ED HERLIHY RADIO, TV,NEWSREEL ANNOUNCERIN 1940S AND '50S:- Sunday, February 7, 1999
Ed Herlihy, a radio announcer whose voice charted the course of World War II for moviegoers, then for the better part of 40 years spoke for Kraft foods on radio and television, died Jan. 30 at his home in Manhattan. He was 89.
In his early successes, few could recall his name or know what he looked like. But to moviegoers who saw the Universal newsreels in the 1940s, his was one of the voices that told of the Allies' early setbacks against the Axis powers, then of the successes that led to victory in 1945. His two principal competitors were his fellow announcer Harry Von Zell of Warner Pathe and the radio commentator Lowell Thomas of Fox Movietone News.
In 1947 Mr. Herlihy started his association with Kraft Foods on radio. He continued it when the company sponsored the "Kraft Television Theater" on television in the 1950s. A dramatic offering, all of it done live, the show featured everything from Shakespeare to Rod Serling; it was at the center of what critics would come to call television's Golden Age.
During commercials for Kraft products ("Good food and good food ideas," Mr. Herlihy would say), audiences heard only his voice, a voice he said he tried to make sound friendly. It was an avuncular, next-door-neighbor, deep, mellow kind of voice, a digestive guide through the preparation of all manner of souffles, dips, marshmallow salads and fondues.
He was noted for his ability to ad lib through commercials when dramatic presentations ran too long or too short. In his capacity with Kraft, he introduced Cheez Whiz, offered innumerable entreaties to buy Velveeta and delivered apologias for the entombment of almost anything edible with Miracle Whip.
People may not have known his face, but his voice was another thing. Mr. Herlihy liked to recall a summer day in Times Square when he helped a blind man to cross at 44th Street. He took the man's arm, and the man said it was a beautiful day.
"Yes," Mr. Herlihy replied, "this is the kind of day the Lord made for the good guys."
The blind man replied: "I know you. You're the cheese man on TV."
Mr. Herlihy's voice was also heard announcing myriad radio shows in the 1930s and '40s. Among them were "America's Town Meeting," a public affairs program; "The Big Show," with Tallulah Bankhead; "The Falcon" and "District Attorney,"
both crime dramas; and "Just Plain Bill," a soap opera about a small-town barber. Mr. Herlihy was also the master of ceremonies for radio's "Horn & Hardart Children's Hour" in 1948. He continued with the show on television.
In addition to his work for Kraft, Mr. Herlihy's early television credits included Sid Caesar's "Show of Shows," "As the World Turns" and "All My Children." When he worked for Caesar, he met Woody Allen. Allen was so impressed with Mr. Herlihy's voice that he used him in some of his films in the 1980s, including "Hannah and Her Sisters," "Radio Days" and "Zelig."
Ed Herlihy, a radio announcer whose voice charted the course of World War II for moviegoers, then for the better part of 40 years spoke for Kraft foods on radio and television, died Jan. 30 at his home in Manhattan. He was 89.
In his early successes, few could recall his name or know what he looked like. But to moviegoers who saw the Universal newsreels in the 1940s, his was one of the voices that told of the Allies' early setbacks against the Axis powers, then of the successes that led to victory in 1945. His two principal competitors were his fellow announcer Harry Von Zell of Warner Pathe and the radio commentator Lowell Thomas of Fox Movietone News.
In 1947 Mr. Herlihy started his association with Kraft Foods on radio. He continued it when the company sponsored the "Kraft Television Theater" on television in the 1950s. A dramatic offering, all of it done live, the show featured everything from Shakespeare to Rod Serling; it was at the center of what critics would come to call television's Golden Age.
During commercials for Kraft products ("Good food and good food ideas," Mr. Herlihy would say), audiences heard only his voice, a voice he said he tried to make sound friendly. It was an avuncular, next-door-neighbor, deep, mellow kind of voice, a digestive guide through the preparation of all manner of souffles, dips, marshmallow salads and fondues.
He was noted for his ability to ad lib through commercials when dramatic presentations ran too long or too short. In his capacity with Kraft, he introduced Cheez Whiz, offered innumerable entreaties to buy Velveeta and delivered apologias for the entombment of almost anything edible with Miracle Whip.
People may not have known his face, but his voice was another thing. Mr. Herlihy liked to recall a summer day in Times Square when he helped a blind man to cross at 44th Street. He took the man's arm, and the man said it was a beautiful day.
"Yes," Mr. Herlihy replied, "this is the kind of day the Lord made for the good guys."
The blind man replied: "I know you. You're the cheese man on TV."
Mr. Herlihy's voice was also heard announcing myriad radio shows in the 1930s and '40s. Among them were "America's Town Meeting," a public affairs program; "The Big Show," with Tallulah Bankhead; "The Falcon" and "District Attorney,"
both crime dramas; and "Just Plain Bill," a soap opera about a small-town barber. Mr. Herlihy was also the master of ceremonies for radio's "Horn & Hardart Children's Hour" in 1948. He continued with the show on television.
In addition to his work for Kraft, Mr. Herlihy's early television credits included Sid Caesar's "Show of Shows," "As the World Turns" and "All My Children." When he worked for Caesar, he met Woody Allen. Allen was so impressed with Mr. Herlihy's voice that he used him in some of his films in the 1980s, including "Hannah and Her Sisters," "Radio Days" and "Zelig."
ED HERLIHY RADIO, TV,NEWSREEL ANNOUNCERIN 1940S AND '50S:- Sunday, February 7, 1999
Ed Herlihy, a radio announcer whose voice charted the course of World War II for moviegoers, then for the better part of 40 years spoke for Kraft foods on radio and television, died Jan. 30 at his home in Manhattan. He was 89.
In his early successes, few could recall his name or know what he looked like. But to moviegoers who saw the Universal newsreels in the 1940s, his was one of the voices that told of the Allies' early setbacks against the Axis powers, then of the successes that led to victory in 1945. His two principal competitors were his fellow announcer Harry Von Zell of Warner Pathe and the radio commentator Lowell Thomas of Fox Movietone News.
In 1947 Mr. Herlihy started his association with Kraft Foods on radio. He continued it when the company sponsored the "Kraft Television Theater" on television in the 1950s. A dramatic offering, all of it done live, the show featured everything from Shakespeare to Rod Serling; it was at the center of what critics would come to call television's Golden Age.
During commercials for Kraft products ("Good food and good food ideas," Mr. Herlihy would say), audiences heard only his voice, a voice he said he tried to make sound friendly. It was an avuncular, next-door-neighbor, deep, mellow kind of voice, a digestive guide through the preparation of all manner of souffles, dips, marshmallow salads and fondues.
He was noted for his ability to ad lib through commercials when dramatic presentations ran too long or too short. In his capacity with Kraft, he introduced Cheez Whiz, offered innumerable entreaties to buy Velveeta and delivered apologias for the entombment of almost anything edible with Miracle Whip.
People may not have known his face, but his voice was another thing. Mr. Herlihy liked to recall a summer day in Times Square when he helped a blind man to cross at 44th Street. He took the man's arm, and the man said it was a beautiful day.
"Yes," Mr. Herlihy replied, "this is the kind of day the Lord made for the good guys."
The blind man replied: "I know you. You're the cheese man on TV."
Mr. Herlihy's voice was also heard announcing myriad radio shows in the 1930s and '40s. Among them were "America's Town Meeting," a public affairs program; "The Big Show," with Tallulah Bankhead; "The Falcon" and "District Attorney,"
both crime dramas; and "Just Plain Bill," a soap opera about a small-town barber. Mr. Herlihy was also the master of ceremonies for radio's "Horn & Hardart Children's Hour" in 1948. He continued with the show on television.
In addition to his work for Kraft, Mr. Herlihy's early television credits included Sid Caesar's "Show of Shows," "As the World Turns" and "All My Children." When he worked for Caesar, he met Woody Allen. Allen was so impressed with Mr. Herlihy's voice that he used him in some of his films in the 1980s, including "Hannah and Her Sisters," "Radio Days" and "Zelig."
Ed Herlihy, a radio announcer whose voice charted the course of World War II for moviegoers, then for the better part of 40 years spoke for Kraft foods on radio and television, died Jan. 30 at his home in Manhattan. He was 89.
In his early successes, few could recall his name or know what he looked like. But to moviegoers who saw the Universal newsreels in the 1940s, his was one of the voices that told of the Allies' early setbacks against the Axis powers, then of the successes that led to victory in 1945. His two principal competitors were his fellow announcer Harry Von Zell of Warner Pathe and the radio commentator Lowell Thomas of Fox Movietone News.
In 1947 Mr. Herlihy started his association with Kraft Foods on radio. He continued it when the company sponsored the "Kraft Television Theater" on television in the 1950s. A dramatic offering, all of it done live, the show featured everything from Shakespeare to Rod Serling; it was at the center of what critics would come to call television's Golden Age.
During commercials for Kraft products ("Good food and good food ideas," Mr. Herlihy would say), audiences heard only his voice, a voice he said he tried to make sound friendly. It was an avuncular, next-door-neighbor, deep, mellow kind of voice, a digestive guide through the preparation of all manner of souffles, dips, marshmallow salads and fondues.
He was noted for his ability to ad lib through commercials when dramatic presentations ran too long or too short. In his capacity with Kraft, he introduced Cheez Whiz, offered innumerable entreaties to buy Velveeta and delivered apologias for the entombment of almost anything edible with Miracle Whip.
People may not have known his face, but his voice was another thing. Mr. Herlihy liked to recall a summer day in Times Square when he helped a blind man to cross at 44th Street. He took the man's arm, and the man said it was a beautiful day.
"Yes," Mr. Herlihy replied, "this is the kind of day the Lord made for the good guys."
The blind man replied: "I know you. You're the cheese man on TV."
Mr. Herlihy's voice was also heard announcing myriad radio shows in the 1930s and '40s. Among them were "America's Town Meeting," a public affairs program; "The Big Show," with Tallulah Bankhead; "The Falcon" and "District Attorney,"
both crime dramas; and "Just Plain Bill," a soap opera about a small-town barber. Mr. Herlihy was also the master of ceremonies for radio's "Horn & Hardart Children's Hour" in 1948. He continued with the show on television.
In addition to his work for Kraft, Mr. Herlihy's early television credits included Sid Caesar's "Show of Shows," "As the World Turns" and "All My Children." When he worked for Caesar, he met Woody Allen. Allen was so impressed with Mr. Herlihy's voice that he used him in some of his films in the 1980s, including "Hannah and Her Sisters," "Radio Days" and "Zelig."
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