John Conte

In his four-and-a-half-hour interview, John Conte (1915-2006) talks about his early professional career as an announcer for network radio on such programs as The Screen Guild Theater and Burns and Allen. Conte describes his roles as the "Singing M. C." on radio's Maxwell House Coffee Time, acting as the straight man for the comedy of Frank Morgan. He talks about his brief appearance in movies as an actor, notably in the Abbott and Costello film Lost in a Harem, before his entrance into the service in World War II. Conte details his work after the war as an actor and singer on Broadway and on "live" television. Among the series in which he appeared were Studio One, The Chevrolet Tele-Theatre, and Musical Comedy Time. Conte describes his work as a regular on Van Camp's Little Show, which through his association became known as John Conte's Little Show, and which featured Conte and various musical guests and regulars. Conte also discusses in detail the Matinee Theatre anthology series, an ambitious undertaking that offered a different "live" production every afternoon for three straight years (1955-58). Conte appeared as the host on every show (and occasionally appeared as an actor on the series). Conte describes his appearances on four productions of Max Liebman Presents, which were elaborate musical specials on NBC. He talks about his numerous other appearances on television series as a regular and as a guest actor, including numerous appearances on Perry Mason. He describes in detail the creation of the Palm Springs television station KMIR-TV, an NBC affiliate, and his 30-year service as its president, general manager, and owner. Morrie Gelman conducted the interview on July 27, 1999 in Malibu, CA.