Mal Bellairs

Mal’s 2d Day Hosting Arthur Godfrey Show

On Tuesday, Mal’s guests include Ed Ames and Helen Gurley Brown. Also, apparently, the Bellairs kids bought everything for sale at FAO Schwartz on 5th Ave. Greatest toy store ever.

Mal makes it through discussing women’s sex lives with Gurley Brown and Ames sings “Try to Remember” from The Fantasticks.

Godfrey pitches Lysol, diet pills and breakfast bran cereal.

Mal went long – announcer says the program was edited to meet time requirements. Or maybe Helen said too much.

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Music Wagon Jan. 21, 1959 — A snowy morning in Chicago

First 15 minutes of Music Wagon on January 21, 1959. Mal Bellairs, the Boyd Twins, Hal Carton, Billy Leach, Paul Rogers. A snowy day in Chicago. School closings. Survey – what do you gals want in your house? Porky Panico, Big Boogie.

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Close Up TV

In 1954 Mal was doing some TV. This is audio from the show “Close Up” that he hosted. The audio is from the “pretty little girl” sketch. If I recall correctly, Dad did this sketch wearing a zoot suit. I think this show may have been a favorite of his. He kept the artwork slides for this sketch on the walls of his home, even when he moved to Woodstock, 60 years later. You can tell from his reading that he was having a good time.

I have no idea how long the show was on the air; not long I suppose. Close Up was an early evening variety show. Shortly after this he went back to radio to stay.

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Dec212013

Mal’s notes on his bio

Here are handwritten notes Mal made when preparing to talk about his work. (If you have heard his talk you understand he never typed a word.) Interesting things he mentions that you may not hear in the talk — His first job in on the air was a commercial...

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Aug311995

In 1995 Mal spoke at the Midwest Broadcast Museum

Dad got a chance to stand up and talk to a group of Chicagoland broadcasters about his life. He talked about his early years in Wyoming, his discovery of Chicago and acting. He talks about future greats he got to know at the Pasadena Playhouse and his service during...

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Sep131994

North Shore Walk of Fame

North Shore Hilton and North Shore Magazine put Mal on the North Shore Walk of Fame in 1994. Jack Brickhouse, a longtime friend, made the presentation. Here is Mal putting his hand prints on the walk: And here is the plaque commemorating the award: Previous honorees included Scott Turow,...

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Chuck Schaden Interview

WBBMYesterday

In 1987 Chuck Schaden was writing a book on the history of WBBM radio. He taped a one hour interview with Mal talking about WBBM in the post-war years and Mal’s career there. There is a lot of real inside baseball here about Chicago radio in the 50’s and 60’s. The audio came off of a cassette not intended for air and is not great; playing time is just under 57:00.

Chuck Schaden went on to be inducted into the Radio Hall of Fame for his work in documenting the early days of radio.

WBBM Yesterday and Today, back cover

WBBM Yesterday and Today, back cover

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Prince of Wales in Waterton Lake and Glacier Park Lodge – June 24, 1968

Captured on the go— Prince of Wales in Waterton Lake and Glacier Park Lodge in their own words. When after about 7 miles riding on this lovely launch going down Waterton Lake, crossing the United States-Canadian border, you get directly under a huge mountain called Goat Hunt Mountain U.D. This lake, Waterton Lake, rose 8 feet in what, was it 24 hours? See these beautiful brown and turquoise buildings, very well kept and this I should say for all of the National Park buildings, they’re beautifully maintained.

[Listen / Download](https://www.bellairs.org/wp-content/uploads/OnTheGo/1968/Mal_and_Jo_are_on_the_go_062468_Prince_of_Wales_in_Waterton_Lake_and_Glacier_Park_Lodge.mp3)

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Aug181966

Arthur Godfrey Show – Thursday

Mal’s week on the Godfrey show continues with the Thursday tape. Apparently Wednesday is lost. Once again the taping ran long (Mal had a hard time stopping Tessie once she got going) and was edited for time. Program notes: Tessie O’Shea sings Two Ton Tessie and Maybe Its Because...

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