Posted on 07/20/2018 6:27:06 PM PDT by eastforker
Born in Kentucky in 1920, Conrad was the son of a theatre-owner who moved to southern California, where he excelled at drama and literature while at school.
He began his career as an announcer, writer and director for the Los Angeles radio station KMPC, before becoming a Second World War fighter-pilot in 1943. Two years later, he left the US Air Force with the rank of captain, having finished his time in it as producer-director of the Armed Forces Radio Service.
Back in civvy street, Conrad acted in radio dramas and was the original Marshal Matt Dillon in the so-called adult western Gunsmoke, which ran for 11 years on CBS, before it switched to television, with James Arness taking over the lead role.
(Excerpt) Read more at airforce.togetherweserved.com ...
What was his weight in 1943? He must have met spec then.
I sat in a stock P-51D cockpit once. I opine that Cannon would not have fit.
Conrad had a deep voice, but on the radio it always sounded a little forced or artificial. The network execs didn’t let any of the radio cast make the transition to the TV version. That had to hurt, financially too.
Bullwinkle, for good or ill, permanently affected the trajectory of my life.
Greetings, brother.
L
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