Earl Hamner, CCM '48

Emmy-winning producer, creator, writer, narrator, author.

• "The Waltons" ('72-81, 210 episodes + 5 specials; Emmy-winning autobiographical show)
• "Falcon Crest" ('81-83, 228 episodes w/Jane Wyman, creator of series, writer of 32 episodes)
• "Night Visions" ('01)
• "The Wild Thornberrys" ('00, writer)
  
• "The Education of Little Tree" ('97, writer of teleplay)
  

LINKS

• See compilation of exclusive Hamner stories, videos and photos.
• See his movie credits.
  

Dan Guntzelman, CCM '70

Writer, producer, director who received an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Comedy Series for "WKRP in Cincinnati."

• "WKRP in Cincinnati" ('78-82; wrote and directed 13 episodes, directed 2, produced 1) (Shown at right.)
  
• "Growing Pains" ('85-92, executive producer of 62 episodes, writer of 15)
• "Just the Ten of Us" ('88-90, creator and executive producer of 47 episodes, directed 10)
• "Gloria" ('82, w/Sally Struthers, executive producer of 2 episodes, writer of 4)
• "Thunder Alley" ('94, w/Edward Asner, executive producer)
  

Albert Hague, CCM '42

(1920-2001)
Tony-winner composer and lyricist. Also an actor.

• "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" ('66 TV, '00 film, composed the score)
• "Fame" ('82-87, playing Benjamin Shorofsky, the music teacher, in 126 episodes)
• "Glee" ('10, Fox series, "A Very Glee Christmas" episode, composer of music for "You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch")
• "37th Annual Miss USA Pageant" ('88, one of the judges)
• "Beauty and Beast" ('87)
• Faerie Tale Theatre’s "Rip Van Winkle" (’87, playing Nicholas Vedder)
• "The Dean Martin Comedy Hour" (’66, composed a musical number)
• "Perry Como's Kraft Music Hall" (’60, composed a musical number)
• "Mr. Belvedere" (’85)

LINKS

• Read how Hague landed the Grinch job.
• See the entire "Faerie Tale Theatre" episode for free.
• See his on-screen acting movie credits.
• See his off-screen movie credit.
• See his Broadway credits.  
  
• See his bio on the musicians page.
• Photo gallery of the late Al Hague, from the website he created.
  

Tennessee Ernie Ford, att. CCM '39-40

(1919–91; aka Ernest Ford as a student)
Grammy-winning singer, composer and TV series host. Received an Emmy nomination in '55 for Most Outstanding New Personality. Inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1990. Appeared on more than 100 TV programs and recorded 18 soundtrack titles. His biggest hit "Sixteen Tons" has been credited for kicking off the Rock and Roll era of the 1950s.

• Tennessee Ernie Ford variety shows ('56-65)
• "Dolly Parton and Friends" ('76)
• "Hee Haw" ('74-83, 6 episodes)
• "The Merv Griffin Show" ('77)
• "Hollywood Squares" ('74-76)
• "Dinah" ('76, 2 episodes)
• "The Sonny and Cher Comedy Hour" ('73-74, 3 episodes)
• "The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour" ('71)
• "Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In" ('69-70)
• "The Peapicker in Piccadilly" ('69 TV movie)
• "Mouse on the Mayflower" ('68, narrator for this TV movie)
• "Here's Lucy" ('69, w/Lucille Ball)
• "The Lucy Show" ('67)
• "I Love Lucy" ('54-55, playing Cousin Ernie)
• "The Joey Bishop Show" ('76)
• "The Andy Williams Show" ('62-66)
• "The Dean Martin Comedy Hour" ('66)
• "The Jack Benny Program" ('61)\
• "The Danny Thomas Show" ('59)
• "The George Gobel Show" ('55-60, 7 episodes)
• "The Steve Allen Plymouth Show" ('57)
• "New American Bandstand 1965" ('57)
• "This Is Your Life" ('56 & '57)
• "The Rosemary Clooney Show" ('56)
• "The Red Skelton Hour" ('54)
• "Hometown Jamboree" ('49)

LINKS

• Read a UC Magazine story about him.
• Watch videos of his performances.
• See his photos in the alumni heartthrobs section for Valentine's Day.
• See his vintage vocalists credits.   

Hugh O'Brian, att. '42-43

(left UC to join the Marine Corps)
Actor who appeared in 104 TV shows. Also recorded an album of popular songs and sang on the Ed Sullivan, Dinah Shore and Jackie Gleason variety shows. Once staged and directed a company of "Guys and Dolls" that toured Vietnam, Thailand and Japan for the troops. Inducted into the Hall of Great Western Performers of the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum in 1992. Born Hugh Charles Krampe. 

• "The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp" ('55-61, 225 episodes, Emmy nomination for Best Actor)
• "L.A. Law" ('93)
• "Murder She Wrote" ('90)
• "The Love Boat" ('82)
• "Fantasy Island" ('77-82, 5 episodes, including the pilot)
• "Search" ('72-73, 8 episodes)
• "Charlie's Angels" ('76)
• "Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In" ('72)
• "Dean Martin Comedy Hour" ('72)
• "Hollywood Squares" (70-73. 13 episodes)
• "Hallmark Hall of Fame" ('54 & '68, 2 episodes)
• "Dial M for Murder" ('67)
• "The Red Skelton Hour" ('65)
• "Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre" ('64-65, 2 episodes)
• "Kraft Suspense Theatre" ('65, 2 episodes)
• "The Greatest Show on Earth" ('63)
• "Perry Mason" ('63)
• "The Alfred Hitchock Hour" ('62)
• "The Virginian" ('62)
• "I've Got a Secret" ('62-66, 5 episodes)
• "Dick Powell Theatre" ('61)
• "What's My Line?" (61-67, 4 episodes)
• "The Joey Bishop Show" ('67)
• "Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse" ('59-60, 2 episodes)
• "The Ed Sullivan Show" ('57-58, 2 episodes)
• "The Jackie Gleason Show" ('57)
• "The Millionaire" ('55)
• "The Loretta Young Show" ('54-55, 4 episodes)
• "Fireside Theatre" ('50-51, 4 episodes)

LINK

• See his movie credits.
• See his photos in the alumni heartthrobs section for Valentine's Day.

Al Hirt, CCM '41, HonDoc '68

(1923-99)
A legendary Dixieland trumpeter, often called "King of the Trumpet." Grammy winner.

• “Super Bowl XII” (67, halftime performer)
• “Super Bowl VI” (’72, halftime performer)
• “Super Bowl IV” (’70, National Anthem performer)
• “AFL-NFL World Championship Game" (’67, National Anthem performer)
• “Saturday Night Live” (’08, Hirt music used in soundtrack)
• “Six Feet Under” (’04, HBO, Hirt music used in soundtrack)
• “Touched by an Angel” (’96, guest appearance)
• “The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson” (’70-82, guest appearance five times)
• “The Merv Griffin Show” (’79, guest appearance)
• “The David Frost Show” (’71, guest appearance)
• “The Johnny Cash Show” (’70, guest appearance)
• “The Jonathan Winters Show” (’68, guest appearance)
• “The Mike Douglas Show” (’68, guest appearance)
• “The Ed Sullivan Show” (’61-67, 12 episodes)
• “The Green Hornet” (’66-67, 3 episodes, musician playing theme song)
• “The Andy Williams Show” (’63-66, six episodes)
• “Hollywood Talent Scouts” (’65, guest appearance)s
• “The Red Skelton Hour” (’65, played Tiny Tex)
• "The Bell Telephone Hour” (’64, performed)
• “The Dinah Shore Chevy Show” (’60-63, guest appearance six times)
• “The Lawrence Welk Show” (’58, performed)

LINKS

• See his bio under musicians.
• See his obituary.

Elsa Marie Heisel Sule, A&S ’43

(1921-2010)
Executive director of the Ruth Lyons' “50-50 Club” on WLW TV and associate producer of the “Bob Braun Show” during a career lasting from 1945-84. Afterward, she ran the annual Ruth Lyons Children’s Christmas Fund campaign until the late 1980s or early ’90s.

Those who remember the Ruth Lyons' show will recall her steadfast assistant Elsa who would hand-model products, demonstrate products in table settings and create popular contests for the show. In 1952, Bill Myers, a long-time Cincinnati radio and TV host and broadcaster, was hired by WLW, where he worked on her TV program. He remembers Else fondly:

“Elsa was comfortable with everyone she met. She was extremely intelligent, a talented poet and songwriter, and could write wickedly funny song parodies that graced the Ruth Lyons and Bob Braun TV programs from time to time. Television screens glowed less brightly when Elsa concluded her career in broadcasting.”

LINK: Read UC Magazine story about Elsa.

George Duning, CCM '33

(1908–2000)
Composer. More than 400 film credits in all. He scored the following TV shows:

• "The Partridge Family" ('71)
• "Star Trek" (8 episodes, '67-68)
• "The Big Valley" (28 episodes, '65-68)
• "Dennis the Menace" ('59)

LINKS

• See his movie credits.  
  
• See his bio information under musicians.
• See his obituary.

Jane Froman, att. CCM late ‘20s

(1907–80)
Popular singing and TV guest star. A ’52 movie was made of her life, starring Susan Hayward.

• "The Bell Telephone Hour" ('60)
• "The Ed Sullivan Show" (6 episodes, '50-60)
• "The Walter Winchell Show" ('56)
• "The NBC Comedy Hour" ('56)
• "The Jimmy Durante Show" ('55)
• "What's My Line?" ('53)
• "The Jackie Gleason Show" (3 episodes, '52)
• "The Jane Froman Show" ('52-55)
• "The Paul Whiteman's Goodyear Revue" (10 episodes, '50-51)
• "The Voice of Firestone" ('50-51)

LINKS

• Read UC Magazine story about her life and career.
• See her Broadway credits. 
  
• See her movie credits. 
  
• See her opera listing.
  
• See her photos in the alumnae sweethearts section for Valentine's Day.
  

Douglas Cramer, A&S '53

Producer.

• "Wonder Woman" ('76-77)
• "The Love Boat" ('76-86)
• "The Odd Couple" ('70-75)
  
• "The Brady Bunch" ('69-74)
• "Star Trek" ('66)
• "Peyton Place" ('64-69)
  

David Canary, A&S '60

Actor won five Emmys awards and 16 Emmy nominations.

• "Bonanza" ('67-73, played the role of "Candy")
• "All My Children" (ABC soap opera, 1983-2010, retired April '10. Played twins Adam and Stuart Chandler for 664 episodes.)

Richard Powell, A&S '41

(1916-96)
Writer who served as president of the Television Writers of America and the Television Branch of the Writers Guild of America.

• "Hogan's Heroes" ('65-71, 29 episodes, including the pilot script)
• "The Doris Day Show" ('71-72, 4 episodes)
• "The Courtship of Eddie's Father" ('69, the TV pilot script)
• "Mash" ('73)
• "Andy Griffith Show" ('64-65, 4 episodes)
• "Gomer Pyle" ('64-65, 4 episodes)
• "The Farmer's Daughter" ('64, 2 episodes)
• "Mary Tyler Moore" ('76)
• "Charlie's Angels" ('77)

Marcia Lewis, CCM '64

(1938-2010)
Actress and singer who had two Tony nominations.

• "The Rosie O'Donnell Show" ('97)
• "Mr. Belvedere" ('89)
• "Kate & Allie" ('88)
• “Good Time Girls” (’80, 13 episodes as Irma Coolidge)
• "Happy Days" ('77-79)
• "The Bionic Woman" ('76)
• "The Bob Newhart Show" ('74-75)
• “Who’s Watching the Kids” (’78-79, 11 episodes as Mitzi Logan)
  
• “Hollywood Squares”
• “Sesame Street”

LINKS

• See her complete biography in the Broadway section.
• See her movie credit.
• See her obituary.

Pamela Myers, CCM '69

Actress.

• "Major Dad" ('93)
• "St. Elsewhere" ('85)
• "Alice" ('79-84)
• "CHiPS" ('82)
• "Starsky and Hutch" ('77)
• "Sha Na Na" ('77)
• "Happy Days" ('75)

LINKS

• Read "UC Magazine" stories about Myers.
• See her Broadway credits.

Lehman Engel, CCM '27, HonDoc '71

(1910-82)
Composer, arranger, musical director, orchestrator, arranger and musical supervisor for 20 television productions and more than 50 Broadway productions, including the original "Streetcar Named Desire" with Marlon Brando ('47). He was the Tony Award's most nominated person in the Best Conductor and Musical Director category. He also founded and served as the first director of the BMI Lehman Engel Musical Theater Workshop in New York City, cConsidered the foremost training ground for new writing voices. Engel also wrote musical-theater books, conducted recordings for Columbia Records and RCA Victor, and served as dean of American Musical Theatre. 

• "Hallmark Hall of Fame" (composer of productions of "The Tempest," '60; "The Taming of the Shrew," '56; and "Macbeth," '54)
• "The Tempest" ('60, composer of the TV move starring Richard Burton, Roddy McDowall and Maurice Evans from the Broadway production)
• "Li'l Abner" ('59, vocal arranger for this TV movie of the Broadway musical for which he was also the vocal arranger)
• "Wonderful Town" ('58, conductor of this TV movie of the play for which he won the Tony Award as Best Conductor and Musical Director, starring Rosalind Russell)
• "Twelfth Night" ('57, conductor, composer of play starring Maurice Evans from the Broadway production)
• "The Taming of the Shrew" ('56, composer of playing starring Maurice Evans from the Broadway production)

LINK: See his Broadway credits.

Bill Nimmo, A&S ’39, M (A&S) ’73

(1917-2011)
Actor and announcer. Well-known radio and TV celebrity. Former UC community relations director.

• “Powel Crosley and the 20th Century” (’88, documentary, host and narrator)
• “For Love or Money” (’58, host)
• “Keep It in the Family” (’57-58, host)
• “Who Do You Trust?” (’56, announcer for ABC game show with emcee Johnny Carson)
• "The Jackie Gleason Show" (’52-53, commercial announcer on 40 episodes)

LINK: See his obituary.