Actors - Bob Russell

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	Actors - Bob Russell

Born: January 1, 1908 in Passaic, New Jersey

Died: January 24, 1998 in Sarasota, Florida

Most noted as host for the Miss America Pageant, 1940-54 and was emcee for the Miss Universe, Miss World, and Miss Canada pageants.

When the Miss America pageant was first televised in 1954 he had rejected the song There She Is, Miss America in favor of two of his own. His recommended replacement, Bert Parks, in 1955 sang this promenade tune into history. Lee Meriwether, age 19 from California, was crowned Miss America Sept. 11th 1954 by a panel of judges that included movie queen Grace Kelly. It was watched by 27 million people.

In 1952 he co-created, directed and hosted the very first Miss Universe Pageant in Long Beach and continued with the pageant through 1957.

Bob Russell moved to New York at age nine and began his career appearing in Broadway musicals of the 1920s. In the 1930s, he moved on to Philadelphia, where he became a local star as the singing master of ceremonies at the elegant Cafe Marguery in the old Adelphia Hotel. He helped to start many early television games shows such as Name That Tune (1954-59). He appeared as the emcee of Bonnie Maid's Versatile Varieties (1950-51) and Your Pet Parade (1951), and was announcer on the quiz show Time Will Tell (1954).

He retired from the limelight to Sarasota Florida. There he kept busy as Reservation Manager at the Aku Tiki Inn on Lido Key and later as Reservationist at The Meadows Golf and Tennis Club.

Bob Russell and his wife Mignon Simpson Russell had one daughter, Ingrid.

Musical Performance: Princess Flavia (Nov. 2, 1925 - Mar. 1926; 152 performances)

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