Don Naylor
Encyclopedia
Don Naylor born Donald Covey Naylor in Millwood, Texas, was a writer, producer, singer and radio personality, a radio and television program director and an advertising creative director throughout a fifty-year career in Atlanta, Georgia
.
Naylor worked at WGST Radio and later WAGA
radio and television in Atlanta. During his career in radio, Naylor created the characters Wee Willie, Madame Bottlestopper, and Uncle Cyrus, characters that he performed himself and included in his shows. From 1960 through 1986, he wrote and produced radio and television advertising for Coca-Cola
products (including Coke
, Sprite
, Tab
, and Minute Maid
) as Creative Director at McCann Erickson
advertising agency, producing many of the famous early television commercials for Coca-Cola
that featured movie stars, sports heroes, and popular singers of the day, including Hank Aaron, Joe Torre
, Fran Tarkenton
, Roger Staubach
, Anita Bryant
, Dottie West
, Howard Duff
, Bob Aspromonte
, Bob Bruce
, Arte Johnson
, "Mean" Joe Greene
, Lyle Waggoner
, Mel Allen
, Bear Bryant
, Harry Kalas
, Kitty Wells
, Bart Starr
, Bobby Allison
, Bobby Knight
, Frank Broyles
, Shug Jordan, Randy Jones
and Dolly Parton
. His work at McCann Erickson
extended to producing commercials for Coca-Cola
bottlers all over the south and occasionally nationwide.
, Naylor was known for writing poetry and acting in high school plays at Central High School in Fort Worth, Texas
. His interest in writing and acting then took him to Hollywood, California, actually riding the rails to get there during the Great Depression
years, washing dishes to support himself, and finally being cast in a cavalry movie in which his only scene was riding up on a horse, receiving orders, and saying "Yes Sir!" to the commander, a scene that Naylor mused telling his friends was "cut from the film". About 1934 he returned to Fort Worth, Texas
, to work as a script writer at KTAT and KFJZ and became a popular singer on the radio in Fort Worth, Texas with Paul Whiteman
's band on the weekly NBC radio show "The Chuck Wagon", for which Naylor also wrote skits for Judy Canova
, the comedy star of the show. While in Texas, he also worked in radio with stars including Ginger Rogers
, Mary Martin
. After his very successful beginnings with his radio writing and performing career in Fort Worth, he was offered a job at WGST in Atlanta in 1936, where he worked on live shows, comedy and quiz shows and a variety of programming until 1950. There, he became a close friend and colleague of the locally well-known Gordon Eaton, who was the main news reader/reporter at WGST in Atlanta. Mr. Naylor later became program director of WAGA radio and television in Atlanta from 1951 through 1959.
.
Library in Atlanta.
Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta is the capital and most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia. According to the 2010 census, Atlanta's population is 420,003. Atlanta is the cultural and economic center of the Atlanta metropolitan area, which is home to 5,268,860 people and is the ninth largest metropolitan area in...
.
Naylor worked at WGST Radio and later WAGA
Waga
Waga is an isolated small town in Colombo District, Sri Lanka. Administrated by Seethawaka Pradeshiya Sabha , it is part of the Padukka Divisional Secretary's Division. The town can be reached on road from Colombo via A4 road, turning off at either Meepe near Padukka or at Kaluaggala near Hanwella...
radio and television in Atlanta. During his career in radio, Naylor created the characters Wee Willie, Madame Bottlestopper, and Uncle Cyrus, characters that he performed himself and included in his shows. From 1960 through 1986, he wrote and produced radio and television advertising for Coca-Cola
Coca-Cola
Coca-Cola is a carbonated soft drink sold in stores, restaurants, and vending machines in more than 200 countries. It is produced by The Coca-Cola Company of Atlanta, Georgia, and is often referred to simply as Coke...
products (including Coke
Coca-Cola
Coca-Cola is a carbonated soft drink sold in stores, restaurants, and vending machines in more than 200 countries. It is produced by The Coca-Cola Company of Atlanta, Georgia, and is often referred to simply as Coke...
, Sprite
Sprite (soft drink)
Sprite is a transparent, lemon-lime flavored , caffeine free soft drink, produced by the Coca-Cola Company. It was introduced in the United States in 1961. This was Coke's response to the popularity of 7 Up, which had begun as "Bib-Label Lithiated Lemon-Lime Soda" in 1929...
, Tab
Tab (soft drink)
Tab, stylized as TaB, is a diet cola soft drink produced by the Coca-Cola Company, first introduced in 1963. The soda was created by Coca Cola after the successful sales and marketing of Diet Rite cola, owned by The Royal Crown Company; previously, Diet Rite had been the only sugarless soda on the...
, and Minute Maid
Minute Maid
Minute Maid is a product line of beverages, usually associated with lemonade or orange juice, but now extends to soft drinks of many kinds, including Hi-C...
) as Creative Director at McCann Erickson
McCann Erickson
McCann Erickson is a global advertising agency network, with offices in more than 130 countries. McCann is a subsidiary of the Interpublic Group of Companies, one of the four large holding companies in the advertising industry....
advertising agency, producing many of the famous early television commercials for Coca-Cola
Coca-Cola
Coca-Cola is a carbonated soft drink sold in stores, restaurants, and vending machines in more than 200 countries. It is produced by The Coca-Cola Company of Atlanta, Georgia, and is often referred to simply as Coke...
that featured movie stars, sports heroes, and popular singers of the day, including Hank Aaron, Joe Torre
Joe Torre
Joseph Paul Torre is a former American professional baseball player and manager who currently serves as Major League Baseball’s Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations. A nine-time All-Star, he played in Major League Baseball as a catcher, first baseman and a third baseman for the...
, Fran Tarkenton
Fran Tarkenton
Francis Asbury "Fran" Tarkenton is a former professional football player, TV personality, and computer software executive....
, Roger Staubach
Roger Staubach
Roger Thomas Staubach is a businessman, Heisman Trophy winner and legendary Hall of Fame former quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys from 1969 until 1979. Staubach was instrumental in developing the Cowboys into becoming one of the best teams of the 1970s and led the team to nine of the Cowboys'...
, Anita Bryant
Anita Bryant
Anita Jane Bryant is an American singer, former Miss Oklahoma beauty pageant winner, and gay rights opponent. She scored four Top 40 hits in the United States in the late 1950s and early 1960s, including "Paper Roses", which reached #5...
, Dottie West
Dottie West
Dottie West was an American country music singer and songwriter. Along with her friends and co-recording artists Patsy Cline and Loretta Lynn, she is considered one of the genre's most influential and groundbreaking female artists...
, Howard Duff
Howard Duff
Howard Green Duff was an American actor of film, television, stage, and radio.Duff was born in Charleston, Washington, now a part of Bremerton. He graduated from Roosevelt High School in Seattle in 1932 where he began acting in school plays only after he was cut from the basketball team...
, Bob Aspromonte
Bob Aspromonte
Robert Thomas Aspromonte is a former utility player who had a 13 year career in 1956 and from 1960 to 1971. He played for the Brooklyn/Los Angeles Dodgers, Houston Colt 45's/Astros, Atlanta Braves and New York Mets all of the National League.During his career, Aspromonte played first base, second...
, Bob Bruce
Bob Bruce
Robert James Bruce is a former starting pitcher in Major League Baseball.Bruce was a mainstay of the expansion Houston Colt .45 starting rotation in that team's early seasons, tying Turk Farrell for the team lead in wins in the Colt .45's inaugural 1962 season, and becoming the first Houston...
, Arte Johnson
Arte Johnson
Arthur Stanton Eric "Arte" Johnson is an American comic actor. Johnson was a regular on Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In. His best-remembered "character" was that of a German soldier with the catchphrase: "Verrrry interesting, but...['stupid', 'not very funny', and other variations]".-Early life:Johnson...
, "Mean" Joe Greene
Joe Greene (American football)
Charles Edward Greene, known as “Mean Joe” Greene, is a former all-pro American football defensive tackle who played for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the NFL. Throughout the early 1970s he was the one of most dominant defensive players in the National Football League...
, Lyle Waggoner
Lyle Waggoner
Lyle Wesley Waggoner is an American actor and former model, best known for his work on The Carol Burnett Show from 1967 to 1974 and for playing the role of Steve Trevor in the Wonder Woman television series from 1975 to 1979...
, Mel Allen
Mel Allen
Mel Allen was an American sportscaster, best known for his long tenure as the primary play-by-play announcer for the New York Yankees. During the peak of his career in the 1940s, 1950s and 1960s, Allen was arguably the most prominent member of his profession, his voice familiar to millions...
, Bear Bryant
Bear Bryant
Paul William "Bear" Bryant was an American college football player and coach. He was best known as the longtime head coach of the University of Alabama football team. During his 25-year tenure as Alabama's head coach, he amassed six national championships and thirteen conference championships...
, Harry Kalas
Harry Kalas
Harry Norbert Kalas was an American sportscaster, best known for his Ford C. Frick Award-winning role as lead play-by-play announcer for Major League Baseball's Philadelphia Phillies...
, Kitty Wells
Kitty Wells
Ellen Muriel Deason , known professionally as Kitty Wells, is an American country music singer. Her 1952 hit recording, "It Wasn't God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels", made her the first female country singer to top the U.S. country charts, and turned her into the first female country star...
, Bart Starr
Bart Starr
Bryan Bartlett "Bart" Starr is a former professional American football player and coach. Wearing #15, he was the quarterback for the Green Bay Packers from 1956 to 1971 and head coach from 1975 to 1983, compiling a record of 52–76–3 ....
, Bobby Allison
Bobby Allison
Robert Arthur Allison is a former NASCAR Winston Cup driver and was named one of NASCAR's 50 greatest drivers. His two sons, Clifford Allison and Davey Allison followed him into racing, and both died within a year of each other....
, Bobby Knight
Bobby Knight
-Indiana:When Indiana University was seeking a new coach in 1971, they turned to Knight. Knight was given the nickname "The General" by former University of Detroit and Detroit Pistons coach-turned-broadcaster Dick Vitale....
, Frank Broyles
Frank Broyles
John Franklin Broyles is a former American football player and coach, athletics administrator, and broadcaster. He served as the head football coach the University of Missouri in 1957 and at the University of Arkansas from 1958 to 1976...
, Shug Jordan, Randy Jones
Randy Jones (baseball player)
Randall Leo Jones , nicknamed "Junkman", is a former Major League Baseball left-handed pitcher. He attended Brea-Olinda High School in Brea, California. He attended Chapman University in Orange, California...
and Dolly Parton
Dolly Parton
Dolly Rebecca Parton is an American singer-songwriter, author, multi-instrumentalist, actress and philanthropist, best known for her work in country music. Dolly Parton has appeared in movies like 9 to 5, The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, Steel Magnolias and Straight Talk...
. His work at McCann Erickson
McCann Erickson
McCann Erickson is a global advertising agency network, with offices in more than 130 countries. McCann is a subsidiary of the Interpublic Group of Companies, one of the four large holding companies in the advertising industry....
extended to producing commercials for Coca-Cola
Coca-Cola
Coca-Cola is a carbonated soft drink sold in stores, restaurants, and vending machines in more than 200 countries. It is produced by The Coca-Cola Company of Atlanta, Georgia, and is often referred to simply as Coke...
bottlers all over the south and occasionally nationwide.
Early years
In his high school years in TexasTexas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
, Naylor was known for writing poetry and acting in high school plays at Central High School in Fort Worth, Texas
Fort Worth, Texas
Fort Worth is the 16th-largest city in the United States of America and the fifth-largest city in the state of Texas. Located in North Central Texas, just southeast of the Texas Panhandle, the city is a cultural gateway into the American West and covers nearly in Tarrant, Parker, Denton, and...
. His interest in writing and acting then took him to Hollywood, California, actually riding the rails to get there during the Great Depression
Great Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
years, washing dishes to support himself, and finally being cast in a cavalry movie in which his only scene was riding up on a horse, receiving orders, and saying "Yes Sir!" to the commander, a scene that Naylor mused telling his friends was "cut from the film". About 1934 he returned to Fort Worth, Texas
Fort Worth, Texas
Fort Worth is the 16th-largest city in the United States of America and the fifth-largest city in the state of Texas. Located in North Central Texas, just southeast of the Texas Panhandle, the city is a cultural gateway into the American West and covers nearly in Tarrant, Parker, Denton, and...
, to work as a script writer at KTAT and KFJZ and became a popular singer on the radio in Fort Worth, Texas with Paul Whiteman
Paul Whiteman
Paul Samuel Whiteman was an American bandleader and orchestral director.Leader of the most popular dance bands in the United States during the 1920s, Whiteman's recordings were immensely successful, and press notices often referred to him as the "King of Jazz"...
's band on the weekly NBC radio show "The Chuck Wagon", for which Naylor also wrote skits for Judy Canova
Judy Canova
Judy Canova , born Juliette Canova, was an American comedienne, actress, singer and radio personality. She appeared on Broadway and in films...
, the comedy star of the show. While in Texas, he also worked in radio with stars including Ginger Rogers
Ginger Rogers
Ginger Rogers was an American actress, dancer, and singer who appeared in film, and on stage, radio, and television throughout much of the 20th century....
, Mary Martin
Mary Martin
Mary Virginia Martin was an American actress and singer. She originated many roles over her career including Nellie Forbush in South Pacific and Maria in The Sound of Music. She was named a Kennedy Center Honoree in 1989...
. After his very successful beginnings with his radio writing and performing career in Fort Worth, he was offered a job at WGST in Atlanta in 1936, where he worked on live shows, comedy and quiz shows and a variety of programming until 1950. There, he became a close friend and colleague of the locally well-known Gordon Eaton, who was the main news reader/reporter at WGST in Atlanta. Mr. Naylor later became program director of WAGA radio and television in Atlanta from 1951 through 1959.
Community service
Naylor's volunteer service to the community in Atlanta was significant. He enjoyed his volunteer work as an "Old Newsboy" and participated in the Old Newsboys Drive every year, selling papers on the streets of Atlanta on their charitable drive days to raise money for low income children. He was a board member of the Variety Club, which was a professional broadcaster's group. He was a board member of the Camp Fire Girls, and for twenty years he was Chairman of the Board of the Atlanta chapter of the American Lung AssociationAmerican Lung Association
The American Lung Association is a voluntary health organization whose mission is to save lives by improving lung health and preventing lung disease.-History:...
.
Archival collection
A large collection of Naylor’s scripts, recordings, and other career memorabilia are on file in the Popular Music Collection, Special Collections & Archives, at Georgia State UniversityGeorgia State University
Georgia State University is a research university in downtown Atlanta, Georgia, USA. Founded in 1913, it serves about 30,000 students and is one of the University System of Georgia's four research universities...
Library in Atlanta.