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Scott Ellsworth

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Scott Ellsworth
Born
Harvey Charles Ellsworth

(1927-01-04) January 4, 1927 (age 97)
Plymouth, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Occupation(s)Radio personality, news anchor, tv host, actor
Years active1952–present
Known forHost of Scott's Place (1968–1972, 1992–present)
Children6

Scott Ellsworth (née Harvey Charles Ellsworth, January 4, 1927) is an American radio personality, news presenter, and actor. The host of Scott's Place, a jazz radio broadcast that came to prominence in the late 1960s, he has been on the air at Financial News Network, KFI, KCOP-TV, KNX-TV in Los Angeles and KWXY in Cathedral City, California.[1][2][3][4]

Early life and education

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Scott Ellsworth was born Harvey Charles Ellsworth in Plymouth, Pennsylvania in 1927.[5] He moved with his family to Pompton Lakes, New Jersey where he graduated from Pompton Lakes High School in 1944.[6] His father, Harvey Warren Ellsworth, was as a "song plugger" who also played the trumpet and led Ellsworth to his first inspiration to go into the arts and entertainment.[5] His father was also a vocalist first at KDKA in Pittsburgh in and then to New York City on NBC radio, movie theaters and stage productions.[5] Ellsworth would play the trumpet and cornet during high school up until he entered the Armed Forces during WWII. Directly following high school School Ellsworth served in the United States Merchant Marine, he would serve in the Pacific Theater of the war.[7]

Following his military service, Ellsworth moved to Brooklyn, New York in 1948 and enrolled in New York University in Manhattan. He signed up for a speech class, and was told by the professor he had a "'professional sounding voice" and could make it "his profession".[5] Ellsworth earned a Bachelors of Arts degree in both Psychology and Drama from NYU in 1952. After graduating Ellsworth moved to Montrose, Colorado to pursue his dream in broadcasting after having cut an audio, audition disc for producer Pat Kelly at NBC studios in New York.[5]

Radio and television career

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1952–1965: Colorado and Utah

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In 1952, Ellsworth moved his family to Montrose, Colorado where he worked in numerous capacities as newscaster, program manager and announcer for KUBC at $400 a month.[8][9] They allowed Ellsworth to exercise a number of ideas he had for the station. In 1955 the KUBC owner bought KVOD in Denver and wanted Ellsworth to become program director; he moved to Denver and worked in radio and T.V. broadcasting for the next 5 years for KBTV and KVOD. Ellsworth eventually resigned from his position at KVOD and moved to station KLZ in Denver. He would create successful shows such as "Active Radio" which was an on the spot news and events broadcast. He would soon move back to KVOD (now KHOW) as operations manager. Another ownership change and other difficult circumstances with management prompted Ellsworth to eventually move to KALL, an ABC affiliate in Salt Lake City.[5]

In 1963 Ellsworth resigned from KHOW and moved his family from Colorado to Salt Lake City where he served as a newscaster and program director at KALL (1963–65).[10][11][12][13] KVOD was an ABC affiliate station, the primary ABC network business manager helped Ellsworth secure the position at KALL at the top of the pay scale (ABC affiliate in Salt Lake City). In 18 months of moving there Ellsworth and his family realized this was not the right position or the location they ultimately desired to live in.[5]

1965–1984: Los Angeles, California

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On June 12, 1965, Ellsworth traveled to Los Angeles looking for work and was doing taping for TV commercials, he visited the KFI studio (affiliate of NBC), where he was offered a job after auditioning for KFI station manager Pat Kelly.[5] He was given duties of being a staff announcer going from studio to studio doing commercial and station IDs, as well as other on-air responsibilities.[5] On June 5, 1968, Ellsworth was the on-site reporter for KFI during Robert F. Kennedy's victory speech for the California, Democratic Party primary.[14] He was literally within arm's distance of witnessing and reporting on Kennedy's assassination at the hands of Sirhan Sirhan.[15]

Ellsworth moved his family to the Southern California/Los Angeles region settling in the Reseda area in the San Fernando Valley, just north of the KFI, Burbank studios. He worked for KFI radio and then KCBS-FM in 1973. He later worked for KCOP-TV as a newscaster, sportscaster, writer, announcer and talk show host for several years.[16][17] At KCOP-TV Ellsworth produced, wrote and hosted Daybreak and Who Can I Turn To which were weekly talk shows dealing with financial and medical topics. For 2 years he was the talk show host for KNX-TV's (Los Angeles) Noontime midday show. In 1974 Ellsworth lent his talent to the Toshiko Akiyoshi/Lew Tabackin Big Band album Kogun. His voice is heard on the track Memory as part of a narrative and story telling relating to Japanese folklore. Memory is also included on the 2008 Mosaic 3 CD compilation, Mosaic Select: Toshiko Akiyoshi – Lew Tabackin Big Band.[5]

In 1965 KFI's station manager Pat Kelly who suggested Ellsworth use the name "Scott." In August 1984 Ellsworth officially changed his name from "Harvey Charles Ellsworth" to his professional and stage name, "Scott Ellsworth."[18]

In early 1981 Ellsworth signed on with the Financial News Network as news anchor.[19] In 1983, Financial News Network (FNN) established a 24-hour feed on cable TV only. At night, it added SCORE (television), a mini-network that aired sports events and news. Ellsworth become the evening news anchor and interviewer for FNN, broadcasting out of their Santa Monica studio.[20][21] FNN was sold to CNBC around 1991, and Ellsworth went back to being a jazz music DJ, hosting Scott's Place on KWXY from 1992 until the station traded hands around 2012.[22]

Scott's Place

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Ellsworth created and hosted on the radio program Scott's Place. It aired on KFI-AM 640 in Los Angeles from 1968 through 1974, Monday through Saturday for 4 hours live midnight to 4 am.[23][5][24] Ellsworth moved the show to KWXY near Palm Springs during the 1990s, and broadcast from KWXY for ten years. He left KWXY when the format changed in 2011.[25] Ellworth continued his on-line radio program from his own studio, which he initiated in April 2014.[1][26][27]

NBC was trying to finally get out of the radio business in 1968. During this transition their affiliate KFI was losing numerous DJs to include Al "Jazzbeaux" Collins who would eventually move to the San Francisco Bay area.[28][5] With the sudden exit of Collins, Scott Ellsworth was able to obtain a program time slot. The new show, Scott's Place, aired midnight until 4:00 am daily and featured jazz and big band music, interspersed with interviews with musicians and entertainers.[5] Due to KFI's wide distribution, the show was heard across the United States and gained national attention.[5][29]

Artists would bring some of their favorite recordings to Scott's Place and talk about their music and careers over a 2 to 3-hour period.[5] Count Basie recorded a song written especially for Ellsworth, Scott's Place composed by Sammy Nestico (recorded on the Basie Have and Nice Day LP) This became the opening theme music for Ellsworth's show.[5] Ellsworth also did special broadcasts from the Monterey Jazz Festival, Disneyland's "All That Jazz Weekend" and other live locations featuring jazz artists.[30][31][32][5][33]

In early-1972, Ellsworth was approached by KFI to change his format to popular Rock & Roll.[34] His last guest was Johnny Mercer.[5] Ellsworth's interviews from the show are archived at the American Jazz Institute in Pasadena, California.[5]

As an extension of the radio program, for a short time Ellsworth hosted his own music performance venue at "Torches West" in Woodland Hills starting in June 1972.[35][5][36] Tex Beneke offered his band for the first weekend and the venue also hosted the bands of Freddy Martin, Charlie Barnett and vocalist Kay Starr. It only latest four weeks due to less than desired attendance and the heavy financial burden taken on by Ellsworth. For starting this venue and his past support of artists, he received the "Friend of the Musicians" honor from the American Federation of Musicians (AF of M) local 47 in Los Angeles due to his continual support for the preservation of jazz.[36][35]

Acting career

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Ellsworth began working as an actor in the early 1970s. His credits include TV shows and movies, including Girls Are for Loving (1973), The F.B.I. (1972–1973), Cannon (1975), The Moneychangers (1976), 79 Park Avenue (1977), The Rockford Files (1977–1978), Grandpa Goes to Washington (1978–1979), H.O.T.S. (1979), Beyond Westworld (1980), and The A-Team (1985), among others. He has been featured in theater productions to include Hostile Witness, The Best Man, Becket, Move Over, Mrs Markham, Social Security and Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?.[37][38][39][40]

Education career

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Ellsworth was an adjunct professor in the Communication and Media studies department at California State University, Long Beach. He was also an instructor at College of the Desert, Santa Monica College and the Don Martin School of Radio and Television Arts and Sciences.[5]

Radio and T.V. program/station affiliation

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Years Station Show or occupation Media
1952–1955 KUBC Producer/News Anchor Radio
1955–1963 KVOD, KLZ, KBTV, KHOW Producer/News Anchor Radio and television
1963–1965 KALL Producer/News Anchor Radio
1966–1972 KFI Scott's Place/News Anchor Radio
1973 KGBS-FM News Anchor Radio
1975–1976 KNX-TV Noontime/talk show host Television
1972–1981 KCOP-TV News anchor/talk show host Television
1981–1985 Financial News Network News Anchor/Commentator Cable television
1985–2012 KWXY and syndication Scott's Place/Mid-day program, special features Radio
2014–present independent Scott's Place Radio

Television appearances (partial list)

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Year Title Role Production company
1971–72 O'Hara two episodes Universal
1972–73 The F.B.I. two episodes QM Productions
1973 General Hospital Network Executive ABC
1975 Cannon four episodes QM Productions
1976 Days of Our Lives Navy Medical Doctor NBC
1977–78 Rockford Files four episodes Universal
1978 Lou Grant T.V. Newsman MTM Enterprises
Young and the Restless Prosecuting Attorney CBS
1980 Sanford Playboy Tandem Productions
Beyond Westworld T.V. Commentator MGM Television
1985 The A-Team T.V. Newsman Cannell Entertainment

Filmography

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Year Title Role Production company
1971 Dead Men Tell No Tales Dave 20th Century
1973 Girls Are For Loving James L. Whitney Derio Prod.
A Christmas Visit Supporting Role Zavada
1976 The Moneychangers Treasury Secretary Ross Hunter Productions
1977 79 Park Avenue Vice-detective Universal
Secrets Love Interest Paramount
1978 Grandpa Goes to Washington Senator Paramount
To Save His Life Movie Director 20th Century
Loose Change Play Director Universal
1979 H.O.T.S. Professor Great Amer. Movie Mach.
Anatomy of a Mugging Detective Paramount

References

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  1. ^ a b "Radio's Voice of Jazz Launches Internet Broadcast". All About Jazz. April 15, 2014. Retrieved April 6, 2014.
  2. ^ Hentoff, Nat (April 1, 2004). "Bringing Up New Jazz Listeners". JazzTimes. Retrieved April 6, 2019.
  3. ^ Herman, David (June 4, 2006). "Melodic Trip Back in Time". Riverside Press Enterprise. p. B1.
  4. ^ Leavelle, Ardele. Fred Directory of Radio, Fear & Loathing, 1980.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u "Association of Recorded Sound Collections, interview with Scott Ellsworth, 2011 ARSC Conference" (MP3).
  6. ^ "Carolyn Hoffman Wed in Pompton", The News, March 8, 1949. Accessed February 7, 2022, via Newspapers.com. "The marriage of Miss Carolyn Mae Hoffman, daughter of Mrs. Carolyn Hoffman of 438 Van Dyke St. and Harvey C. Ellsworth, of 81 Lakeside Ave., Pompton Lakes, took place Saturday at the Pompton Reformed Church.... The bridegroom, a graduate of Pompton Lakes High School, is a student at New York University, and is employed in the university store."
  7. ^ Form MS-73, Certificate of Graduation, U.S Maritime Service Training Station, Sheepshead Bay New York, Ellsworth, Harvey Charles, service #4414-16740. signed and dated September 18, 1944
  8. ^ Mulvey, Tom. "Denver Radio: 80 Years of Change" BPC. Referred to as Harvey Ellsworth in this article working KHOW
  9. ^ The Working Press of the Nation, Volume 3. National Research Bureau, 1960. pp. 21
  10. ^ Billboard. "Vox Jox". Harvey C. Ellsworth takes over as manager at KALL. August 17, 1963. pp. 43
  11. ^ Salt Lake Tribune. April 6, 1964, pp. 32, Harvey Ellsworth listed in program guide for Daily broadcast on KALL/ABC Radio
  12. ^ Broadcasting, Broadcasting Publications Incorporated, 1964. Ad listed by Harvey Ellsworth for KALL pp. 91
  13. ^ Sponsor, Volume 17, Part 3. "Harvey C. Ellsworth to program director and John Cavanaugh to the news department at KALL". pp. 60
  14. ^ Pasik, Herb. "As Newsman, actor, Ellsworth was there when..." Weekend Desert Post. May 6, 1988. pp. 36
  15. ^ Youtube: ABC Television report. June 6, 1968. Ellsworth appears @ 1:42 in the left side of screen as RFK passes him shortly after speech is completed on the stage. Ellsworth is very blonde and stands out.
  16. ^ The Los Angeles Times, March 15, 1972, Wed., Page 102. Listing of KFI programming to included Scott Ellsworth
  17. ^ Earth Signals, listing and portraits/pictures of KFI Announcers from the 50s to the 80s
  18. ^ U.S. Department of State, Affidavit Regarding Change of Name, Signed by witness, Deborah Everett and Passport Agent Hildreth M Sokoloff, August 24, 1984
  19. ^ Feature article, Scott Ellsworth, Cable Vision magazine, May 24, 1982
  20. ^ FNN Staff citations and History
  21. ^ Cable Vision, Volume 8, Cahners Business Information, 1983, pp.190
  22. ^ Where Are They Now? LARP – E Compiled by Don Barrett
  23. ^ ATVaudio.com. Scotts Place. March 30, 1970 – April 1, 1972 KFI 640 Los Angeles AM Radio
  24. ^ Hellman, Jack. "Light and Airy" Variety Magazine. April 5, 1971
  25. ^ Grandi, John. Stay Tuned. Big Bear Grizzly (Big Bear Lake, CA). July 23, 2003
  26. ^ Johns, Howard. "Palm Springs Confidential: Playground of the Stars!" Barricade Books, 2004, Notation on Scott Ellsworth in Palm Springs, pp. 278
  27. ^ Scott's Place online
  28. ^ Fox, John. "Don't lose touch while traveling" Orange County Register. October 26, 1997. KEZY morning personality speaking of earlier mentors Collins and Ellsworth.
  29. ^ Hall, Claude. Billboard Magazine "Vox Jox". December 12, 1970. pp. 36
  30. ^ Chilton, John. "Let The Good Times Roll:: The Story of Louis Jordan and His Music" University of Michigan Press, 1997. Louis Jordan, KFI interview with Scott Ellsworth, April 26, 1971 cited throughout book. Chapt 1, 2, 6 and 8
  31. ^ Harris, Steven. "The Kenton Kronicles: A Biography of Modern America's Man of Music, Stan Kenton" Dynaflow, 2003, Interview by Scott Ellsworth with Stan Kenton December 19, 1970. pp. 336
  32. ^ Stratemann, Klaus. Scott Ellsworth interview with Duke Ellington. "Duke Ellington, Day by Day and Film by Film" JazzMedia, 1992. pp. 611
  33. ^ Shaw, Arnold. BMI: The Many Worlds of Music. Interview with John Williams. Broadcast Music, Incorporated, 1972. pp. 32
  34. ^ Page, Don. "Clarifying Some Radio Rumors" February 6, 1972, Calendar Section
  35. ^ a b Reference to Ellsworth being host of June 1972 performance. Coda. Volume 10, Issues 6–11, 1973, pp. 38.
  36. ^ a b Sippel, John. Billboard. June 10, 1972. pp. 12
  37. ^ Review: Kolber, Al. "3 Starred Adventures Mark Mrs Markham" Orange County News. June 18, 1986. pp. 7
  38. ^ Britton, Jeff. Review: Tea and Sympathy. The Desert Sun. January 15, 1993. pp. 14
  39. ^ Turnbill, Lisa. Review: Social Security. The Desert Sun. November 6, 1990
  40. ^ Graham, Elizabeth. Review: Move Over. Los Angeles Times. June 20, 1986
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