Harry Austin "Pete" Peterson (July 10, 1906 – June 11, 2015) was an American screenwriter, cartoonist, and radio program director.

Early life and career edit

Austin Peterson was born in Palo Alto, California, on July 10, 1906, to Harry and Lillian Peterson. His journalistic career began in the late 1920s, when he worked as a cartoonist for newspapers such as San Francisco Call and Los Angeles Herald.[1] Starting from 1933, he worked as a producer and writer for the now-defunct radio station KFRC. He also wrote for the show The Packard Show, starring Hollywood actor and dancer Fred Astaire.[2][3]

He was the program director of the Armed Forces Radio during World War II. Other jobs include working on the television show The Colgate Comedy Hour.[4]

Later life and death edit

Peterson wrote an autobiography called Television is a young man's game? I'm 94. Why didn't somebody tell me?, which was published in the year 2000.[5] He also wrote a travel guide on several Pacific islands, including Tahiti.[6] His longevity was highlighted well into his centenarian years. He died on June 11, 2015, at the age of 108.

References edit

  1. ^ "Pete, the Rookie". The Comics Journal. October 16, 2014. Retrieved August 27, 2017.
  2. ^ "Austin Peterson, 107, is among rare centenarians". The Desert Sun. May 26, 2014. Retrieved August 27, 2017.
  3. ^ "Putting Taps and Dead-Pan on The Air". Democrat and Chronicle. April 11, 1937. Retrieved September 5, 2017.
  4. ^ "Our Respects To" (PDF). American Radio History. December 8, 1947. pp. 50–52. Retrieved August 27, 2017.
  5. ^ Peterson, Austin (2000). Television is a young man's game? I'm 94. Why didn't somebody tell me?. iUniverse. ISBN 978-0595142545.
  6. ^ "Club Will Hear Ad Council's Executive". Arizona Daily Star. February 7, 1966. Retrieved September 5, 2017.