Sally Starr TV Hostess
Encyclopedia
Sally Starr adopted a cowgirl persona and appealed to local TV audiences for several generations of children that established her as a prominent 1950s celebrity
television
personality, that included a lifetime mix of diverse entertainment accomplishments in
American
radio
, Broadway
stage and Movies continuing for over 60 years.
, and legally changed her name to Starr in 1941. She was the second oldest of five girls. Her parents, Charles and Bertha Beller, encouraged her to enter the world of show business for which she exhibited both talent and ambition. At the age of 12 years, she and her sister Mildred, billed as the "Little Missouri Maids," made their first debut on a CBS radio program titled "Blush Creek Follies".
-TV (now WPVI) from the 1950s to 1971. The character became an icon in the greater Philadelphia area.
Her program was usually known as "Popeye Theater" or a variation, which presented Popeye
cartoons and Three Stooges
shorts (aka the "Funny Film"). For a time, she was also hostess of "Starr Theater," which ran after 'Popeye Theater' and presented a cowboy movie. The program ran from the 1950s through 1971.
She was dressed in bright red full cowgirl regalia, including gun and holsters. Her opening line was, "Hope you feel as good as you look, 'cause you sure look good to your gal Sal." She closed with "May the Good Lord be blessing you and your family. Bye for now!"
Sally hosted a number of guest visitors including the Three Stooges
and Colonel Sanders
, plus local legends Dick Clark
and Chief Halftown
.
She was popular at her many public appearances, including many on her horses, Pal, Silver, Cane, and Rusty. She continues to make public appearances near her home in southern New Jersey
. She also hosted a radio show on WVLT
, 92.1 FM in Vineland, New Jersey
until retiring in September 2006. In 2009 she returned to WVLT to host the "Suppertime Jamboree" which airs every Saturday at 5pm.
Besides her TV career and recording career, Sally appeared in the Three Stooges features film The Outlaws Is Coming
in the role of sharpshooter Belle Starr. She also appeared in The In Crowd
, Mannequin on the Move and Holiday Journey.
Sally was also a recording artist, in 1958 recording the full-length album Our Gal Sal backed by Bill Haley & His Comets
. She sold thousands of records under the Clymax label, which was one of Haley's companies. Bill Haley co-wrote the songs "A.B.C. Rock" and "Rocky the Rockin' Rabbit" for her which were released as singles (the former would later be covered by Haley himself; the latter was released in 1959 as a standalone single unconnected with the album). Although Our Gal Sal was out of print by the 1960s, in the 1970s and 80s several of these recordings reappeared on a series of compilation albums put out by the UK-based Rollercoaster Records label entitled Rockaphilly.
Fans in the Philadelphia metropolitan area, known as the Delaware Valley, embraced her cowgirl personality as part of their own families, and sometimes referred to her as Aunt Sally. Her numerous personal appearances at events were an attraction for both children and adults.She was considered not only a character personality, but also a total performer. She was a pioneer in the history of early broadcast TV and radio. She became the first top-rated female DJ in the country, and worked as announcer, writer and producer while also appearing on stage and in movies.
She has written her autobiography, titled Me, Thee, & TV.
Starr currently operates a pizza/ice cream restaurant in Atco, New Jersey.
Celebrity
A celebrity, also referred to as a celeb in popular culture, is a person who has a prominent profile and commands a great degree of public fascination and influence in day-to-day media...
television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
personality, that included a lifetime mix of diverse entertainment accomplishments in
American
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...
, Broadway
Broadway theatre
Broadway theatre, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 40 professional theatres with 500 or more seats located in the Theatre District centered along Broadway, and in Lincoln Center, in Manhattan in New York City...
stage and Movies continuing for over 60 years.
Biography
Starr was born Alleen Mae Beller in Kansas City, MissouriKansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri is the largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri and is the anchor city of the Kansas City Metropolitan Area, the second largest metropolitan area in Missouri. It encompasses in parts of Jackson, Clay, Cass, and Platte counties...
, and legally changed her name to Starr in 1941. She was the second oldest of five girls. Her parents, Charles and Bertha Beller, encouraged her to enter the world of show business for which she exhibited both talent and ambition. At the age of 12 years, she and her sister Mildred, billed as the "Little Missouri Maids," made their first debut on a CBS radio program titled "Blush Creek Follies".
Broadcast, acting, and recording artist
Her broadcast and entertainment career began with creation of the character of a blonde cowgirl who hosted an afternoon children's program for Philadelphia station WFILWFIL
WFIL is a radio station and a former television station serving the city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Its transmitter is located in Lafayette Hill, Pennsylvania....
-TV (now WPVI) from the 1950s to 1971. The character became an icon in the greater Philadelphia area.
Her program was usually known as "Popeye Theater" or a variation, which presented Popeye
Popeye
Popeye the Sailor is a cartoon fictional character created by Elzie Crisler Segar, who has appeared in comic strips and animated cartoons in the cinema as well as on television. He first appeared in the daily King Features comic strip Thimble Theatre on January 17, 1929...
cartoons and Three Stooges
Three Stooges
The Three Stooges were an American vaudeville and comedy act of the early to mid–20th century best known for their numerous short subject films. Their hallmark was physical farce and extreme slapstick. In films, the Stooges were commonly known by their first names: "Moe, Larry, and Curly" and "Moe,...
shorts (aka the "Funny Film"). For a time, she was also hostess of "Starr Theater," which ran after 'Popeye Theater' and presented a cowboy movie. The program ran from the 1950s through 1971.
She was dressed in bright red full cowgirl regalia, including gun and holsters. Her opening line was, "Hope you feel as good as you look, 'cause you sure look good to your gal Sal." She closed with "May the Good Lord be blessing you and your family. Bye for now!"
Sally hosted a number of guest visitors including the Three Stooges
Three Stooges
The Three Stooges were an American vaudeville and comedy act of the early to mid–20th century best known for their numerous short subject films. Their hallmark was physical farce and extreme slapstick. In films, the Stooges were commonly known by their first names: "Moe, Larry, and Curly" and "Moe,...
and Colonel Sanders
Colonel Sanders
Harland David "Colonel" Sanders was an American fast food businessman who founded the Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurant chain, now re-branded as KFC...
, plus local legends Dick Clark
Dick Clark (entertainer)
Richard Wagstaff "Dick" Clark is an American businessman; game-show host; and radio and television personality. He served as chairman and chief executive officer of Dick Clark Productions, which he has sold part of in recent years...
and Chief Halftown
Traynor Ora Halftown
Traynor Ora Halftown , better known as "Chief Halftown", was an entertainer who hosted a children's show that aired on WFIL-TV in Philadelphia from 1950 to 1999.....
.
She was popular at her many public appearances, including many on her horses, Pal, Silver, Cane, and Rusty. She continues to make public appearances near her home in southern New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
. She also hosted a radio show on WVLT
WVLT (FM)
WVLT is a radio station licensed to Vineland, New Jersey. The station is owned by Clear Communications, Inc. It airs an Oldies music format....
, 92.1 FM in Vineland, New Jersey
Vineland, New Jersey
Vineland is a city in Cumberland County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city had a total population of 60,724...
until retiring in September 2006. In 2009 she returned to WVLT to host the "Suppertime Jamboree" which airs every Saturday at 5pm.
Besides her TV career and recording career, Sally appeared in the Three Stooges features film The Outlaws Is Coming
The Outlaws Is Coming
The Outlaws IS Coming! is the sixth and last theatrical feature film to star the Three Stooges after their 1959 resurgence in popularity. By this time, the trio consisted of Moe Howard, Larry Fine, and Joe DeRita . Like its predecessor, The Three Stooges Go Around the World in a Daze...
in the role of sharpshooter Belle Starr. She also appeared in The In Crowd
The In Crowd
The In Crowd may refer to:A generic name probably coined in the swinging sixties to refer to people who went to the best parties*"The 'In' Crowd" , originally performed by Dobie Gray and covered by many other artists, most notably the Ramsey Lewis Trio...
, Mannequin on the Move and Holiday Journey.
Sally was also a recording artist, in 1958 recording the full-length album Our Gal Sal backed by Bill Haley & His Comets
Bill Haley & His Comets
Bill Haley & His Comets was an American rock and roll band that was founded in 1952 and continued until Haley's death in 1981. The band, also known by the names Bill Haley and The Comets and Bill Haley's Comets , was the earliest group of white musicians to bring rock and roll to the attention of...
. She sold thousands of records under the Clymax label, which was one of Haley's companies. Bill Haley co-wrote the songs "A.B.C. Rock" and "Rocky the Rockin' Rabbit" for her which were released as singles (the former would later be covered by Haley himself; the latter was released in 1959 as a standalone single unconnected with the album). Although Our Gal Sal was out of print by the 1960s, in the 1970s and 80s several of these recordings reappeared on a series of compilation albums put out by the UK-based Rollercoaster Records label entitled Rockaphilly.
Fans in the Philadelphia metropolitan area, known as the Delaware Valley, embraced her cowgirl personality as part of their own families, and sometimes referred to her as Aunt Sally. Her numerous personal appearances at events were an attraction for both children and adults.She was considered not only a character personality, but also a total performer. She was a pioneer in the history of early broadcast TV and radio. She became the first top-rated female DJ in the country, and worked as announcer, writer and producer while also appearing on stage and in movies.
She has written her autobiography, titled Me, Thee, & TV.
Starr currently operates a pizza/ice cream restaurant in Atco, New Jersey.