Charlie O'Donnelll Radio & TV Announcer, Legend has died at 78....

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Radio personality Charlie O'Donnell, who recently was best known as the opening voice on the game show "Wheel of Fortune," died October 31. He was 78. O’Donnell worked at New York radio stations before heading to Philadelphia to work with Dick Clark on "American Bandstand." He later returned to radio at KRLA, Los Angeles. Charlie use would come down with Dick Clark to Wildwood and Atlantic City when Bandstand was taped here on the Jersey Shore.

Charlie began his carrier in Philadelphia radio in the 50s. As program director of 1340/WHAT in 1954.

We will miss hearing Charlie on Wheel on WPVI....

R.I.P. Charlie...

 

[qtpieislit]

I was so sad to see the passing of a dear family friend, Charlie O'Donnell. I was fortunate to talk with him at length in 2008, and he suggested I record it for a Broadcast Pioneers of Philadelphia Luncheon I was hosting.

Sam Lit Charlie O'Donnell Interview 2008 part 1 http://hylitradio.com/charlieodonnell Charlie talks about Philadelphia radio, Bandstand, Dick Clark, career.


Charlie, a native Philadelphian began his carrier in Philadelphia radio in the 50s. As program director of 1340/WHAT in 1954 he discovered and launched the career of a young talent named Hy Lit.


Excerpt from Hy Lit History http://www.hylitradio.com/index.php?page=6

1954 - Life Could Be a Dream, Sh-Boom.
On a visit home for the holidays, I found myself in a basketball game in the gymnasium at West Philly High. It was the ‘Philadelphia Players’ against an assembled ‘radio industry' ball team. During that game Charlie O’Donnell (currently the announcer of Wheel of Fortune) fouled me with a slap, and remarked, excuse me. Later down court, when I returned the abrupt foul and promptly replied, "Ex-cuuuse Me", Charlie commented by saying “Hey, that’s quite a voice you have!". Subsequently after the game, we struck up a conversation. While ascertaining my status as a communications major at Miami University, Charlie indicated that he was the program director for 1340/WHAT, a rhythm and blues soul station, and that he had a time slot to fill Saturday morning. Would I be interested? Before I knew it the next day I was at the microphone.