Bill Malone (broadcaster)

William Malone Polglase (June 20, 1924 – March 8, 1973) was an American television and radio personality who worked for WMAL/WMAL-TV in Washington, D.C., and was the first host of Supermarket Sweep.

Early life

Malone was born on June 20, 1924, in Brooklyn.[1] He graduated from Brooklyn Preparatory School, where he played football, baseball, and hockey. He attended the College of the Holy Cross for one year before leaving in 1942 to join the United States Navy as a Cadet in the Naval Service Training Command.[2] After his active duty ended, Malone remained in the United States Navy Reserve as a jet pilot.[3]

Broadcasting career

Radio

At the end of World War II, Malone resumed his education at Fordham University, where majored in business administration. He was a member of the school’s football team, but quit after his freshman year. He then worked at the school’s radio station as a football play-by-play announcer and staff announcer. After graduating, Malone joined WAVE in Louisville, Kentucky. After six months, Malone left for WMAL, where he worked as an evening DJ and quiz show host. From 1953 to 1954, he was the color commentator for the Washington Redskins radio/television simulcasts. In 1957 he succeeded Jim Gibbons as WMAL’s morning host.[2]

Television

Malone was the longtime evening sports anchor WMAL-TV. He also hosted a number of programs for the station, including Heavyweight Wrestling, Bandstand Matinee Club, Town & Country Matinee, and Ladies' Home Theater, as well as special events, such as the Cherry Blossom Festival and the President's Cup Regatta.[4][5][6][7] From 1965 to 1967, Malone hosted Supermarket Sweep.[8]

On March 8, 1973, Malone died in a car accident outside New York City.[9]

References
  1. Wneck, Bernice (June 1, 1958). "The Seven Sports". Evening Star. Retrieved 5 April 2021.
  2. "His Life Seems to Be One Fast Spin After Another". Evening Star. July 21, 1957. Retrieved 5 April 2021.
  3. "Fastest Man". Naval Aviation News. April 1967. Retrieved 5 April 2021.
  4. Forman, Murray (2012). One Night on TV Is Worth Weeks at the Paramount: Popular Music on Early Television. Duke University Press.
  5. "News of the D.C. Studios". Evening Star. March 25, 1956. Retrieved 5 April 2021.
  6. Wneck, Bernice (April 5, 1959). "The Parade on TV". Evening Star. Retrieved 5 April 2021.
  7. Wneck, Bernice (September 20, 1959). "Pleasant Experience". Evening Star. Retrieved 5 April 2021.
  8. "Do you remember the original 'Supermarket Sweep'?". Me TV. March 1, 2016. Retrieved 5 April 2021.
  9. Journal of the Proceedings of the House of Delegates of the State of Maryland. Maryland Department of Legislative Reference. 1973.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.