Jack Berch

Jack Berch (August 26, 1907 or 1911[1] – December 10, 1992) was an American baritone singer best known for his radio variety/talk programs[2] from 1935 to 1954.[3]

Jack Berch
Berch and family in 1949
BornAugust 26, 1907
or August 26, 1911
Sigel, Illinois
DiedDecember 10, 1992
Jamaica, New York
Alma materSt. Viator College
OccupationSinger
Known forRadio programs
SpouseMargo Orwig
Children4

Early years

Berch was born in Sigel, Illinois, where his father ran a general store.[4] Following his father's death, Berch began working after school as a stock boy in a dry goods store when he was "about 11 years old".[5] His primary and secondary education came in Effingham, Illinois.[6]

Berch graduated from St. Viator College.[6] During his college years, he was a dishwasher and played drums for a dance band.[4] He later worked as a door-to-door coffee salesman who sang as he approached the door of a house. When one potential customer in Youngstown, Ohio, turned out to be the wife of the manager of radio station WKBN, that led to an audition.[2]

Radio

Berch's first job on radio was at WKBN. He had dual roles as a singer and an announcer, "introducing himself in one voice and singing in another. Then he would thank himself for the performance."[7]

He also worked at WLW in Cincinnati, WTAM in Cleveland[1] and WOAI in San Antonio.[8]

Berch was the star of The Jack Berch Show, a variety/talk program that was broadcast on ABC, CBS, Mutual and NBC at various times from 1935 to 1954.[3] His programs at times went by other names, including The Kitchen Pirate (1935–36) and The Sweetheart Serenader (1939–1941).[2] A comment published in the trade publication Radio Daily said, "The singing of Berch is particularly well designed to give the day a sunny sendoff."[9]

At times, he also wrote scripts and worked as an announcer and producer on other people's programs.[1]

Recording

In 1950, Berch signed a contract with RCA Victor to make recordings in both children's and popular music genres.[10]

Personal life

Berch was married to the former Margo Orwig.[11] They had a son, Jon, and daughters Carol, Shirley,[12] and Mollie.[13]

Death

Berch died on December 10, 1992, in Jamaica, New York.[2]

Partial discography
  • Shenanigans/The Greatest Mistake of My Life - 1949 with The Charlie Magnante Trio (London 559)[14]
  • The Letter I Forgot to Mail/Kemo Kimo - 1949 with The Charlie Magnante Trio (Regent 144)[15]
  • Bibbi-Di Bobba-Di Boo/Cinderella - 1950 with The Mullen Sisters and The Charlie Magnante Trio (London 20012)[16]
  • Sunday School Songs (Parts I & II) - 1950 (Victor 470222)[17]
  • The Teddy Bear's Picnic/Me and My Teddy Bear - 1950 with the Henri René Orchestra (Victor 47–0225)[18]
  • The Little Lost Sheep - 1952 (Bibletone KL 221)[19]

References
  1. Grunwald, Edgar A., Ed. (1940). Variety Radio Directory 1940-1941. Variety, Inc. P. 877.
  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. 30.
  3. Dunning, John (1998). "The Jack Berch Show". On the Air: The Encyclopedia of Old-Time Radio (Revised ed.). New York, NY: Oxford University Press. p. 363. ISBN 978-0-19-507678-3. Retrieved October 20, 2019.
  4. Alden, Ken (July 1937). "Facing the Music". Radio Mirror. 8 (3): 48–49. Retrieved November 27, 2015.
  5. Berch, Jack (April 1950). "This I Believe". Radio and Television Mirror. 33 (5): 26–27, 104–105. Retrieved November 28, 2015.
  6. "(untitled brief)". Altoona Tribune. Pennsylvania, Altoona. Altoona Tribune. March 21, 1950. p. 13. Retrieved November 30, 2015 – via Newspapers.com. open access
  7. "Jack Berch, Young Veteran Of Air, All-Around Artist". The Paris News. Texas, Paris. May 21, 1939. p. 15. Retrieved December 1, 2015 – via Newspapers.com. open access
  8. "Births". Billboard. April 17, 1948. p. 44. Retrieved December 2, 2015 – via Google Books.
  9. "Program Reviews and Comments" (PDF). Radio Daily. July 20, 1937. p. 6. Retrieved December 2, 2015.
  10. "Music--as Written". Billboard. May 27, 1950. p. 18. Retrieved December 2, 2015 – via Google Books.
  11. "(untitled brief)". Radio and Television Mirror. 35 (3): 74. February 1951. Retrieved December 2, 2015.
  12. Berch, Jack (January 1949). "World Full of Neighbors". Radio and Television Mirror. 31 (2): 34–35, 83–84. Retrieved November 26, 2015.
  13. "Happy Easter". Radio and Television Mirror. 29 (5): 39. April 1948. Retrieved November 27, 2015.
  14. "Record Reviews". Billboard. December 10, 1949. p. 34. Retrieved December 2, 2015 – via Google Books.
  15. "Record Reviews". Billboard. March 19, 1949. p. 40. Retrieved December 2, 2015 – via Google Books.
  16. "(London Records advertisement)". Billboard. April 15, 1950. p. 31. Retrieved December 2, 2015 – via Google Books.
  17. "Record Reviews". Billboard. October 7, 1950. p. 104. Retrieved December 2, 2015 – via Google Books.
  18. "Record Reviews". Billboard. October 28, 1950. p. 128. Retrieved December 2, 2015 – via Google Books.
  19. "Albums and LP Reviews". Billboard. November 22, 1952. p. 88. Retrieved December 2, 2015 – via Google Books.
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