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David Young (radio producer/director)

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David Roberts Young (November 4, 1911 – November 3, 1969)[1][2] was an American director, producer and actor, in radio and on the stage, known as the longtime director of Family Theater.[3]

David Young
Born
David Roberts Young

November 4, 1911
Sacramento, California, U.S.
DiedNovember 3, 1969(1969-11-03) (aged 57)
San Diego, California, U.S.
Resting placeEl Camino Memorial Park
EducationPolytechnical Elementary and Junior High School,
Coronado High School,
Pasadena Community Playhouse School of Theater
Occupation(s)Radio director and producer
SpousesVivian Merrill (m. 1936; div. 1966)
Dorothy M. Dodge (m. 1968)
Children2

Early life and career

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He attended Polytechnical Elementary and Junior High School in Pasadena,[4] graduated from Coronado High School in 1929, and from the Pasadena Community Playhouse School of Theater in 1931.[5][6]

In September 1936, Young was promoted from chief announcer to program director and production manager at Don Lee's KGB in San Diego,[7] where he remained until March 1939, when he succeeded Z. Wayne Griffin as continuity editor for Lee's L.A. station, KHJ.[8] In 1942, he was promoted to production manager for the entire Don Lee Network.[9]

In 1947, Young replaced Mel Williamson as director on Family Theater.[10] He continued in that capacity through May 1949, reappearing only sporadically and infrequently over the following five years.[11]

Young's roles in other radio programs can be seen in the table below.

Program Year Role(s) Notes
KGB Drama Guild 1935–1936, 1938 Producer, director, actor [12][13][14]
The Life of Edison 1935–1936 Actor:
Thomas Edison		 Produced by Art Linkletter, written by Sid Fuller[15][16]
Sycamore Street 1937 Producer (as Dave Young) [17][18]
Air Adventure 1937 Producer (as Dave Young) [19]
Man of the House 1938 Producer [20]
Hollywood Laff'n Swing Club 1939 Producer [21]
Adventures Ahead 1939 Narrator (as Dave Young) [22]
Radio Charades 1941 MC [23]
Music Depreciation 1941-1945 Producer/Host [24]
We Pay You 1942–1943 MC [25]
This Is the Hour 1943 Producer [26]
The Dick Haymes Show 1945–1946 Producer/director [27][28][29]
Surprise Party 1946 Producer [30][31]
Family Theater 1947–1949, 1951, 1952 Director [11]
The Joyful Hour December 21, 1947 Director [32]
The Triumphant Hour March 28, 1948 Director [33][34]
Daily News Oratorical Contest Winners March 18, 1949 Producer "[S]pecial public service broadcast" aired by KFWB[35]
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar
Ep. "The Horace Lockhart Matter"		 August 1, 1951 Director [11]
Escape
Ep. "The Vessel of Wrath"		 May 10, 1953 Actor:
The Head Boatsman		 [11][36]
Escape
Ep. "Clear for Action"		 June 14, 1953 Actor:
Unknown role		 [11]
Escape
Ep. "The Open Boat"		 July 19, 1953 Actor:
The Oiler		 [11][37]
Crime Classics
Ep. "The Final Day of General Ketchum, And How He Died"		 July 27, 1953 Actor:
Unknown role		 [11]
Suspense
Ep. "Needle in the Haystack"		 November 9, 1953 Actor:
Unknown role		 [11]
Suspense
Ep. "Lili and the Colonel"		 May 17, 1955 Actor (as Dave Young):
Unknown role		 Original radio play by actor John Dehner[11]

Television

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On New Year's Day, 1940, Young and fellow KHJ staffer Eddie Albright co-hosted and narrated what was reported to be the first-ever live telecast of the Tournament of Roses Pageant on W6XAO.[38] On June 27, 1949, Young produced West View Review, a star-studded 90-minute fund-raiser—hosted by Garry Moore and featuring, among others, Ella Fitzgerald, Kay Kyser, Benny Carter and Dorothy Dandridge—airing on KTLA, in support of a proposed like-named interracial hospital,[39][40] to be constructed at 5334 South Main Street in Los Angeles.[41]

Miscellany

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On February 15, 1939, Young was the guest speaker at the San Diego branch of the League of American Pen Women. His talk stressed the importance of playwrights keeping their characters clearly delineated and of always reading aloud one's own work beforehand to ensure that no dialogue prove unduly difficult to voice.[42]

Honors

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In June 1949, at the 20th annual commencement exercises of the Pasadena Playhouse School, Ernest A. Batchelder, chairman of the school's board of directors, presented Young with the Fannie E. Morrison Award "for having achieved special distinction in his career in the world of theater." It was also noted that "his achievement in radio has been through his own persistence and hard work."[43]

Personal life and death

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Young was married twice: from February 27, 1936 until their divorce in October 1966, to fellow thespian—and occasional co-star—Vivian M. Merrill,[44][45][13][46] and from 1968 until his death, to Dorothy M. Dodge.[47][48] The first marriage produced a daughter, Janis, and son, David Ross Young.[49][50]

On November 3, 1969, one day before his 58th birthday, Young died of undisclosed causes in San Diego, California.[48] The following year, David Ross Young, then a graduate student at Scripps Institute of Oceanography,[51] dedicated his dissertation to his father's memory.[52]

References

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  1. ^ "California, World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1940-1945", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QGF9-WFGH : Sun Mar 10 07:01:57 UTC 2024), Entry for David Roberts Young and Vivian Merrill Young, 16 October 1940.
  2. ^ "California Death Index, 1940-1997," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VPHC-KQ3 : 26 November 2014), David R Young, 03 Nov 1969; Department of Public Health Services, Sacramento.
  3. ^ Taliaferro, Walt (May 9, 1949). "David Young rings bell on Family Theater program". Los Angeles Daily News. p. 26.
  4. ^ "Three-Day Show to Mark Pasadena School's Birthday". The Los Angeles Times. February 10, 1957. pt. IV, pg. 3
  5. ^ "Talk on Sword Play". The Pasadena Post. March 17, 1931. p. 16.
  6. ^ "Receiving Diploma from Theatre School". The Peninsula Times Tribune.
  7. ^ "KGB Promotes Young to Program Chief". The San Diego Sun. September 26, 1936. p. 4.
  8. ^ "Late Personal and News Notes". Broadcasting. March 15, 1939. p. 82. ProQuest 1014927671. David Young, for more than two years program director of KGB, San Diego, Cal., has been appointed continuity editor of the Don Lee Broadcasting System. He succeeds C. Wayne Griffin, who resigned in March to join the Hollywood staff of BBDO.
  9. ^ Willen, Jac (September 9, 1942) "Los Angeles". Radio Daily. p. 4.
  10. ^ "Production". Broadcasting. September 1, 1947. p. 56.
  11. ^ a b c d e f g h i "David Young episodes". Old Time Radio Researchers.
  12. ^ Werner, Willie (December 5, 1935) "'First Officer's Watch' on KGB Drama Guild Tonight". The San Diego Sun. p. 6.
  13. ^ a b "30th Production by KGB Guild Scheduled". The San Diego Sun. August 13, 1936. p. 4.
  14. ^ "Bette Davis Stars in Film Drama; Will Appear in 'Jezebel' Sketch With Fonda and Brent; 9:15 p. m. KGB". The San Diego Sun. March 25, 1938. p. 5.
  15. ^ Werner, Willie (December 17, 1935). "Edison's Most Exciting Six Months Dramatized". Radio Daily. May 3, 1937. p. 4.
  16. ^ W.W. (September 22, 1936). "On the Air: Louis Fight Broadcast on KFSD at 5:30". The San Diego Sun. p. 6.
  17. ^ "Los Angeles". Radio Daily. May 3, 1937. p. 8.
  18. ^ "Dial Highlights". The Bakersfield Californian. May 3, 1937. p. 7.
  19. ^ "Los Angeles". Radio Daily. June 17, 1937. p. 6.
  20. ^ "Purely Programs: For a Change". Broadcasting. February 15, 1938. p. 90.
  21. ^ Owen (July 8, 1939). "Program Reviews: 'Hollywood Laff'n Swing Club'". The Billboard. p. 10. ProQuest 1032190372. Produced by David R. Young, the half hour moves swiftly from the opening gun to the close. Others who contribute are Charlie Lung, Jack Dorrance and Virginia Gregg, of the Swinging Strings.
  22. ^ "Purely Programs: Based on Sound". Broadcasting. November 15, 1939. p. 68.
  23. ^ "Radio Advertisers: Federal Outfitting Co.". Radio Daily. January 1, 1941. p. 46.
  24. ^ Greene, Mary (August 15, 1943). "Music Depreciation". Radio Life. pp. 37-38.
  25. ^ "War Program Ideas: 'We Pay You' Quiz". Radio Daily. November 18, 1942. p. 5. "New quiz show entitled 'We Pay You' will have its premiere on KHJ, Los Angeles today and will be heard weekly thereafter from the stages of the Independent Theater Group with patrons of the theaters contesting for cash prizes. Jack Bailey and Dave Young will be co-emcees on the broadcasts. The program was placed through the Allied Advertising Agency and extends through next February 10."
  26. ^ B.J. (November 18, 1942). "On KOOS Radio As You Hear It: Darn the Directions". The World. p. 4.
  27. ^ "From the Gag Bag". San Fernando Valley Times. November 26, 1945. p. 14.
  28. ^ "Bulletin Board: Tuning WAIM". Anderson Independent Mail. October 13, 1945. p. 3.
  29. ^ Bates, Bob (January 26). "The High Road". Harrisburg Telegraph. January 26, 1946. p. 16. Retrieved May 18, 2024.
  30. ^ "Agencies". Broadcasting. June 10, 1946. p. 62.
  31. ^ Palmer, Zuma (July 1, 1946). "Morgan Receives in Friendly Fashion; Tomorrow". Hollywood Citizen News. p. 22.
  32. ^ "Rosary Crusade Arranging Star-Studded Broadcast". The Brooklyn Eagle. December 20, 1947. p. 6.
  33. ^ "Radio Reviews: Follow-up Comment". Variety. March 31, 1948. p. 28. ProQuest 1285924528. Rev. Patrick Peyton, C.S.C., impresario of 'The Family Hour,' provided for the faithful on MBS Sunday afternoon (28) an hour of Easter service that was even better than his reverential event of last Christmas Eve. This session was as star-loaded as the previous one, but the music itself seemed to have a superior tonal and emotional appeal. [...] David Young's direction was faultlessly smooth.
  34. ^ "Plan 'Triumphant Hour'". The Catholic Advance. March 26, 1948. p. 11.
  35. ^ "Girl Oratory winners will broadcast". Los Angeles Daily News. March 18, 1949. p. 43.
  36. ^ Old Time Radio Researchers (February 23, 2017). "Escape - The Vessel of Wrath". YouTube.
  37. ^ Old Time Radio Researchers (February 23, 2017). "Escape - The Open Boat". YouTube.
  38. ^ "Television News Notes: Don Lee's New Unit". Broadcasting. December 15, 1939. p. 36.
  39. ^ "Garry Moore Heads Benefit for Hospital". Los Angeles Daily News. June 20, 1949. p. 12-A.
  40. ^ "Video show to climax West View drive tonight; Video show will aid fund drive". Los Angeles Daily News. June 27, 1949. p. B1.
  41. ^ "West View Hospital, Incorporated; Will Your Organization Help Build WEST VIEW HOSPITAL?". Los Angeles Tribune. February 22, 1947. p. 12.
  42. ^ "David Young Speaks Before Penwomen on Playwriting". The San Diego Sun. February 18, 1939. p. 5.
  43. ^ "David Young Given Award for Achievement in Radio". Los Angeles Daily News. June 11, 1949. p. 10-B.
  44. ^ "Betrothed Maid". The Daily Herald (Utah)|The Daily Herald. September 13, 1936. p. 5.
  45. ^ "California Divorce Index, 1966-1984," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VPYW-WKV : 27 November 2014), Vivian Merrill and David R Young, Oct 1966; from "California Divorce Index, 1966-1984," database and images, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com : 2007); citing Orange, California, Health Statistics, California Department of Health Services, Sacramento.
  46. ^ "Bette Davis Stars in Air Film Drama; Will Appear in 'Jezebel" Sketch With Fonda and Brent". The San Diego Sun. March 25, 1938. p. 5.
  47. ^ "California Marriage Index, 1960-1985", database, FamilySearch n(https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:V6K5-K1S : 26 January 2024), David R Young in entry for Dorothy M Dodge, 1968.
  48. ^ a b "United States, GenealogyBank Historical Newspaper Obituaries, 1815-2011", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QPBZ-HGW9 : Thu Mar 07 21:55:51 UTC 2024), Entry for David R Young and Dorothy, 6 November 1969.
  49. ^ "Behind the Mike". Broadcasting. June 15, 1939. p. 46.
  50. ^ "United States Census, 1940", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K9C2-51Z : Sun Mar 10 23:21:28 UTC 2024), Entry for David Young and Vivian Young, 1940.
  51. ^ "The Barlows Announce Daughter's Betrothal". Santa Ana Register.  June 23, 1968. p. C7. Retrieved May 22, 2024.
  52. ^ Young, David Ross (1970). The Distribution of Cesium, Rubidium, and Potassium in the Quasi-Marine Ecosystem of the Salton Sea. San Diego: University of California.

Further reading

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  • Owen (May 20, 1934). "Show Given as Benefit at Coronado: Crippled Children's Pool Fund Aided by Debs". Los Angeles Times. p. B1. ProQuest 163203155. The melodrama, 'The Drunkard,' was revived by the Barn Players, who gave a performance in the ballroom of Hotel del Coronado Saturday evening for the benefit of crippled children's pool fund. David R. Young of Coronado was seen in a leading role. The performance was sponsored by a group of debutantes, including Misses Barbara Schumann-Heink, Elsie Moon, Barbara Davis, Jane Henley, Kathleen fitch, Theodora Cameron and Perram Green.
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