Curt Massey (May 3, 1910 – October 21, 1991)
[DeLong, Thomas A. (1996). ''Radio Stars: An Illustrated Biographical Dictionary of 953 Performers, 1920 through 1960''. McFarland & Company, Inc. . Pp. 185-186.] was a musician in the
old-time radio
The Golden Age of Radio, also known as the old-time radio (OTR) era, was an era of radio in the United States where it was the dominant electronic home entertainment medium. It began with the birth of commercial radio broadcasting in the earl ...
era.
Early years
Massey was born in Midland, Texas.
[ He came from a musical family, the best known of whom was probably Louise Massey, a country and western singer. Their father was Henry Massey. As a youngster, he studied violin, trumpet, cornet, and piano.][ He went on to study music at the Horner Conservatory of Music in Kansas City.][
Curt played violin for the family's musical group, Louise Massey and the Westerners.][
]
Radio
Massey had two self-titled music-variety programs. ''Curt Massey Time'' was on CBS beginning in 1943;[Terrace, Vincent (1981), ''Radio's Golden Years: The Encyclopedia of Radio Programs 1930-1960''. A.S. Barnes & Company, Inc. . P. 67.] ''The Curt Massey Show'' was on ABC beginning in 1949. The latter co-starred Martha Tilton and was sometimes billed as ''The Curt Massey and Martha Tilton Show'' or as ''Alka-Seltzer Time
''Alka-Seltzer Time'' (aka ''The Alka-Seltzer Show'') was a 15-minute radio series broadcast weekdays on both CBS Radio and the Mutual Broadcasting System
The Mutual Broadcasting System (commonly referred to simply as Mutual; sometimes referr ...
''.[Sies, Luther F. (2014). ''Encyclopedia of American Radio, 1920-1960, 2nd Edition, Volume 1''. McFarland & Company, Inc. . Pp. 18, 173.]
Other programs on which Massey was featured included ''Nash-Kelvinator's Musical Hits'', ''Sheaffer World Parade'', ''Romance in Rhythm'', ''Twilight Trail'', ''The Friday Night Show'', '' The Andrews Sisters Program'', '' Avalon Time'', ''KMBC Brush Creek Follies'', ''Holiday for Music'', ''Plantation Jubilee'', and ''Plantation Party''. On January 2, 1956, Massey debuted on KNX
KNX is an open standard (see EN 50090, ISO/IEC 14543) for commercial and domestic building automation. KNX devices can manage lighting, blinds and shutters, HVAC, security systems, energy management, audio video, white goods, displays, remote ...
radio in Los Angeles with a 25-minute weeknight program. It lasted three months.
Television
In October 1956, Massey began a Monday-Thursday program on KRCA-TV in Los Angeles, California. The 6:15 p.m. (Pacific Time) program also featured Martha Tilton and Country Washburn and was broadcast in color at least during Summer 1959. Massey also wrote and sang the theme song for the television series ''Petticoat Junction
''Petticoat Junction'' is an American television sitcom that originally aired on CBS from September 1963 to April 1970. The series takes place at the Shady Rest Hotel, which is run by Kate Bradley; her three daughters Billie Jo, Bobbie Jo, and B ...
''.[
]
Recognition
In 1961, Massey received an Emmy Award
The Emmy Awards, or Emmys, are an extensive range of awards for artistic and technical merit for the American and international television industry. A number of annual Emmy Award ceremonies are held throughout the calendar year, each with the ...
"for his career in radio and television."
Personal life
Massey and his wife, Edythe, had two sons, Stephen and David.
Death
Massey died October 21, 1991, at Eisenhower Medical Center
The Eisenhower Medical Center (EMC) is a not-for-profit hospital based in Rancho Mirage, California, serving the Coachella Valley region of Southeastern California. It was named one of the top one hundred hospitals in the United States in 2005.
...
in Rancho Mirage, California. He was 81.
Filmography
Film
Television
Screenplay credits
Television composer credits
Soundtrack credits
Partial discography
*''If I Had My Way'' (Columbia 1945)[
*''Sweetheart of My Dreams'' (Columbia 1945)][
*'']Candy
Candy, also called sweets (British English) or lollies ( Australian English, New Zealand English), is a confection that features sugar as a principal ingredient. The category, called '' sugar confectionery'', encompasses any sweet confection, ...
'' (Columbia 1945)[
*'']Five Minutes More
"Five Minutes More" is a 1946 American pop song written by Sammy Cahn (lyrics) and Jule Styne (music). It is sometimes referred to as "Give Me Five Minutes More". It was featured in the movie '' Sweetheart of Sigma Chi'', sung by Phil Brito, and ...
'' (Cadet 1946)
References
External links
*
Streaming episodes of ''Alka-Seltzer Time'' with Curt Massey and Martha Tilton, from The Internet Archive
{{DEFAULTSORT:Massey, Curt
1991 deaths
1910 births
American male violinists
American television composers
People from Midland, Texas
Singers from Texas
20th-century American singers
American radio bandleaders
20th-century American composers
20th-century American violinists
20th-century American male musicians