A legendary voice behind iconic game shows and radio programs, known for his smooth, resonant tone and charismatic delivery.
George Fenneman is best remembered as the show announcer and straight man on Groucho Marx's hit TV show You Bet Your Life, where his dry wit and straight-laced persona provided the perfect foil to Marx's quick-witted banter.
Born on November 10, 1919, in Peking, China (now Beijing), Fenneman was the only child of Edgar Warfield and Jessie Watt Fenneman. His early life in San Francisco, California, was marked by a passion for drama and performance, and by the age of eight, he was writing and starring in his own plays for his neighborhood friends.
Fenneman graduated from San Francisco Polytechnic High School and later attended San Francisco State College, where he earned a B.A. in Speech and Drama in 1942. It was during his college years that he met fellow student Bob Sweeney, with whom he formed a stand-up comedy team that entertained troops at military bases during World War II.
Due to poor eyesight and asthma, Fenneman was unable to serve in military combat during World War II. Instead, he worked as a broadcast correspondent for the U.S. Office of War Information, where he met Jack Webb, with whom he would later work on the popular radio and TV series Dragnet. During his time with the Office of War Information, Fenneman announced the wartime service show Sound Off, and also worked on various radio programs, including Lunch at the Top of the Mark, for which he was hired by KSFO AM radio in 1941.
Fenneman's big break came when he was recruited by Groucho Marx to serve as the announcer and straight man on You Bet Your Life, a role he played from 1950 to 1961. Marx himself praised Fenneman, saying, "There never was a comedian who was any good unless he had a good straight man, and George was straight on all four sides."
Fenneman continued to work in radio and television throughout his life, making appearances on various shows, including The Tonight Show and The Ed Sullivan Show. He passed away on May 29, 1997, at the age of 77, leaving behind a legacy as one of the most beloved and respected straight men in American comedy history.
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