Curt Massey
Curt Massey | |
|---|---|
 Curt Massey, c. 1945 | |
| Born | Curt Massey May 3, 1910 |
| Died | October 21, 1991 (aged 81) |
| Nationality | American |
| Occupation(s) | Singer, musician |
| Spouse | Edythe |
| Children | 2 |
Curt Massey (May 3, 1910 – October 21, 1991)[1] was a musician in the old-time radio era.
Early years
[edit]Massey was born in Midland, Texas.[1] He came from a musical family, the best known of whom was probably Louise Massey, a country and western singer. Their father was Henry Massey.[2] As a youngster, he studied violin, trumpet, cornet, and piano.[3] He went on to study music at the Horner Conservatory of Music in Kansas City.[4]
Curt played violin for the family's musical group, Louise Massey and the Westerners.[1]
Radio
[edit]Massey had two self-titled music-variety programs. Curt Massey Time was on CBS beginning in 1943;[5] The Curt Massey Show was on ABC beginning in 1949. The latter co-starred Martha Tilton and was sometimes billed as The Curt Massey and Martha Tilton Show or as Alka-Seltzer Time.[6]
Other programs on which Massey was featured included Nash-Kelvinator's Musical Hits,[7] Sheaffer World Parade,[8] Romance in Rhythm,[9] Twilight Trail,[10] The Friday Night Show,[11] The Andrews Sisters Program,[6]: 33 Avalon Time,[6]: 43 KMBC Brush Creek Follies,[6]: 101 Holiday for Music,[6]: 312 Plantation Jubilee,[6]: 525 and Plantation Party.[12] On January 2, 1956, Massey debuted on KNX radio in Los Angeles with a 25-minute weeknight program. It lasted three months.[13]
In some cases, Massey arranged music for programs in addition to singing and playing instruments.[14]
Television
[edit]In October 1956, Massey began a Monday-Thursday program on KRCA-TV in Los Angeles, California. The 6:15 p.m. (Pacific Time) program also featured Martha Tilton and Country Washburn and was broadcast in color at least during Summer 1959.[15] Massey also wrote and sang the theme song for the television series Petticoat Junction.[16]
Recognition
[edit]In 1961, Massey received an Emmy Award "for his career in radio and television."[16]
Personal life
[edit]Massey and his wife, Edythe, had two sons, Stephen and David.[4]
Death
[edit]Massey died October 21, 1991, at Eisenhower Medical Center in Rancho Mirage, California. He was 81.[3]
Filmography
[edit]Film
[edit]| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1936 | The Hills of Old Wyomin' | Himself as a Westerners Band Member | Short film directed by Dave Fleischer. |
| 1937 | Twilight on the Trail | Himself as a Member of The Westerners Band |
|
| 1938 | Love Goes West | Himself as a Member of The Westerners Band |
|
| Where the Buffalo Roam | Fiddle Player |
|
Television
[edit]| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1963 | The Beverly Hillbillies | Violinist | Episode: "The Garden Party" (S 2:Ep 11) |
| 1971 | Officer Massey | Episode: "Jethro Returns" (S 9:Ep 24) |
Screenplay credits
[edit]| Year | Title | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1966 | Petticoat Junction | Episode: "Kate Grounds Selma Plout" (S 4:Ep 7) |
Television composer credits
[edit]| Year | Title | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1963–70 | Petticoat Junction | 199 episodes |
| 1964–71 | The Beverly Hillbillies | 222 episodes |
Soundtrack credits
[edit]| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1936 | The Hills of Old Wyomin' | Member of The Westerners Band | |
| 1937 | Twilight on the Trail | Member of The Westerners Band | |
| 1944 | Swing in the Saddle | Writer |
|
| 1948 | The Strawberry Roan | The Angel Song (When the Angels turn the lights on in Heaven) |
Partial discography
[edit]- If I Had My Way (Columbia 1945)[18]
- You've Got Me Where You Want Me (Columbia 1945)[18]
- Sweetheart of My Dreams (Columbia 1945)[18]
- Candy (Columbia 1945)[18]
- Five Minutes More (Cadet 1946)[19]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c DeLong, Thomas A. (1996). Radio Stars: An Illustrated Biographical Dictionary of 953 Performers, 1920 through 1960. McFarland & Company, Inc. ISBN 978-0-7864-2834-2. Pp. 185-186.
- ^ "Mabie, Victoria Louise Massey". Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved 15 February 2016.
- ^ a b "Singer Curt Massey dead at 81". California, San Bernardino. The San Bernardino County Sun. October 22, 1991. p. 35.
- ^ a b Massey, Edythe (April 1952). "Curt Massey -- the MAN in my life" (PDF). Radio-TV Mirror. 37 (5): 38–39, 101. Retrieved 16 February 2016.
- ^ Terrace, Vincent (1981), Radio's Golden Years: The Encyclopedia of Radio Programs 1930-1960. A.S. Barnes & Company, Inc. ISBN 0-498-02393-1. P. 67.
- ^ a b c d e f Sies, Luther F. (2014). Encyclopedia of American Radio, 1920-1960, 2nd Edition, Volume 1. McFarland & Company, Inc. ISBN 978-0-7864-5149-4. Pp. 18, 173.
- ^ "(Kelvinator advertisement)". Life. August 5, 1946. p. 2. Retrieved 18 February 2016.
- ^ "Four-Way Pick-Up". Billboard. February 19, 1944. p. 11. Retrieved 16 February 2016.
- ^ "(radio listing)". The Brooklyn Daily Eagle. New York, Brooklyn. The Brooklyn Daily Eagle. December 27, 1939. p. 22. Retrieved February 16, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Her Songs Heard On Western Trail". The News-Review. Oregon, Roseburg. The News-Review. October 16, 1939. p. 3. Retrieved February 16, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Radio Highlights". Freeport Journal-Standard. Illinois, Freeport. Freeport Journal-Standard. September 13, 1940. p. 7. Retrieved February 16, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Plantation Party to Feature Girls". The Ogden Standard-Examiner. Utah, Ogden. The Ogden Standard-Examiner. May 19, 1939. p. 12. Retrieved February 16, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Cox, Jim (10 January 2014). Musicmakers of Network Radio: 24 Entertainers, 1926-1962. McFarland. p. 309. ISBN 978-0-7864-8962-6. Retrieved January 30, 2021.
- ^ "Song Wrangler". The News-Review. Oregon, Roseburg. The News-Review. October 31, 1939. p. 3. Retrieved February 16, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Ames, Walter (October 29, 1956). "Tucker Has Fun as Crunch; Massey and Crew Back on TV". The Los Angeles Times. California, Los Angeles. p. Part II - P 10. Retrieved April 21, 2018 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b "Curt Massey". Orlando Sentinel. October 23, 1991. Retrieved May 27, 2021.
- ^ "Where the Buffalo Roam]". TCM database. Turner Classic Movies. Retrieved February 24, 2016.
- ^ a b c d "Massey on MBS Net" (PDF). Billboard. January 20, 1945. p. 63. Retrieved 16 February 2016.
- ^ "Honor Roll of Hits" (PDF). Billboard. October 5, 1946. p. 20. Retrieved 16 February 2016.
External links
[edit]- Curt Massey at IMDb
- Streaming episodes of Alka-Seltzer Time with Curt Massey and Martha Tilton, from The Internet Archive
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