"Laugh-In" Announcer Gary Owens 1936-2015 - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Zoneboy · 02-13-2015, 05:59 PM

Link

Radio, TV and voiceover performer Gary Owens died on Feb. 12 at his home in the Encino neighborhood of Los Angeles. Owens, who was 80, had been a diabetic since the age of 8.

Owens was probably best known as the announcer on NBC’s “Rowan and Martin’s Laugh-In” (1968-73), with his trademark hand-over-the-ear announcing style. On the show, John Wayne once imitated Owens announcing. The phrase Gary created on his KMPC radio show, “Beautiful downtown Burbank,” later became a nightly catchphrase on Johnny Carson’s “Tonight Show.”

Owens also lent his voice to more than 3,000 cartoons, providing the voice of “Space Ghost” as well as Blue Falcon, Roger Ramjet, Powdered Toast Man and even Batman. He was animated as himself in “Garfield and Friends,” “The Fantastic Four,” “Eek the Cat” and “Bobby’s World.”

Owens had a mellifluous baritone voice with impeccable nuanced timing, and was equally adept at comedy or deadpan delivery.

For 30 years, Owens hosted a national radio show on the Music of Your Life Network. He was a longtime radio personality at KMPC, KFI, KIIS FM, KFWB and KKGO in Los Angeles and KEWB in San Francisco.

He also collaborated with his friend Jonathan Winters, together creating three hit comedy CDs. He wrote for Jay Ward’s company for the series “Rocky & Bullwinkle,” “Fractured Flickers” and “The Nuthouse.”

Owens’ daily radio show aired on KMPC Los Angeles for 20 years and he later served as VP of Gene Autry’s Golden West Broadcasters. In 1983 he became a vice president at Gannett, then the USA’s biggest media corporation.

Owens started as a radio newscaster in Mitchell, South Dakota. When he arrived in Hollywood in 1961 for KFWB, he also began his TV career, doing four television specials a year for the Chris-Craft Corp. and their television station KCOP.

Since its inception in 1969, he was an announcer on “Sesame Street”; he was also one of the original contributors to PBS series “The Electric Company.”

He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Arleta, and sons Scott Owens, a producer, and Chris Dane Owens, a musician and producer.

Donations may be made to the Children’s Diabetes Foundation.

Zoneboy · 02-13-2015, 06:05 PM

80sTrivia · 02-13-2015, 06:49 PM

So sad to hear of Gary's passing...

howilu · 02-14-2015, 11:46 AM

He had one of the best radio voices of all time. Prior to his passing, he did all the voice overs for Antenna TV. He still can be heard on that channel.

Marvo301 · 02-14-2015, 04:57 PM

Gary Owens

Reverend Jim · 02-15-2015, 05:01 PM

Ohio8 · 03-17-2015, 04:49 PM

"...it's sock it to me time!"

AB · 03-17-2015, 05:13 PM

May he rest in peace.

D-Dey · 03-17-2015, 07:40 PM

I read about his death on Wikipedia, and it was a surprise to me.

Does anybody else realize that John O'Hurley sounds a lot like him?

02-13-2015, 05:59 PM	#1
Zoneboy RIP, I'LL NEVER FORGET YOU :( Moderator Forum Superstar Join Date: Jul 13, 2003 Location: AT HOME WISHING ALL THIS WAS JUST A DREAM AND THAT I'LL WAKE UP FROM THIS NIGHTMARE. Posts: 34,338	"Laugh-In" Announcer Gary Owens 1936-2015 Link Radio, TV and voiceover performer Gary Owens died on Feb. 12 at his home in the Encino neighborhood of Los Angeles. Owens, who was 80, had been a diabetic since the age of 8. Owens was probably best known as the announcer on NBC’s “Rowan and Martin’s Laugh-In” (1968-73), with his trademark hand-over-the-ear announcing style. On the show, John Wayne once imitated Owens announcing. The phrase Gary created on his KMPC radio show, “Beautiful downtown Burbank,” later became a nightly catchphrase on Johnny Carson’s “Tonight Show.” Owens also lent his voice to more than 3,000 cartoons, providing the voice of “Space Ghost” as well as Blue Falcon, Roger Ramjet, Powdered Toast Man and even Batman. He was animated as himself in “Garfield and Friends,” “The Fantastic Four,” “Eek the Cat” and “Bobby’s World.” Owens had a mellifluous baritone voice with impeccable nuanced timing, and was equally adept at comedy or deadpan delivery. For 30 years, Owens hosted a national radio show on the Music of Your Life Network. He was a longtime radio personality at KMPC, KFI, KIIS FM, KFWB and KKGO in Los Angeles and KEWB in San Francisco. He also collaborated with his friend Jonathan Winters, together creating three hit comedy CDs. He wrote for Jay Ward’s company for the series “Rocky & Bullwinkle,” “Fractured Flickers” and “The Nuthouse.” Owens’ daily radio show aired on KMPC Los Angeles for 20 years and he later served as VP of Gene Autry’s Golden West Broadcasters. In 1983 he became a vice president at Gannett, then the USA’s biggest media corporation. Owens started as a radio newscaster in Mitchell, South Dakota. When he arrived in Hollywood in 1961 for KFWB, he also began his TV career, doing four television specials a year for the Chris-Craft Corp. and their television station KCOP. Since its inception in 1969, he was an announcer on “Sesame Street”; he was also one of the original contributors to PBS series “The Electric Company.” He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Arleta, and sons Scott Owens, a producer, and Chris Dane Owens, a musician and producer. Donations may be made to the Children’s Diabetes Foundation.
	__________________ 'Twas The Night Before Christmas And All Through The Full House Not A Creature Was Stirring, Not Even Mighty Mouse. All My Children We're Nestled All Snug In Their Beds While Visions Of Sugarbakers Danced In Their Heads.

02-13-2015, 06:49 PM	#3
80sTrivia Member Forum Celebrity Join Date: May 23, 2002 Posts: 21,715	So sad to hear of Gary's passing...
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02-14-2015, 04:57 PM	#5
Marvo301 I'm NOT a Blockhead! Forum Celebrity Join Date: May 17, 2002 Location: The Great White North Posts: 21,450	Gary Owens
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03-17-2015, 04:49 PM	#7
Ohio8 Member Forum Star Join Date: Jul 29, 2003 Location: Wherever you aren't. Posts: 18,885	"...it's sock it to me time!" Attached Images
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03-17-2015, 05:13 PM	#8
AB Member Eternal Member Forum Icon Join Date: Dec 26, 2006 Location: The South Posts: 59,426	May he rest in peace. Attached Images

02-13-2015, 06:05 PM	#2
Zoneboy RIP, I'LL NEVER FORGET YOU :( Moderator Forum Superstar Join Date: Jul 13, 2003 Location: AT HOME WISHING ALL THIS WAS JUST A DREAM AND THAT I'LL WAKE UP FROM THIS NIGHTMARE. Posts: 34,338

02-14-2015, 11:46 AM	#4
howilu Member Senior Member Join Date: Apr 20, 2003 Location: St. Louis Park, MN Posts: 1,958	He had one of the best radio voices of all time. Prior to his passing, he did all the voice overs for Antenna TV. He still can be heard on that channel.

02-15-2015, 05:01 PM	#6
Reverend Jim Member Forum Regular Join Date: Feb 08, 2009 Location: New York City Posts: 783

03-17-2015, 07:40 PM	#9
D-Dey Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Feb 11, 2000 Location: Long Island, New York, USA Posts: 5,509	I read about his death on Wikipedia, and it was a surprise to me. Does anybody else realize that John O'Hurley sounds a lot like him?
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