Ernie Anderson

Ernie Anderson (November 12 1923 – February 6 1997) was an American television and radio, voice announcer. Working primarily for ABC in the 1970s, Anderson earned as much as two million dollars a year.

Early life and career

Born in Lynn, Massachusetts, Anderson planned to go to law school but was instead drafted into World War II. After the war, Anderson became a disc jockey at WSKI AM in Montpelier, VT. [cite news |first= Deborah |last= Starr Seibel |authorlink= |coauthors= |title= Deep Words From The Voice Of America - TV's Most Sought-After Announcer Puts His Mouth Where The Money - Is |url= |work= |publisher= Chicago Tribune |date= 1991-10-24 |accessdate=2008-01-13 ] Anderson worked as a disc jockey in Albany, NY, and Providence, RI before moving to Cleveland, [cite news |first=Nathan |last=Cobb |authorlink= |coauthors= |title= He Uses His Voice To Entice You Ernie Anderson Is Prime-Time Pitchman For ABC -TV's Programs |publisher= Boston Globe |date= 1985-04-09 |accessdate=2008-01-13 ] where he collaborated with Tim Conway on a local TV show called "Ernie's Place".

As the hipster character Ghoulardi, Anderson later hosted "Shock Theater" at WJW-TV in Cleveland, from 1963 through 1966. "Shock Theater" featured grade "B" science fiction and horror movies. "Shock Theater" was aired in a Friday late-night time slot, but at the peak of Ghoulardi's popularity, Anderson also hosted the Saturday afternoon "Masterpiece Theater" and the weekday children's program "Laurel, Ghoulardi and Hardy".

In 1966, Anderson left Cleveland and moved to Los Angeles, California in order to become an actor. He appeared on the first two episodes of "Rango", a short-lived comedy starring one-time Ghoulardi co-star Tim Conway . Anderson and Conway collaborated on a comedy act. They appeared together on ABC's "Hollywood Palace" and released two comedy albums together. [ cite news |first=Tom |last=Feran|title=TV Icon 'Ghoulardi' Dies at 73|publisher= Cleveland Plain Dealer|date= 1997-02-07 |accessdate=2008-01-13 ]

Career at the American Broadcasting Company

After finding limited success in front of the camera, Anderson moved behind the microphone when Fred Silverman made Anderson the voice of the American Broadcasting Company. Anderson's voice is likely best remembered for his newscast introductions for various television stations across the country: "Eyewitness News...starts...NOW!" Anderson's signature was putting emphasis on a particular word. One example was his enunciation of "Love" in "The Love Boat." Anderson was also the announcer of "America's Funniest Home Videos" from 1989 to 1995 and did the voice over for the previews of new episodes during the first three seasons of ".

Anderson told the "San Francisco Chronicle" that his goal as an announcer was to "try to create a mood. I have to concentrate on each word, on each syllable. I have to bring something special to every sentence I say. If I don't do that, they might as well just get some announcer out of the booth to read it. I want people to hear me talk about a show and then to say, 'Hey, this is going to be great. I want to watch this.'" [cite news |first=Bob |last=Greene |title= Televisions' Most Recognizable Voice |publisher=San Francisco Chronicle |date= 1985-06-04 |accessdate=2008-01-13 ]

Death

Anderson died of cancer in Los Angeles on February 6, 1997, aged 73. [cite news |first=Tom |last=Feran|publisher= Cleveland Plain Dealer|title= TV Icon 'Ghoulardi' Dies at 73|date= 1997-02-07 |accessdate=2008-01-13 ] His son, director Paul Thomas Anderson, dedicated his 1997 film "Boogie Nights" to his memory. Similarly, a 1997 episode of "The Drew Carey Show" was also dedicated to his memory.

More than a decade after his death, radio stations can still license Anderson's voice for promotions. [cite news |first=Tom |last=Feran |authorlink= |coauthors= |title= High Tech Lets 'Ghoulardi' Speak From The Grave |url= |work= |publisher=Cleveland Plain Dealer |date= 2000-03-01 |accessdate=2008-01-13 ] By paying a licensing fee, stations including New York City's WHTZ use Anderson's voice for positioning statements such as, "If its too loud, you're too old" and "Lock it in and rip the knob off!" [cite news |first=David F. |last=Gallagher |authorlink= |coauthors= |title= Compressed Data - Legendary Voice for Hire. No Live Gigs |url= |work= |publisher=New York Times |date= 2004-02-02 |accessdate=2008-01-13 ]

Personal life

Despite being a daily presence on American television, Anderson lived in relative anonymity in Southern California. "But that's all right," he said. "If I'm out in public and I feel like being recognized, I just raise my voice and say... 'The Love Boat.'" ["cite news |first=Bob |last=Greene |authorlink=|title=The Man Behind the Voice of ABC |publisher= Chicago Tribune|date= 1985-02-24 |accessdate=2008-01-13 ]

He had nine children. He divorced his first wife, Marguerite Hemmer Anderson when he left Cleveland and ended his "Ghoulardi" show. They had five children, three of them relocated to live with him in Studio City, California with his new wife. Two sons, the youngest of the five stayed behind in Rhode Island with their mother. He married Edwina Gough soon after she arrived in California, a few weeks after Ernie. They had four children, one of whom being Paul Thomas Anderson.

References

External links

* [http://www.ernieanderson.com/ Official site]
*imdb|0026700