Jim Hawthorne (DJ)
 | This articleneeds additional citations forverification.(August 2015) |
Jim Hawthorne | |
|---|---|
| Born | November 20, 1918 |
| Died | November 6, 2007(aged 88) Santa Barbara, California,United States |
| Other names | Hawthorne Weather Eyes |
| Occupation(s) | Disc jockey actor comedian |
Jim Hawthorne(November 20, 1918 – November 6, 2007) was an American radio personality and comic actor. He was adisc jockeywho was a pioneer of "free form" radio.[1]
Hawthorne was born inVictor, Colorado,[2]and began his career at aDenverradio station.[citation needed]He gained national attention for his broadcasts on Pasadena, California, stationKXLAin 1947.[1]While inLos Angeles,he also worked in early television and short films. He also issued his own records such as "Turn Your Head, Sweetheart".
Hawthorne moved toHawaiiin the late 1960s and developed the popularCheckers and Pogochildren's show, which ran from 1967 to 1982 (long after he passed the role of "Checkers" to other actors). In 1950, he created, produced and starred in the Saturday night coast-to-coast radio program,The Hawthorne Thing,which was the final network radio show to originate in NBC's Hollywood Radio City. "The Hawthorne Thing" also aired worldwide on the American Forces radio network(AFRTS). AtKLAC/Channel 13 in the early 1950s, he created the first late evening talk show on television,This Is Hawthorne.An article in theLA Timesreflecting on early TV described the show as "predecessor of NBC's Saturday Night Live."[citation needed]
OnKNBH/Channel 4, beginning in 1952, he did a daily five-minute weather show. In 1958, Jim traveled to KYA-San Francisco and createdVoice Your Choice,which he brought to KDAY. In the early 1960s, while doing Instant Weather on KTTV/Channel 11, Hawthorne joined KFWB as assistant PD and morning DJ, and eventually became VP, National Program Manager for Crowell-Collier Broadcasting. While still at KFWB he joined Sherman Grinberg Productions as a writer, producer, narrator. He producedJim Hawthorne's Funny WorldandQuicky Quiztelevision comedy shorts.
In 1965, "ol Weather Eyes" moved to Honolulu to "retire" and ended up creating theCheckers and Pogokids show for TV which ran for 11 years. He was also involved with programming KGMB -Honolulu and was creative consultant to morning legend Aku. As one of his bits, since the TV weather was so short, he would hold up cards and do a pantomime. He was elected president of the newly formed Disc Jockey Association in 1960.
In 1970, Hawthorne moved back to his hometown, Denver, to help his ailing mother. He stayed for 11 years and established a very successful career atKOA,eventually becoming GM. In the late 1980s, Hawthorne returned to Southern California.
Hawthorne continued to entertain in semi-retirement.[citation needed]On November 6, 2007, he died of congestive heart disease at age 88 in Santa Barbara, California.[1]
References
[edit]- ^abcMcLellan, Dennis (November 17, 2007)."Jim Hawthorne, 88; comically outrageous radio, TV personality".The Los Angeles Times.California, Los Angeles. p. B 10.Retrieved14 August2019– viaNewspapers.com.
- ^Bernardo, Rosemarie (November 8, 2007)."'Checkers & Pogo' star lived for laughs ".Honolulu Star-Bulletin.Hawaii, Honolulu. p. 3.Retrieved14 August2019– viaNewspapers.com.
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