John Bartholomew Tucker
Encyclopedia
John Bartholomew Tucker is an American
radio
and television
personality, as well as an author
.
Along with Big Wilson, Tucker was one of the last two "communicators" (hosts) of the long-running NBC Radio program Monitor
; he was on the air when the show signed off for the last time on January 26, 1975. On television, he was seen as the host of the short-lived unique lagoon game show
Treasure Isle, filmed at The Colonnades Beach Hotel on Singer Island which aired on ABC
from 1967 to 1968.
In the early 1970s, Tucker hosted a local morning show on WABC-TV
, in New York
, called A.M. New York, which served as the genesis for what is now Good Morning America
, as well as being an indirect ancestor to what is now Live with Regis and Kelly
. He also was the co-host of the syndicated
version of Candid Camera
from 1974 to 1975, and again from 1977 to 1978. He has done voice-over
work on numerous commercials and other projects over the years, notably for Fotomat
in the 1970s and '80s, Dirt Devil
vacuum cleaners in the '90s, and also for Owens-Corning and their "Pink Panther" spots advertising their fiberglass
insulation
.
In 1975, he played a bit part in the movie, Abduction.
Tucker is known to have written two novels, both based on the television business:
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
radio
Radio
Radio is the transmission of signals through free space by modulation of electromagnetic waves with frequencies below those of visible light. Electromagnetic radiation travels by means of oscillating electromagnetic fields that pass through the air and the vacuum of space...
and television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
personality, as well as an author
Author
An author is broadly defined as "the person who originates or gives existence to anything" and that authorship determines responsibility for what is created. Narrowly defined, an author is the originator of any written work.-Legal significance:...
.
Along with Big Wilson, Tucker was one of the last two "communicators" (hosts) of the long-running NBC Radio program Monitor
Monitor (NBC Radio)
NBC Monitor was an American weekend radio program broadcast from June 12, 1955, until January 26, 1975. Airing live and nationwide on the NBC Radio Network, it originally aired beginning Saturday morning at 8am and continuing through the weekend until 12 midnight on Sunday...
; he was on the air when the show signed off for the last time on January 26, 1975. On television, he was seen as the host of the short-lived unique lagoon game show
Game show
A game show is a type of radio or television program in which members of the public, television personalities or celebrities, sometimes as part of a team, play a game which involves answering questions or solving puzzles usually for money and/or prizes...
Treasure Isle, filmed at The Colonnades Beach Hotel on Singer Island which aired on ABC
American Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
from 1967 to 1968.
In the early 1970s, Tucker hosted a local morning show on WABC-TV
WABC-TV
WABC-TV, channel 7, is the flagship station of the Disney-owned American Broadcasting Company located in New York City. The station's studios and offices are located on the Upper West Side section of Manhattan, adjacent to ABC's corporate headquarters, and its transmitter is atop the Empire State...
, in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, called A.M. New York, which served as the genesis for what is now Good Morning America
Good Morning America
Good Morning America is an American morning news and talk show that is broadcast on the ABC television network; it debuted on November 3, 1975. The weekday program airs for two hours; a third hour aired between 2007 and 2008 exclusively on ABC News Now...
, as well as being an indirect ancestor to what is now Live with Regis and Kelly
Live with Regis and Kelly
Live! with Kelly is a syndicated American television morning talk show, hosted by Kelly Ripa. The show has aired since 1983 in New York City and 1988 nationwide. Tony Pigg has been the show's announcer since its inception...
. He also was the co-host of the syndicated
Television syndication
In broadcasting, syndication is the sale of the right to broadcast radio shows and television shows by multiple radio stations and television stations, without going through a broadcast network, though the process of syndication may conjure up structures like those of a network itself, by its very...
version of Candid Camera
Candid Camera
Candid Camera is a hidden camera/practical joke reality television series created and produced by Allen Funt, which initially began on radio as Candid Microphone June 28, 1947...
from 1974 to 1975, and again from 1977 to 1978. He has done voice-over
Voice-over
Voice-over is a production technique where a voice which is not part of the narrative is used in a radio, television production, filmmaking, theatre, or other presentations...
work on numerous commercials and other projects over the years, notably for Fotomat
Fotomat
Fotomat was a once-widespread retail chain of photo development drive-thru kiosks located in shopping center parking lots. Fotomat Corporation was founded by Preston Fleet in San Diego, California, in the 1960s, , and became a public company in 1971 and listed on the New York Stock Exchange in 1977...
in the 1970s and '80s, Dirt Devil
Dirt Devil
Dirt Devil is a brand name of household vacuum cleaners and floor care. There are two main units: Power for large houses, and RV unit for smaller houses or apartments, as well as a number of other floor care products including hand-held vacuum cleaners and carpet shampooing machines.-Company...
vacuum cleaners in the '90s, and also for Owens-Corning and their "Pink Panther" spots advertising their fiberglass
Fiberglass
Glass fiber is a material consisting of numerous extremely fine fibers of glass.Glassmakers throughout history have experimented with glass fibers, but mass manufacture of glass fiber was only made possible with the invention of finer machine tooling...
insulation
Thermal insulation
Thermal insulation is the reduction of the effects of the various processes of heat transfer between objects in thermal contact or in range of radiative influence. Heat transfer is the transfer of thermal energy between objects of differing temperature...
.
In 1975, he played a bit part in the movie, Abduction.
Tucker is known to have written two novels, both based on the television business:
- He'd Dead, She's Dead — Details at Eleven (ISBN 0-517-07807-4), published in 1991 by Random HouseRandom HouseRandom House, Inc. is the largest general-interest trade book publisher in the world. It has been owned since 1998 by the German private media corporation Bertelsmann and has become the umbrella brand for Bertelsmann book publishing. Random House also has a movie production arm, Random House Films,...
- The Man Who Looked Like Howard Cosell (ISBN 0-312-02248-4), published in 1988 by St. Martin's PressSt. Martin's PressSt. Martin's Press is a book publisher headquartered in the Flatiron Building in New York City. Currently, St. Martin's Press is one of the United States' largest publishers, bringing to the public some 700 titles a year under eight imprints, which include St. Martin's Press , St...
.
