Introducing JOHN TILLMAN
AT FRANK DAILEY’S Meadowbrook last
summer, a young ex-GI named John Tillman earned himself the moniker of “Dream
Scream,” delightedly bestowed on him by the bobbysoxers who found his looks and
his emceeing irresistible. In a way, Tillman found this very satisfying,
certainly a change from having “Sergeant!” screamed at him for three years.
Matinee at Meadowbrook is still on the air, beamed for GI’s still overseas. We
ordinary citizens hear John as m.c. of Danny O’Neil’s Singing in the Morning
(daily 9:15 A.M., EST, CBS) and as the smooth-voiced announcer of The Stradivari
Orchestra (Sundays, CBS, 2:30 P.M., EST).
John was born in Clio, Alabama,
during the first World War. He became a professional performer while he was
still attending Barbour County High School. At the age of sixteen, he became a
staff announcer and singer on Station WAFG in Dothan, Alabama. His mother
accompanied him on the organ for his singing program.
After he was graduated from high
school, John took a job on Station WSB and for four years combined radio and
college. Then, one day the station director of WHAS in Louisville, Kentucky,
got in touch with him and offered John a job as master of ceremonies and news
commentator. John had to make a choice. It was just before his coveted BA
degree became his, but John chose the job and put off his degree.
His next step was the big one. While
with WHAS, John made a few audition records and mailed them to CBS in New York.
He didn’t really expect any answer—but he got one a month later. Two weeks
after that, John was working for CBS in New York—where he stayed for the next
four years until he got his “Greetings” from Uncle Sam.
Back from the Army less than a
year, John now is announcer of the daily “Winner Take All” (CBS, 3:30 P.M.,
EST) and “Time to Remember” (CBS, 10:45 A.M., EST) programs, as well many
another.
Now, John is working at having his
cake and eating it, too. He’s back in double harness. He goes to NYU at night
to get that BA degree.
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