Merv Griffin at KFRC

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A young Merv Griffin (1925-2007) started his career at KFRC in 1945 as a singer and staff announcer, having won his place in an open audition. His daily 15-minute show "Merv Griffin Sings" was heard over KFRC and the Don Lee Mutual Network in 1947-48.   (Listen to a broadcast here.)   He remained with the station until 1949, when he joined the Freddy Martin Orchestra as featured vocalist.  (Photo courtesy of George Zema at KFRC.)

Griffin grew up in San Mateo and graduated from the University of San Francisco. He started as a singer on radio at age 19, appearing on "San Francisco Sketchbook", a nationally syndicated program originating from KFRC. By 1945, he had earned enough money to form his own record label, Panda Records.  In 1947 and 1948, Griffin had a 15-minute weekday singing program on KFRC and the Don Lee Network.  Freddy Martin heard Griffin on the radio show and asked him to tour with his orchestra, which he did for four years.  He became nationally known in 1950 with his hit record "I've Got a Lovely Bunch of Coconuts".  This led him to Hollywood, where he appeared in supporting roles in several films.  In 1954, he changed his focus to television, leading to his future successful career as a game show and talk show host.

Here is what Jack Bethards writes about Merv Griffin's KFRC program:

The recordings are from a collection of electrical transcriptions dated from November 1947 to April 1948, given to me by retired KFRC musical director Lyle Bardo. 

KFRC was a key statin of the Mutual Don Lee Broadcasting System with a full producdtion department and fine studios in the Don Lee building on Van Ness Avenue in San Francisco.  These shows were a sustaining daily feature, 12:45 TO 1:00 PM (later 6:15-6:30 PM and then 10:15-10:30 AM).  Some Don Lee stations took it via transcription rather than over the network line to give it a different time slot. (ie, 8:45 AM on KHJ Los Angeles)  Note that the "tune in again" announcement was indefinite.  The high quality of the transcriptions may also indicate this.

Of special interest are the clever instrumentation, excellent arrangements, and fine playing of the orchestra.  I knew and even worked with several of the players.  Here are the ones I know from Lyle's notes and photos:  Paul Rosen (flute), Jimmie Davis (clarinet), Larry Capelli (tenor), Al Cicerone (bass clarinet), Carlton Ackley (violin), Ted Langston (bass, Harold Zollman (piano).  Arrangements were by Lyle Bardo and Harrison Carlisle, and probably others.  Amy Lawrence was the Librarian.  Lew Pfeifer was the Chief Announcer of KFRC, and was well-known to San Francisco listeners. 

In My opinion, this show is equal to any of the similar solo vocal shows from Hollywood or New York.  It is sparse and well-written, has a fast but not pushed pace, and fine quality performances.  I don't think the change in format to the "Gwinn-Griffin Show" was an improvement.  Obviously, someone thought the show needed more "punch" as television was on the horizon.



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