Bob Swanson (May 20, 1942 – Sept. 11, 2001)

The smooth, personable voice of Bob Swanson came to Portland’s KEX (1190 AM)
radio in 1967. He was an important part of his midday listeners daily lives until he
retired in 1994. Shoppers at Fred Meyer and Thriftway stores also heard his “voice
in the ceiling” announcing in-store messages. He also made many local commercials
and was a member of barbershop quartets. Bob left us way too at the age of 59 from
complications related to leukemia. He is still greatly missed!

Bob Swanson (left) with KEX legend Barney Keep back in the “real” 
radio days!

The long-running anthropology series Lux Radio Theatre, was broadcast
on the NBC Blue Network (1934-35); NBC (1935-54) and CBS (1954-55). At
first the series adapted Broadway plays during its first two seasons before
it began adapting films. These hour-long radio programs were performed
live before studio audiences. It became the most popular dramatic series 
on radio, broadcast for more than 20 years and continued on television as
the Lux Video Theatre through most of the 1950s.

The original host was the show’s fictional producer, Douglass
Garrick (portrayed by John J. Anthony shown above). Cecil B.
DeMille (below) took over as the host on June 1, 1936, until
January 22, 1945.

           
Cecil B. DeMille

   Bennett Kilpac

Mr. Keen, Tracer of Lost Persons was a 15-minute serial that was one of radio’s
longest running shows, from (October 12, 1937 to April 19, 1955). It aired on the
NBC Blue network until 1947, when it switched to CBS. The program was produced
by Frank and Anne Hummert. Mr. Keen and Mike Clancy were primarily homicide detectives. Bennett Kilpac (above) was the longest-running Mr. Keen; Philip Clarke
took over late in the run. and Jim Kelly was Mike Clancy. The series sponsors
included Whitehall Pharmacal Company, Dentyne, Aerowax, RCA Victor and
Chesterfield cigarettes.

     
      Tim Maguire

    
                                                                                                 Don Ameche

Betty and Bob was the first widely popular daytime serial soap opera that began on
the NBC Blue network. It was created by the  producer-couple Anne and Frank
Hummert. and ran until 1940. The series originally starred Elizabeth Reller as
Betty and Don Ameche as Bob Drake. The cast underwent a number of changes
during its 8-year run. There were eight different Bob’s and five different Betty’s. It
was sponsored by General Mills. The theme song was “Salute d’Amour".