08-31)August 31, 1903
Manhattan, New York, U.S.
Died
March 16, 1983(1983-03-16) (aged 79)
Manhattan, New York, U.S.
Occupation(s)
Broadcaster, entertainer
Years active
1929–1979
Spouse(s)
Catherine Godfrey (m. before 1938)
Mary Bourke
(m. 1938; div. 1982)
Children
3
Arthur Morton Godfrey (August 31, 1903 – March 16, 1983) was an American radio and television broadcaster and entertainer who was sometimes introduced by his nickname The Old Redhead. At the peak of his success, in the early to mid 1950s, Godfrey was heard on radio and seen on television up to six days a week, sometimes for as many as nine separate broadcasts for CBS. His programs included Arthur Godfrey Time (Monday-Friday mornings on radio and television), Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts (Monday evenings on radio and television), Arthur Godfrey and His Friends (Wednesday evenings on television), The Arthur Godfrey Digest (Friday evenings on radio) and King Arthur Godfrey and His Round Table (Sunday afternoons on radio).[1][2][3]
The infamous on-air firing of cast member Julius La Rosa in 1953 tainted Godfrey's down-to-earth, family-man image and resulted in a marked decline in his popularity which he was never able to overcome.[4] Over the following two years, Godfrey fired over twenty additional cast and crew members, under similar circumstances, for which he was heavily attacked by the press and public alike.[5][6] A self-made man, Godfrey was fiercely competitive; some of his employees were fired for merely speaking with those he considered to be competitors, like Ed Sullivan, or for signing with an agent.[4] By the late 1950s, his presence had been reduced to hosting the occasional television special and his daily CBS radio show, which ended in 1972.
Godfrey was strongly identified with many of his commercial sponsors, especially Chesterfield cigarettes and Lipton Tea.[7] He advertised Chesterfield for many years, during which time he devised the slogan "Buy 'em by the carton"; he terminated his relationship with the company after he quit smoking, five years before he was diagnosed with lung cancer in 1959.[8] He later became a prominent spokesman for the anti-tobacco movement.
^Radio TV Mirror (Jan–Jun 1954). MBRS Library of Congress. MacFadden Publications. 1954.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
^Radio TV Mirror (Jan-Jun 1953). MBRS Library of Congress. MacFaddenPublications. January 1953.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
^ abTV Guide – Chicago. Media History Digital Library. Philadelphia: Triangle Publications, Inc. November 6, 1953.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
^"Oakland Tribune from Oakland, California on October 27, 1955 · 2". Newspapers.com. October 27, 1955. Retrieved April 25, 2021.
^"The Journal Herald from Dayton, Ohio on October 28, 1955 · 5". Newspapers.com. October 28, 1955. Retrieved May 1, 2021.
^"Gallery of classic graphic design featuring Arthur Godfrey acting as spokesman for various products including Lipton". Archived from the original on February 10, 2009. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
^"Arthur Godfrey | American entertainer". Britannica.com. August 27, 2023.
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