CCAirwaves

Famous Figures- Gene Carroll

• The Catholic Cemeteries Association

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Join us as we learn more about the legacy of Gene Carroll. Discover the man behind the "Gene Carroll Show" and the incredible journey that led him to Cleveland!


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Speaker 1:

Welcome. Hello everyone, and welcome back to CC Airwaves. I'm your host, paige Matillo, and today we're diving into the remarkable life of a true Cleveland legend, jean Carroll. Cleveland is no stranger to talent. Many notable athletes and professionals have found success here and Jean Carroll is no exception. Best known for his television program, the Jean Carroll Show, he became a household name throughout the 1950s and 60s, captivating audience with his charisma and talent. But behind the bright lights and TV awards lies a story not many have heard. Today we're peeling back the curtain to reveal the man behind the fame, exploring his journey, impact and the legacy he left behind in the heart of Cleveland.

Speaker 1:

Carroll was born on April 13th 1897 in Chicago, illinois. It seemed like Carroll was drawn to the stage and public eye at a young age, as he first started acting when he was five years old in a production of A Midsummer's Night's Dream. This seemed to spark a deep desire to perform and resulted in Carroll dropping out of high school to pursue a career in variety shows. After a few brief stints, carroll ended up working at a radio station where he met the man who had become his business partner, glenn Raul. Carroll Raul and Ford Rush built a very successful radio show. However, rush left the show in 1929 when Carroll and Raul, then dubbed Gene and Glenn, relocated to Cleveland after receiving an offer to triple their salary. Working at WTAM in Cleveland, gene and Glenn garnered a huge audience and were often featured on the NBC radio network. It's reported that the two received upwards of 40,000 pieces of fan mail a day and broke several box office records at the Palace Theater in Cleveland. The two had their fair share of success at other national radio stations before Raul decided to leave in 1943 to assist in the efforts of World War II. It was after Raul decided to leave the act that Carroll accepted the role of Lena the Maid on the Fibber, mcgee and Molly program on NBC.

Speaker 1:

After playing this role for a few years, carroll decided to move back to Cleveland and start a talent school. This talent school was the building block for the show that would eventually give Gene Carroll his major source of fame. Carroll's talent school became very popular and Carroll eventually began to showcase some of his students on his show Giant Tiger. Amateur Hour later renamed the Gene Carroll Show Earing on Sunday afternoons. The show became an instant hit, featuring several national and local stars.

Speaker 1:

Carroll passed away in March 1972 and is buried at Calvary Cemetery in Cleveland. And that brings us to the end of our journey through the life of Gene Carroll. As we close today's episode, let's remember the joy and laughter he brought into our homes and hearts, a legacy that continues to resonate even now. Thank you for tuning in to CC Airwaves. It's been a pleasure sharing this extraordinary story with you. If there is a famous figure you'd like us to discuss in an upcoming episode, we'd love to hear from you. Please email your suggestion to podcast at clecemorg or drop us a message on our social media platforms at CC Airwaves. Have a good one.