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Lee Vines

Canadian-American television personality From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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Lee Vines (April 11, 1919 July 9, 2011) was a Canadian-born American radio and television announcer and actor. He was best known to television audiences in the 1950s as the announcer on the What's My Line? game show.[1]

Quick Facts Born, Died ...
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Personal life

Lee Vines was born on April 11, 1919, in Brantford, Ontario, Canada, but emigrated to the United States.[1] He was a veteran, having served in the U.S. Army from 1943 to 1945.

Radio

Vines had been working in radio since the late 1930s, while attending high school in Camden, New Jersey.[2] He became a staff announcer for station WIP in Philadelphia in 1939, replacing Louis Pierce who relocated to Texas,[3] but resigned in September 1942 to accept a job with the CBS network.[4] Vines's relief announcer Bill Manns replaced him.[5] Vines also dabbled in songwriting, collaborating on a pop tune, "Slick as a Whistle".[6] In September 1943, he enlisted in the Army and served in the European Theater.[1]

After Vines's military service he returned to CBS, announcing for such shows as Bouquet for You,[7] County Fair,[7]:84 Dr. Standish, Medical Examiner,[7]:102 The Janette Davis Show,[7]:172 Kings Row[8] and Time for Love.[7]:335

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Television

Lee Vines was closely associated with the ubiquitous TV personality Robert Q. Lewis during the 1950s. Vines was the announcer for Lewis's popular prime-time game show The Name's the Same and Lewis's daytime game show Make the Connection. He also announced Robert Q.'s Matinee and The Robert Q. Lewis Show, weekday-afternoon variety shows featuring light conversation and musical numbers. As part of the Lewis ensemble, "Lee Vines has been transformed from a straight announcer to a singer, dancer, comedian, and impersonator of Liberace."[9]

During his tenure with Lewis, Vines took a flier in dramatic work, playing character roles on CBS Workshop and The Second Mrs. Burton.[10]

Vines also was the announcer for other television shows including The Big Surprise,[11] Celebrity Talent Scouts,[11]:173 Down You Go,[11]:282 Fractured Phrases,[11]:362 The Funny Side,[11]:373 Medic,[11]:676 Picture This[11]:834 Password and Hallmark Hall of Fame.[1] His acting and voice-over roles included Hong Kong Phooey and The Mary Tyler Moore Show (as WJM announcer Lee).[11]:662

Death

Vines lived into his nineties but in failing health. He died from complications of pneumonia and a fall at a convalescent facility in North Hollywood, Los Angeles, on July 9, 2011, at the age of 92.[1]

References

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