Jack Murdock (actor)
Encyclopedia
Jack Murdock was an American
actor. He appeared in 50 films between 1973
and 1998
.
He was born in Ohio
, USA and died in Burbank, California
at age 78.
He had some television roles in St. Louis, Missouri during the 1960s. One memorable role was as Kronos, the host of the television show Zone 2 on KTVI
from August 1965 to August 1966. The show was named Zone 2 because KTVI-TV (the local ABC affiliate at the time and currently a Fox
affiliate) broadcast on Channel 2 and probably as a play on The Twilight Zone as it aired low-budget science fiction and horror movies. It aired at 3:30 pm–5:30 pm for the benefit of school-age kids. The movies shown were severely edited to fit into the time slot, to make room for commercials, and to allow for Kronos to introduce each segment.
Murdock appared in Big Top Pee-wee
as Otis with New York City
native David Byrd as Deke. He was also familiar to St. Louis television viewers as the personification of "Grandpa Pidgeon" on commercials for the GrandPa's
(also known as Grandpa Pidgeon's) chain of 15 discount retail stores in the St. Louis area and nearby Illinois and Missouri locations.
He hosted the local KTVI-TV presentation of Adventures of Superman
in 1962, appearing as Mr. Willoughby on a program called Treehouse Time. Mr. Willoughby lived in a treehouse and introduced Superman and a cartoon from there. The show was 45 minutes long, leaving 15 minutes for local news at the head of the hour.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
actor. He appeared in 50 films between 1973
1973 in film
The year 1973 in film involved some significant events.-Events:*The Marx Brothers' Zeppo Marx divorces his second wife, Barbara Blakely. Blakely would later marry actor/singer Frank Sinatra....
and 1998
1998 in film
-Events:* February 14 - Sharon Stone marries Phil Bronstein.* Former child star Gary Coleman is charged with assaulting a young female bus driver at a California shopping mall.-Top grossing films:...
.
He was born in Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
, USA and died in Burbank, California
Burbank, California
Burbank is a city in Los Angeles County in Southern California, United States, north of downtown Los Angeles. The estimated population in 2010 was 103,340....
at age 78.
He had some television roles in St. Louis, Missouri during the 1960s. One memorable role was as Kronos, the host of the television show Zone 2 on KTVI
KTVI
KTVI, virtual channel 2, is the Fox-affiliated television station serving the St. Louis, Missouri, designated market area. The station is owned by Local TV LLC, the media arm of private equity firm Oak Hill Capital Partners, under a local marketing agreement with Tribune-owned CW affiliate KPLR...
from August 1965 to August 1966. The show was named Zone 2 because KTVI-TV (the local ABC affiliate at the time and currently a Fox
Fox Broadcasting Company
Fox Broadcasting Company, commonly referred to as Fox Network or simply Fox , is an American commercial broadcasting television network owned by Fox Entertainment Group, part of Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation. Launched on October 9, 1986, Fox was the highest-rated broadcast network in the...
affiliate) broadcast on Channel 2 and probably as a play on The Twilight Zone as it aired low-budget science fiction and horror movies. It aired at 3:30 pm–5:30 pm for the benefit of school-age kids. The movies shown were severely edited to fit into the time slot, to make room for commercials, and to allow for Kronos to introduce each segment.
Murdock appared in Big Top Pee-wee
Big Top Pee-wee
Big Top Pee-wee is the 1988 American family comedy sequel to the 1985 film, Pee-wee's Big Adventure, and stars Paul Reubens as Pee-wee Herman, Penelope Ann Miller, Valeria Golino, and Kris Kristofferson. The original music score is composed by Danny Elfman. The film is marketed with the tagline...
as Otis with New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
native David Byrd as Deke. He was also familiar to St. Louis television viewers as the personification of "Grandpa Pidgeon" on commercials for the GrandPa's
GrandPa's
GrandPa's or GrandPa Pidgeon's was a discount store founded in 1954 by Tom and Mildred Pidgeon, spreading across the midwest from its Bridgeton, Missouri origins, which remained truly "discount", when most others like Venture, Kmart and Target gradually raised prices in order to finance a more...
(also known as Grandpa Pidgeon's) chain of 15 discount retail stores in the St. Louis area and nearby Illinois and Missouri locations.
He hosted the local KTVI-TV presentation of Adventures of Superman
Adventures of Superman (TV series)
Adventures of Superman is an American television series based on comic book characters and concepts created in 1938 by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster. The show is the first television series to feature Superman and began filming in 1951 in California...
in 1962, appearing as Mr. Willoughby on a program called Treehouse Time. Mr. Willoughby lived in a treehouse and introduced Superman and a cartoon from there. The show was 45 minutes long, leaving 15 minutes for local news at the head of the hour.