Roger Williams

Denver, Colorado, USA

Biography

Roger Williams was a veteran of World War I. He became a 2 Lt. Quartermaster on August 15th, 1917. He became 1st Lt. on March 4th, 1918 and Captain on October 7th, 1918. He was stationed at Fort Harrison, Indiana. He was involved with the "American Expetionary Force on September 30th, 1918. He was honorably discharged on July 17th, 1919. He was also awarded the 'purple heart' for valor beyond the call of duty. He attended the College of Mines in Denver, Colorado, but he did not graduate from there. He came to California in 1924 and soon began his career in motion pictures. He didn't act at first. He was an assistant to producers, but sometime later he began acting. He mostly appeared in westerns and 'oaters'. He had another occupation as well. As of the 1930 United States Census Report, he was a public accountant and five years later he became an auditor for a hotel in Los Angeles. He passed away in Mono County, California near Mammoth Lakes while he was working there in a motion picture to be made. Unfortunately, someone else had to take his place. He lived in a modest home in Beverly Hills, California at the time of his death. Finally, he did work at Republic Pictures Studio from 1935 to 1937. After that he worked for mostly poverty row motion picture producers. One being 'Harry S. Webb Productions' which was located on Hollywood Boulevard. He also freelanced himself as his own agent in a Mid-Wilshire District office. Date of Birth 13 July 1889, Dayton, Ohio Date of Death 6 July 1939, Wildyrie Camp, Mammoth Lakes, California (angina pectoris)

Movies

“The Bell Telephone Hour” was a musical variety show that aired on “NBC” TV from 12 January 1959 to 14 June 1968 that showcased the best in Broadway, Classical, Concert, Jazz and Popular music each week. The series had its’ own house band appropriately named the “Bell Telephone Orchestra”. The show also had its’ own theme song being the “Bell Waltz” composed by “Donald Voorhees” who was also the show's Orchestra conductor. Some of the greatest violinists of the 1960’s performed on this show that aired in the old “Black & White” format. Some of these great violinists included “Erica Mornin”, “Isaac Stern", "Michael Rabin", "Ruggiero Ricci", "Yehudi Menuhin" and "Zino Francesacatti". From time to time some of the great singers and bandleaders of the 1960’s would perform on the show as well. Some of these were “Bing Crosby”, “Gordon MacRae”, “John Gary”, “Leslie Uggams”, “Mary Martin”, “Nelson Eddy”, “Patti Page” and “Roy Rogers”. The TV show followed on the heels of its’ predecessor with the same name on “NBC” radio that aired from 29 April 1940 to 1958 on Monday nights at 8 PM. The name of the show was derived from its’ Major sponsor “Bell Telephone Laboratories”. The TV version began airing on Friday nights at 8:30 PM once a month. It later was given it’s same time slot now airing every other week alternating with another show on the other weeks such as News shows and specials. The show time slot changed quite often over the years. In September 1960 it aired at 9 PM and in September 1961 it moved to 9:30 PM. In October 1963 it moved to Tuesday nights at 10 PM, September 1965 it moved to Sunday night at 6:30 PM and in September 1967 it made its' final move back to Friday night at 10 PM.

More info
The Bell Telephone Hour
1959