Archie Andrews, based on the comic book series, was also a long-running radio
show that began on the NBC Blue Network on May 31, 1943, switched to Mutual
in 1944, and then continued on NBC from 1945 until September 5, 1953. The
program’s original announcer was Kenneth Banghart, later succeeded by Bob
Shepard (during the 1947-48 season, when Swift and Company sponsored the 
program) and Dick Dudley. Archie was first played by Charles Mullen, Jack
Grimes and Burt Boyar, with Bob Hastings (below) as the title character during 
the NBC years. Jughead was portrayed by Hal Stone and Cameron Andrews. For 
the NBC run, Betty was portrayed by Rosemary Rice (below), and Veronica by
Gloria Mann.

                  
Bob Hastings                                              Rosemary Rice

Mel Blanc (born Melvin Jerome Blank) was born in San Francisco and grew up
in Portland, Oregon where he attended Lincoln High School. He changed is last
name to ‘Blanc’ at the age of 16. While still in his teens, Blanc started his career
as a voice actor on KGW radio in 1927 and produced and hosted his own show
on KEX radio beginning in 1933. Blanc moved to Southern California in 1935, 
eventually working on CBS and NBC radio programs, including Jack Benny in
the late 1930s and later on Benny’s TV show. Blanc is best known for providing
voices for classic Warner Brothers cartoons beginning in 1936. Many of his
characters included Bugs Bunny, porky Pig, Daffy Duck, and Tweety Bird just
to name a few. 

                                                                                                                                                        SEPTEMBER 1963

Future California Governor and U.S. President Ronald Reagan worked at WHO 
radio in Des Moines, Iowa as a sportscaster from 1932 to 1937.