Bob Crane worked in small-time UHF television in Bridgeport, CT, years before becoming the star of Hogan's Heroes. This is from a WICC-TV sales presentation that was shown on a CPTV special about the history of Connecticut TV.
He was a very good ventriloquist. He actually played in Europe for a while when he was in the service. I think if anyone had been watching WICC, he would have had the fame he wanted. As it was, he played smaller venues like nightclubs when WICC folded. Thru his association with Bob Crane, he also worked with Dean Martin & Jerry Lewis on one gig.
My uncle, Wayne Mitchell, worked with Bob Crane on WICC TV. He had a ventriloquist act: "Captain Ozob and Elmer Duffy." I own Elmer & have a photo of him staring into a WICC TV camera.
He was a very good ventriloquist. He actually played in Europe for a while when he was in the service. I think if anyone had been watching WICC, he would have had the fame he wanted. As it was, he played smaller venues like nightclubs when WICC folded. Thru his association with Bob Crane, he also worked with Dean Martin & Jerry Lewis on one gig.
mark1magic 2 years ago
Are you kidding? That's really interesting. I never knew about his ventriloquist act. Did your uncle say if he was any good?
INOCENTBDGRL 2 years ago
My uncle, Wayne Mitchell, worked with Bob Crane on WICC TV. He had a ventriloquist act: "Captain Ozob and Elmer Duffy." I own Elmer & have a photo of him staring into a WICC TV camera.
mark1magic 2 years ago
Wow! This is awesome!!
BobCraneIsMyHero 2 years ago