Mandel Kramer (March 12, 1916 – January 29, 1989) was an American actor. As a voice actor, he is best known as the last Johnny Dollar from Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar radio show.[1]
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Early years
editKramer grew up in Cleveland, Ohio, where his father had a shoe store, and attended Cleveland Heights High School.[2] He also studied law at Case Western Reserve University for "a couple of years."[3]
Kramer graduated from the American Academy of Dramatic Arts[4] and acted for a year in the Cleveland Play House.[2]
Career
editKramer's first work in radio came at WTAM in his native Cleveland, Ohio.[2]
For 20 years he played police chief Bill Marceau on the soap opera The Edge of Night a role he originated during the shows run on CBS from 1959–1975 & playing the part four years when the show moved to ABC from (1975–1979). His other roles in old-time radio included those shown in the table below. Kramer also appeared in 130 episodes of CBS Radio Mystery Theater between 1974 and 1982.
| Program | Character |
|---|---|
| Backstage Wife | Tom Byron[5] |
| Counterspy | Harry Peters[5]: 83–84 |
| The Falcon | Sergeant Johnny Gleason[5]: 113 |
| It's a Crime, Mr. Collins | Greg Collins[5]: 165–166 |
| Mr. and Mrs. North | Mahatma McGloin[5]: 232 |
| Perry Mason | Arthur Tragg[5]: 269 |
| The Shadow | Shrevie[5]: 301 |
| Stella Dallas | Sam Ellis[5]: 314 |
| Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar | Johnny Dollar |
He was also heard on Light of the World,[6] Call the Police,[7] Gang Busters,[8] 21st Precinct[9] and Inner Sanctum Mystery.[10] He once said of his work on Gang Busters that after he began playing criminals, "I probably played more gangsters than anybody in the business for the next 10 or 15 years."[11]
In later years he was often heard on CBS Radio Mystery Theater.[12]
Television
editKramer played Bill Marceau in The Edge of Night on CBS.[13] In 1976, he had become the longest-tenured member of the program's cast, having had the role of Marceau for 17 years.[11] His work earned him a nomination for a Daytime Emmy Award for Supporting Actor in 1979.[14]
Personal life
editIn 1939, Kramer was engaged to Ruth Valeche, a fellow graduate of the American Academy of Dramatic Arts.[4] They married and had two daughters, Kathryn and Susan.[15]
References
edit- ^ "Radio’s Most Essential People Countdown: #85-#81"
- ^ a b c "Mandel Kramer" (PDF). Radio-TV Mirror. March 1953. p. 5. Retrieved April 12, 2016.
- ^ "Mr. & Mrs. North" (PDF). Tune In. June 1944. p. 13. Retrieved April 12, 2016.
- ^ a b "(photo caption)". The Brooklyn Daily Eagle. New York, Brooklyn. The Brooklyn Daily Eagle. June 25, 1939. p. 18. Retrieved April 12, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Terrace, Vincent (1999). Radio Programs, 1924–1984: A Catalog of More Than 1800 Shows. McFarland & Company, Inc. p. 33. ISBN 978-0786445134.
- ^ "Daytime Programs" (PDF). Radio-Vision. November 30, 1946. p. 29. Retrieved April 13, 2016.
- ^ "Radio Reviews: Call the Police". Variety. June 11, 1947. p. 38. Retrieved April 13, 2016.
- ^ "Favorite Radio Mystery-Adventure Program". TV Radio Mirror. 47 (6): 30. May 1957. Retrieved April 13, 2016.
- ^ "Evening Highlights". The Bridgeport Telegram. Connecticut, Bridgeport. The Bridgeport Telegram. April 13, 1955. p. 16. Retrieved April 12, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Tonight's Highlights". The Evening Sun. Pennsylvania, Hanover. The Evening Sun. March 26, 1951. p. 9. Retrieved April 12, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b "Radio's bad guy now is TV crime-fighter". Beaver County Times. April 24, 1976. p. 9. Retrieved April 13, 2016.
- ^ Hirsch, Lynda (May 27, 1978). "Daytime Stars Moonlight At Night". Ohio, Toledo. Toledo Blade. Retrieved April 13, 2016.
- ^ "(photo caption)". TV Radio Mirror. 57 (2): 35. January 1962. Retrieved April 13, 2016.
- ^ "Awards Show Thursday". Eugene Register-Guard. May 11, 1979. Retrieved April 13, 2016.
- ^ "Paid Notice: Deaths: Kramer, Ruth (née Valeche)". The New York Times. The New York Times. September 14, 1998. Retrieved April 13, 2016.
