Indiana Broadcast History Archive

Harry von Zell was an announcer, actor and singer on national radio and television. He announced as many as twenty network shows weekly and appeared in almost thirty films. Von Zell was known for his well-modulated voice and his quick and clever ad-libbing. that was a standard radio fixture in the 1930’s and 40’s.  

Von Zell was born July 11, 1906, in Indianapolis, Indiana. He attended college at UCLA where he studied music and drama. 

He first auditioned for Paul Whiteman’s radio show and beat out 250 other announcers. After the conclusion of that show, von Zell moved to New York and worked as a CBS staff announcer and announced The March of Time.  

Von Zell is well known for his 1931 radio blooper, where he mistakenly referred to Herbert Hoover as “Hoobert Heever” during a live tribute on the president’s birthday.  

He is also well known for being the announcer of a half hour radio show featuring married comedy duo George Burns and Gracie Allen, called “Burns and Allen Show.” The show, which debuted in 1934, aired until spring of 1950.  

Beginning in 1943, von Zell appeared in 28 movies, such as “The Strange Affair of Uncle Harry,” “Son of Paleface” and “The Saxon Charm.” Not only did he star in several films, he also starred in comedy shorts and played himself. Von Zell became a household name. 

For six years, Von Zell worked at CBS in New York and was a TV announcer for people such as Fred Allen and Phil Baker.   

Von Zell was awarded a star on Hollywood Boulevard on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for Radio.   

He retired in the 1970’s. Von Zell passed away from cancer November 21, 1981, in California. Von Zell was inducted into the Indiana Broadcast Hall of Fame posthumously.  

March 2025

By Lily Saylor