Nelson Case

Case's career as a professional entertainer began when, at 15, he was a pianist at radio station KFON in Long Beach, California. At 16, he started an orchestra and performed with it over KFON. In 1927, he moved to KGER (also in Long Beach) as an announcer and singer.Sies, Luther F. (2014). Encyclopedia of American Radio, 1920–1960, 2nd Edition, Volume 1. McFarland & Company, Inc. {{ISBN|978-0-7864-5149-4}}. P. 120. He also worked at KFI,{{cite news|title=Did You Get One?|newspaper=The Escanaba Daily Press |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/2144007/nelson_case_kfi/|agency=The Escanaba Daily Press|date=February 2, 1928|page=8|via = Newspapers.com|accessdate = April 5, 2015}} {{Open access}} KFWB,{{cite news|title=(Radio listing)|newspaper=Santa Ana Register |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/2144107/nelson_case_kfwb/|agency=Santa Ana Register|date=December 28, 1930|page=8|via = Newspapers.com|accessdate = April 5, 2015}} {{Open access}} and KGFJ{{cite news|title=L. A. Stations|newspaper=Santa Ana Register |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/2144037/nelson_case_kgfj/|agency=Santa Ana Register|date=February 15, 1930|page=17|via = Newspapers.com|accessdate = April 5, 2015}} {{Open access}} in Los Angeles. Even after taking a position at a network, Case had a weekly program "for his baritone solo work" on KGO in San Francisco.{{cite news|title=Behind the Microphone|url=http://www.americanradiohistory.com/hd2/Archive-BC-IDX/32-OCR/1932-02-15-BC-OCR-Page-0017.pdf|accessdate=April 6, 2015|agency=Broadcasting|date=February 15, 1932|page=17}}{{dead link|date=February 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

In 1931, Case was listed as "announcer and singer with the Pacific vagabonds" on an afternoon program on WJZ-NBC.{{cite news|title=(Radio listing)|newspaper=Bluefield Daily Telegraph |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/2144088/nelson_case_wjz_pacific_vagabonds/|agency=Bluefield Daily Telegraph|date=October 21, 1931|page=2|via = Newspapers.com|accessdate = April 5, 2015}} {{Open access}}

Case joined NBC in 1931 as an announcer in San Francisco. In 1934, he moved to New York City to be on the NBC staff there. During his years on network radio the programs he announced for included Criminal Casebook,{{cite news|title=Criminal Casebook|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=dvUDAAAAMBAJ&dq=%22Nelson+Case%22+NBC&pg=PA10|accessdate=April 9, 2015|agency=Billboard|date=August 21, 1948|page=10}} The Story of Mary Marlin, Marriage Club, Inc., The Lanny Ross Show, Against The Storm, Lone Journey, Charlie and Jessie,{{cite web|title=Nelson Case: Career|url=http://www.michenermuseum.org/bucksartists/artist.php?artist=46&page=96|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120420055340/http://www.michenermuseum.org/bucksartists/artist.php?artist=46&page=96|url-status=usurped|archive-date=April 20, 2012|website=Michener Art Museum|accessdate=April 9, 2015}} Crime Doctor, Great Moments From Great Plays,{{cite news|title=Nelson Case Joins Johnny in Air Show|newspaper=The Fresno Bee |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/2145470/nelson_case_joins_johnny/|agency=The Fresno Bee The Republican|date=August 5, 1941|page=7|via = Newspapers.com|accessdate = April 5, 2015}} {{Open access}} N.T.G. and His Girls,{{cite news|title=In the World of Radio|newspaper=Belvidere Daily Republican |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/2145103/nelson_case_ntg/|agency=Belvidere Daily Republican|date=October 9, 1935|page=7|via = Newspapers.com|accessdate = April 5, 2015}} {{Open access}} Ask-It-Basket,{{cite news|title=Wendell Willkie in City To Broadcast Over WHP|newspaper=Harrisburg Telegraph |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/2145439/nelson_case_askitbasket/|agency=Harrisburg Telegraph|date=October 3, 1940|page=17|via = Newspapers.com|accessdate = April 5, 2015}} {{Open access}} Wheatenaville,

• {{cite news|title=Wheatena|url=http://www.americanradiohistory.com/hd2/Archive-BC-IDX/32-OCR/1932-10-01-BC-OCR-Page-0022.pdf|accessdate=6 April 2015|agency=Broadcasting|date=October 1, 1932|page=22}}
• {{cite news |date=October 1, 1932 |title=Wheatena |page=22 |agency=Broadcasting |url=https://americanradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1932/1932-10-01-BC.pdf#page=22 |accessdate=29 August 2019}}

Johnny Presents,{{cite news|last1=Thompson|first1=Edgar A.|title=Riding the Airwaves|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1499&dat=19410801&id=D7RQAAAAIBAJ&sjid=viIEAAAAIBAJ&pg=6037,355133&hl=en|accessdate=April 7, 2015|agency=The Milwaukee Journal|date=August 1, 1941|page=2}} Hercule Poirot, Lowell Thomas Show,{{cite news|title=Production|url=http://www.americanradiohistory.com/hd2/Archive-BC-IDX/46-OCR/1946-08-19-BC-OCR-Page-0060.pdf|accessdate=April 7, 2015|agency=Broadcasting|date=August 19, 1946|page=58}}{{dead link|date=February 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} The Ford Theater,Alicoate, Jack, Ed. (1949). The 1949 Radio Annual. Radio Daily Corp. P. 138. The A&P Gypsies, The Adventures of the Thin Man, Big Sister, Carefree Carnival, The Carnation Contented Hour, The Coty Playgirl, The Dave Garroway Show, The Ed Sullivan Show, Exploring The Unknown, Hilda Hope, MD, Husbands And Wives, Kate Hopkins, Angel of Mercy, Life Can Be Beautiful, Mary And Bob's True Story Hour, NBC Symphony Orchestra, Orphans of Divorce, Philip Morris Playhouse, The Right Thing To Do, The Road of Life, Sky Blazers, True Story Time, and Vaughn Monroe Show.{{cite web|title=Nelson Case|url=http://www.otrrpedia.net/getpersonF.php?PN=1239|website=OTRRpedia|accessdate=April 9, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150414222612/http://www.otrrpedia.net/getpersonF.php?PN=1239|archive-date=April 14, 2015|url-status=dead}}

Case also was announcer for musical broadcasts by bandleaders, including Wayne King, Ray Noble, Phil Spitalny and Guy Lombardo.

During his years on television, the programs Case announced for included What's It Worth?, Trash Or Treasure? The Ford Television Theater, Lowell Thomas, The Ken Murray Show, Pulitzer Prize Playhouse, Robert Montgomery Presents,Alicoate, Jack, Ed. (1952). The 1952 Radio Annual. Radio Daily Corp. P. 934. The Red Buttons Show, Road of Life, Omnibus,Alicoate, Jack, Ed. (1955). The 1955 Radio and Television Yearbook. Radio Daily Corp. P. 1173. Wide Wide World, State Trooper,Alicoate, Jack, Ed. (1957). The 1957 Radio Annual and Television Year Book. Radio Daily Corp. P. 1196. Jane Wyman Theater,Alicoate, Jack, Ed. (1958). The 1958 Radio Annual and Television Year Book. Radio Daily Corp. P. 1117. Sammy Kaye Show, Tic-Tac-Dough,Alicoate, Jack, Ed. (1959). The 1959 Radio Annual and Television Year Book. Radio Daily Corp. P. 1212. Fibber McGee and Molly, True Story, M Squad, The Arthur Murray Party, Saber of London, and Modern Romances.Alicoate, Charles A., Ed. (1960). The 1960 Radio Annual and Television Year Book. Radio Daily Corp. P. 1198 Case was also host on NBC of Summer Playhouse 1954{{cite news|last1=Witte|first1=Lawrence|title=TV-Radio News Bits|newspaper=The Evening Independent |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/2166082/nelson_case_summer_playhouse/|agency=The Evening Independent|date=May 14, 1954|page=20|via = Newspapers.com|accessdate = April 8, 2015}} {{Open access}} and Sneak Preview in 1956.{{cite web |url=https://ctva.biz/US/Anthology/SneakPreview.htm |title=Sneak Preview |author= |date=|website=ctva.com |publisher=CTVA – The Classic TV Archive |access-date= 3 June 2024}}

In 1962, Case was one of six people forming Metroscope, a service that furnished recorded commentaries to local radio stations.{{cite news|title=News commentary series|url=http://www.americanradiohistory.com/hd2/Archive-BC-IDX/62-OCR/1962-08-06-BC-OCR-Page-0074|accessdate=April 9, 2015|agency=Broadcasting|date=August 6, 1962|page=74}}{{dead link|date=February 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

Case became was what he called "a soft sell announcer," using a natural, conversational delivery that he said was "the opposite of the shouting, hammering type."{{cite news|title=Bucks TV Announcer Likes 'Soft Sell'|newspaper=The Bristol Daily Courier |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/2172483/nelson_case_soft_sell/|agency=The Bristol Daily Courier|date=June 2, 1962|page=21|via = Newspapers.com|accessdate = April 9, 2015}} {{Open access}} Early in his career, he responded to a newspaper's questionnaire by writing, in part:

The days when a program was introduced by stentorian blasts from the announcer are over. Nowadays he tries to be pleasant, cordial and friendly with his chatter .. both in introducing musical numbers and in giving commercial announcements.{{cite news|last1=Ranson|first1=Jo|title=Radio Dial-Log|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/57401453/?terms=%22Nelson%2BCase%22%2Bannouncer|accessdate=April 9, 2015|agency=Brooklyn Daily Eagle|date=March 24, 1932|page=25}}

A newspaper columnist wrote, "[H]e broadcasts a feeling of sincerity unlike anyone else and his personality is broadcast to the listener and viewer who gets a feeling, 'Now, there's a guy I can trust.'"{{cite news|last1=Steinhauser|first1=Si|title=Outlook For More TV Dark|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1144&dat=19520411&id=lHwbAAAAIBAJ&sjid=jE0EAAAAIBAJ&pg=4447,4545576&hl=en|accessdate=April 9, 2015|agency=The Pittsburgh Press|date=April 11, 1952|page=13}}

Case was active in the Civil Air Patrol, being promoted to Flight commander in 1942.{{cite news|title=Behind the Mike|url=http://www.americanradiohistory.com/hd2/Archive-BC-IDX/42-OCR/1942-08-24-BC-OCR-Page-0036.pdf|accessdate=April 6, 2015|agency=Broadcasting|date=August 24, 1942|page=36}}{{dead link|date=February 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} At one point he filled in for a sick colleague on a radio broadcast, hurried to Roosevelt Field to practice maneuvers with the CAP, then dashed back to the studio for a rehearsal and broadcast.{{cite news|title=On The Air|newspaper=The Circleville Herald |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/2148817/nelson_case_cap_activity/|agency=The Circleville Herald|date=June 19, 1942|page=5|via = Newspapers.com|accessdate = April 6, 2015}} {{Open access}}

During World War II, Case was an aviator in the United States Navy{{cite news|title=Behind the Mike|url=http://www.americanradiohistory.com/hd2/Archive-BC-IDX/42-OCR/1942-10-05-BC-OCR-Page-0038.pdf|accessdate=April 6, 2015|agency=Broadcasting|date=October 5, 1942|page=38}}{{dead link|date=February 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} for three years. He later was a Lieutenant Commander in the United States Navy Reserve.{{cite news|last1=Halkenhauser|first1=Ronnie|title=Landings Via Radar Demonstrated by Navy|newspaper=The Brooklyn Daily Eagle |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/2155704/nelson_case_naval_reserve/|agency=The Brooklyn Daily Eagle|date=January 26, 1947|page=4|via = Newspapers.com|accessdate = April 7, 2015}} {{Open access}}

In 1932, Case was elected president of a group of announcers "within the NBC headquarters in San Francisco."{{cite news|title=Announcers Organize|url=http://www.americanradiohistory.com/hd2/Archive-BC-IDX/34-OCR/1934-03-01-BC-OCR-Page-5.pdf|accessdate=April 6, 2015|agency=Broadcasting|date=March 1, 1934|page=8}}{{dead link|date=February 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} A news brief noted, "Association officials say that they are not organized as a union but are merely grouped together to ask the network for a raise in salaries when they are given spot announcements to make."

Later, in New York, organization became more official and Case became more involved. In 1947, he was elected to a one-year term on the board of directors of the American Federation of Radio Artists' New York local.{{cite news|title=Results of N.Y. AFRA Elections Announced|url=http://www.americanradiohistory.com/hd2/Archive-BC-IDX/47-OCR/1947-12-01-BC-OCR-Page-0083.pdf|accessdate=April 7, 2015|agency=Broadcasting|date=December 1, 1947|page=83}}{{dead link|date=February 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} In 1948, he was elected president of the New York local{{cite news|title=N.YY. AFRA Elects|url=http://www.americanradiohistory.com/hd2/Archive-BC-IDX/48-OCR/1948-01-12-BC-OCR-Page-0089.pdf|accessdate=April 7, 2015|agency=Broadcasting|date=January 12, 1948|page=89}}{{dead link|date=February 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} and a vice-president of AFRA at the national level.{{cite news|title=Talent Merger|url=http://www.americanradiohistory.com/hd2/Archive-BC-IDX/48-OCR/1948-09-06-BC-OCR-Page-0065.pdf|accessdate=April 7, 2015|agency=Broadcasting|date=September 6, 1948|page=28}}{{dead link|date=February 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} For 1949, he was re-elected to the New York local board{{cite news|title=AFRA Vote|url=http://www.americanradiohistory.com/hd2/Archive-BC-IDX/48-OCR/1948-12-20-BC-OCR-Page-0069.pdf|accessdate=April 7, 2015|agency=Broadcasting|date=December 20, 1948|page=69}}{{dead link|date=February 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} and re-elected president of the local.{{cite news|title=Case Re-elected|url=http://www.americanradiohistory.com/hd2/Archive-BC-IDX/49-OCR/1949-01-10-BC-OCR-Page-0067.pdf|accessdate=April 7, 2015|agency=Broadcasting|date=January 10, 1949|page=67}}{{dead link|date=February 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

Case enjoyed writing fiction and composing music. He also was described as "a great record fan."{{cite news|last1=Kleiner|first1=Dick|title=The Marquee|newspaper=The Morning Herald |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/2166392/nelson_case_record_fan/|agency=The Morning Herald|date=January 13, 1955|page=11|via = Newspapers.com|accessdate = April 8, 2015}} {{Open access}} When he bought a high fidelity sound system, he bought 130 LP records to play on it. He accumulated "such a tremendous collection of jazz records that record companies, compiling albums of old-time jazz, often do their research in his library."{{cite news|last1=Kleiner|first1=Dick|title=The Marquee|newspaper=The Kingston Daily Freeman |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/2166925/nelson_case_record_collection/|agency=The Kingston Daily Freeman|date=January 20, 1956|page=5|via = Newspapers.com|accessdate = April 8, 2015}} {{Open access}}

He was also a writer. In 1952, he wrote a book, History of the Brooklyn Dodgers.{{cite news|title=(untitled brief)|url=http://www.americanradiohistory.com/hd2/Archive-BC-IDX/52-OCR/BC-1952-06-09-OCR-Page-0083.pdf|accessdate=April 9, 2015|agency=Broadcasting|date=June 9, 1952|page=83}}{{dead link|date=February 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} In 1953, his article, "Can TV Commercials Be Improved?," was published in Academy Magazine.{{cite news|title=(untitled brief)|url=http://www.americanradiohistory.com/hd2/Archive-BC-IDX/52-OCR/BC-1952-12-29-OCR-Page-0064.pdf|accessdate=April 9, 2015|agency=Broadcasting|date=December 29, 1952|page=64}}{{dead link|date=February 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

In the 1960s, Case and his wife lived on an 84-acre farm in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, where he raised Angus cattle as a hobby.

Case married Sarah Lee, a descendant of Robert E. Lee and Ethan Allen. They had a daughter, Virginia Lee, and a son, Nelson Jr.{{cite news|title=Sight & Sound: On the Air|newspaper=The Mercury |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/2144996/nelson_case_wife/|agency=Pottstown Mercury|date=September 5, 1935|page=11|via = Newspapers.com|accessdate = April 5, 2015}} {{Open access}} They were divorced in 1947.{{cite news|title=Decrees Granted|newspaper=Nevada State Journal |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/2174551/nelson_case_divorce/|agency=Nevada State Journal|date=July 2, 1947|page=12|via = Newspapers.com|accessdate = April 9, 2015}} {{Open access}} His second marriage, on September 5, 1947, was to Nondas Metcalfe, an actress and writer.{{cite news|title=Production|url=http://www.americanradiohistory.com/hd2/Archive-BC-IDX/47-OCR/1947-09-15-BC-OCR-Page-0144.pdf|accessdate=April 7, 2015|agency=Broadcasting|date=September 15, 1947|page=146}}{{dead link|date=February 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} They moved to New Hope, Pennsylvania, in 1958 and still made their home there when he died.{{cite news|title=TV, radio announcer Nelson Case, 66, dies|url=http://archives.chicagotribune.com/1976/03/25/page/38/article/tv-radio-announcer-nelson-case-66-dies|accessdate=April 9, 2015|agency=Chicago Tribune|date=March 25, 1976|page=Section 3-Page 10}}

Case died of a heart attack March 24, 1976, in Doylestown Hospital in Doylestown, Pennsylvania. He was survived by his wife, his son, and his daughter.

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• [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mKz47Tb7wUk Video clip of Nelson Case doing a commercial on Wide Wide World]

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Category:1910 births

Category:1976 deaths

Category:Radio and television announcers

Category:American radio personalities

Category:Television personalities from California

Category:College of William & Mary alumni

Category:Mass media people from Long Beach, California