Warren Hull

John Warren Hull (January 17, 1903 – September 14, 1974), known professionally as Warren Hull, was an American actor, singer and television personality active from the 1930s through the 1960s. He was one of the most popular serial actors in the action-adventure field.

Early years

Born in Gasport, New York, Hull was one of three children born to John and Laura (''nee'' Shafer) Hull. Both of his parents were Quakers. Hull attended Lockport High School, graduating in 1922. He then attended New York University with the intention of pursuing a career in business. He later decided to pursue a career in music and enrolled at the Eastman School of Music, where he studied voice. After completing his studies, he moved to New York City, where he became a chorus boy in Shubert operas and operettas. This eventually led to Hull working in two Broadway musicals; starring as Jack Negly in '' My Maryland'' (1927) and as Jack Wayne in '' Rain or Shine'' (1928).

In 1923, Hull began working as a radio announcer. He was the master of ceremonies for the first ''Your Hit Parade'' radio program and also worked as an announcer for '' The Beatrice Lillie Show''.

Career

Films

In the mid-1930s, Hull pursued a screen career. He made his screen debut in 1934 for Educational Pictures, a short-subject studio. He co-starred opposite singer Sylvia Froos in the ''Young Romance'' series of musical comedies filmed in New York; Hull often joined Froos in song. In 1935 Hull was signed to a contract by Warner Bros., and spent the next few years playing leading men both in dramas and musicals.

When his Warners contract expired, Hull had no trouble finding work at other studios. He teamed with Patricia Ellis, one of his leading ladies at Warners, for the Republic Pictures musical '' Rhythm in the Clouds'' (1937). He also played romantic leads in a string of features for Monogram Pictures. Two of Hull's better-known appearances of this period were opposite Boris Karloff, in '' The Walking Dead'' (1936) and '' Night Key'' (1937). Some of Hull's early appearances have him billed as "J. Warren Hull."

In 1938, Columbia Pictures terminated its association with the Weiss Brothers, independent producers who had been making adventure serials for Columbia release, and decided to make its own cliffhangers. Warren Hull was signed for Columbia's second (and perhaps best) serial production, '' The Spider's Web'' (1938), based on a popular magazine character. Hull played three parts: criminologist Richard Wentworth, his masked-and-caped alter ego The Spider, and, in a second masquerade, lowlife mobster Blinky McQuade. The personable Hull brought a breezy sense of humor to his serial roles; he is probably the only serial hero who ever ''laughs'' on screen. Hull kept audiences following the Spider's thrilling exploits, making ''The Spider's Web'' the most popular and profitable serial of the year, outstripping such worthy cliffhangers as ''Buck Rogers'' and '' Dick Tracy Returns'' by a wide margin, according to a tally published in the ''Motion Picture Herald'' and ''The Film Daily''.

Pleased with Hull's performance, Columbia cast him as ''Mandrake the Magician'' in its 1939 serial. Universal Pictures starred the now-established serial hero in ''The Green Hornet Strikes Again!'' (1941) and Columbia put him back in the mask and cloak for '' The Spider Returns'' (1941).

Radio and television

In the mid-1940s, Hull returned to radio announcing, appearing with frequency on such programs as ''Your Hit Parade'' and '' Vox Pop''. During World War II, Hull traveled about the country and in Canada, putting on ''Vox Pop'' before servicemen at camps and bases. After the War, he did ''Vox Pop'' broadcasts from France, Britain, Alaska, and Puerto Rico. In 1947, he hosted ''The Warren Hull Show'', for CBS radio. During this time, Hull also hosted ''Cavalcade of Bands'' for Dumont radio.

In 1948 he replaced Todd Russell as the host of the radio game show '' Strike It Rich''. Hull continued as host when the show was adapted for television in 1951. This is the TV series for which Warren Hull is best known and he remained its host until the series ended in 1958.

On July 4, 1948, Hull debuted as emcee of a new show called ''Spin to Win'', the second game show created by Mark Goodson and Bill Todman, in which he quizzed call-in contestants about popular records. If the contestant failed the initial questions, they could appoint someone in the live studio audience to take over. If the appointed stand-in player answered enough questions correctly, the call-in player could return for the final jackpot, either answering it alone (and keeping the entire jackpot for themself) or with their partner's help (and splitting the winnings). In 1953–54, former Miss America Bess Myerson co-hosted a game show called "The Big Payoff"; Hull occasionally substituted for regular co-host Robert Paige. During the next two decades he hosted TV programs such as ''Top Dollar'', '' Beat the Odds'', and ''Public Prosecutor''. By the early 1960s, Hull was largely retired and was living in Virginia Beach, Virginia. In 1962, he came out of retirement to host the game show ''Who in the World''.

Personal life

Hull was married four times and had four children. His first three marriages ended in divorce. His fourth marriage to Susan Fossum Stevens lasted until his death in 1974.

Death

On September 14, 1974, Hull died of congestive heart failure at Waterbury Hospital in Waterbury, Connecticut, at the age of 71. His funeral was held on September 18 at the Church of the Epiphany in Southbury, Connecticut, after which he was buried at the New North Cemetery in Woodbury, Litchfield County, Connecticut.

For his contributions to the radio and television industry, Warren Hull has two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. His star for radio is located at 6270 Hollywood Boulevard, and the star for television is located at 6135 Hollywood Boulevard.

Filmography

References

External links

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Hull, Warren
1903 births
1974 deaths
20th-century American male actors
Male actors from New York (state)
American game show hosts
American male film actors
American male musical theatre actors
20th-century American male opera singers
American radio personalities
Eastman School of Music alumni
Male film serial actors
New York University alumni
People from Niagara County, New York
Warner Bros. contract players