Ed Prentiss

Paul Edward Prentiss[1] (September 9, 1908 – March 18, 1992) was an actor in the era of old-time radio.[2] He was perhaps best known for portraying the title role on the radio version of Captain Midnight.

Ed Prentiss
Ed Prentiss is pictured in his role
of Ned in the radio soap opera
The Guiding Light.
Born
Paul Edward Prentiss

September 9, 1908
Chicago, Illinois
DiedMarch 18, 1992 (1992-03-19) (aged 83)
Alma materUniversity of Iowa
OccupationActor
Spouse(s)Ivah Davidson (1941-?)
Children1 son

Early years

Prentiss was born in Chicago, Illinois.[2] He attended the University of Iowa.[3]

Radio

Radio historian Jim Harmon noted, in his book The Great Radio Heroes, "Ed Prentiss was not the first actor to play Captain Midnight, contrary to some published reports."[4] After Bill Bouchey had the role in the program's second season, Prentiss auditioned for the third season, got the part, and continued as Captain Midnight for seven years.[4]

On The Guiding Light soap opera, Prentiss played Ned (a "neglected youth") and was the program's "omniscient host."[5] Beginning in 1943, Prentiss was narrator for an hour-long block consisting of three soap operas: Today's Children, The Guiding Light and Woman in White. The three programs had interconnecting story lines, with Prentiss's narration "introducing each program segment and linking all three together."[6]

Prentiss's other roles on radio programs included those shown in the table below.

ProgramRole
Armstrong of the SBIAnnouncer[7]
The First Nighter ProgramHost[7]:118
Jack Armstrong, the All-American BoyAnnouncer[7]:167
Johnny Lujack of Notre DameLujack's sidekick[7]:178
Silver EagleNarrator[7]:304
Sweet RiverMinister [7]:324
A Tale of TodayMichael Denby[8]

Prentiss had his own syndicated program, This Is The Story. An ad for the 15-minute program described it as follows: "Ed Prentiss, America's greatest story teller ... offers true and unusual tales, each with a surprisingly different ending."[9]

He also was a regular on Arnold Grimm's Daughter,[10] Painted Dreams, Bud Barton,[11] The Romance of Helen Trent, Springtime and Harvest[12] and Holland Housewarming.[7]:153

Film

Prentiss appeared in Westbound (1959)[13] and The FBI Story (1959).[14]

Television

Prentiss played Dr. Snyder on As the World Turns.[15] He was one of the hosts of Action Autographs,[16] was the host for Majority Rules.[16]:643 and played Edward Elliott on Morning Star.[16]:716 He also was the announcer for That's O'Toole.[17] He also played roles in various TV Westerns of the late 1950s-early '60s, often as a sheriff. He is easily recognized by his voice, as well as his physical appearance. In 1957 Prentiss appeared as Bob Gentry on the TV western Cheyenne in the episode titled "Top Hand."

Personal life

Prentiss married Ivah Davidson on November 21, 1941.[18] They had a son, born September 14, 1943.[19]

Filmography
Year Title Role Notes
1957CheyenneBen GentryEpisode: Top Hand
1958Violent RoadMr. Nelson
1958Home Before DarkDr. CollinsUncredited
1959WestboundJames Fuller - U.S. Post OfficeUncredited
1959The FBI StoryU.S. Marshal
1959Beloved InfidelAttendee at PreviewUncredited
1960Wanted Dead or Alive (TV series) Sheriff TruxtonEpisode: Mental Lapse
1960Man on a StringAdrian Benson
1960The Crowded SkyJoseph Bruce aka J.B.Uncredited
1960Sunrise at CampobelloBarkerUncredited
1961A Fever in the BloodConvention ChairmanUncredited
1961AdaClergyman at Legislative MeetingUncredited
1961The Children's HourHead of HospitalUncredited
1961Lover Come BackZachary, Ad Council MemberUncredited
1961The OutsiderSpeakerUncredited
1963A Gathering of EaglesDuty Controller
1963Wall of NoisePaddock StewardUncredited
1964One Man's WayMr. Boardman
1964Kisses for My PresidentMax KlochUncredited
1964Quick, Before It MeltsDentist in AntarcticaUncredited
1967Eight on the LamMinisterUncredited
1968Project XHicks
1971The Barefoot ExecutiveHarry - Justice Dept. Man
1971The Marriage of a Young StockbrokerMr. Franklin

Notes

    Perry Mason, Series 7, Episode 12. "The case of the badgered brother". Credited as Voice on recording, at the reading of the will in Perry's office.

    References
    1. "Louis Johnson to Discuss Defense". Belvidere Daily Republican. Illinois, Belvidere. July 9, 1940. p. 13. Retrieved August 7, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
    2. 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. P. 219.
    3. "Studio Notes". The Evening News. Pennsylvania, Harrisburg. April 15, 1940. p. 24. Retrieved August 7, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
    4. Harmon, Jim (2001). The Great Radio Heroes, rev. ed (Revised ed.). McFarland. p. 183. ISBN 9780786483655. Retrieved 7 August 2016.
    5. Loviglio, Jason (2005). Radio's Intimate Public: Network Broadcasting and Mass-mediated Democracy. U of Minnesota Press. p. 82. ISBN 9780816642342. Retrieved 7 August 2016.
    6. Allen, Robert Clyde (1985). Speaking of Soap Operas. UNC Press Books. p. 162. ISBN 9780807841297. Retrieved 7 August 2016.
    7. Terrace, Vincent (1999). Radio Programs, 1924-1984: A Catalog of More Than 1800 Shows. McFarland & Company, Inc. ISBN 978-0-7864-4513-4. P. 27.
    8. "What Do You Want to Know?". Radio Mirror. 10 (2): 69. June 1938. Retrieved 8 August 2016.
    9. "(Snader Telescriptions Sales, Inc. ad)". Sponsor. 6 (5): 95. March 10, 1952. Retrieved 8 August 2016.
    10. "What Do You Want to Know?". Radio Mirror. 10 (3): 54. July 1938. Retrieved 8 August 2016.
    11. "Henry Aldrich on the Radio Tonight". Belvidere Daily Republican. Illinois, Belvidere. July 11, 1940. p. 5. Retrieved August 7, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
    12. Ferris, Earle (December 9, 1939). "Right out of the Air". The Edinburg Daily Courier. Indiana, Edinburg. p. 3. Retrieved August 7, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
    13. Pitts, Michael R. (2012). Western Movies: A Guide to 5,105 Feature Films, 2d ed (2nd ed.). McFarland. p. 390. ISBN 9780786463725. Retrieved 7 August 2016.
    14. Mavis, Paul (2011). The Espionage Filmography: United States Releases, 1898 through 1999. McFarland. p. 100. ISBN 9780786449156. Retrieved 7 August 2016.
    15. "As the World Turns". TV Radio Mirror. 47 (5): 44. April 1957. Retrieved 8 August 2016.
    16. Terrace, Vincent (2011). Encyclopedia of Television Shows, 1925 through 2010. McFarland & Company, Inc. ISBN 978-0-7864-6477-7. P. 50.
    17. "Television Reviews: That's O'Toole". Variety. March 16, 1949. p. 84. Retrieved 8 August 2016.
    18. "Behind the Mike". Broadcasting. December 1, 1941. p. 36. Retrieved 8 August 2016.
    19. "(untitled brief)". Broadcasting. September 27, 1943. p. 44.


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