RALPH PAUL

Radio and Television Announcer and Personality

Taken for Voice Over Portfolio 1980s.

Executive, Educator, Husband and Father

  ( Ralph D. Paul, Jr.)
1920 - 1987

~ commemorating his life ~

Ralph Paul started his professional broadcasting career at the age of 16 at KVOD, Denver. At the time, he was the youngest person to ever have their own Radio Show. He loved radio and continued on the air during his last year at North High and on into his years at Denver University.  After graduating from DU, Phi Beta Kappa, he could have written his own ticket and he did.   WWII intervened and Ralph joined  the AAF  , then the  Army-Air Force. He married and joined many others as a newlywed overseas. He served in the India-Burma Theater of Operations in Communications. After returning stateside and while still in the service, he worked broadcasting for  KTSM  in El Paso, Texas. His love of broadcasting had not diminished at all. The east coast "the place to be in broadcasting" kept calling Ralph. He headed east to Baltimore's WBAL.  That still wasn't New York, but close. Ralph finally landed a broadcast job at WOR in New York, and at last he was "home". That was in the late 40's. He wasn't yet 30. 

At  WOR Ralph did news and whatever else he could just to be on the air in NY. "Strike it Rich" originated on CBS radio in 1947.  Ralph landed "second banana/announcer" and started broadcasting with Warren Hull. Warren and Ralph were a team until 1958. That was "way back" when television was black/white.  "Strike it Rich" was known for the two personalities and their heart line which rang when the contestant finished their down and out story. That line ("heart line")  became a  fad phrase of  the 50's. Warren Hull had the knack of pointing to his "second banana" and Ralph's voice and face became well known.

In addition to the on-air side of broadcasting, Ralph was very active in AFRA (American Federation of Radio Artists), later to become AFTRA (American Federation of Television and Radio Artists) AFL/CIO His membership number was #5. He was on The Board of Directors many times and very active in health and welfare issues for artists. Ralph also was elected to The National Board of SAG (Screen Actors Guild) and remained active for many years, a champion for the rights and benefits of artists. 

Ralph did announcing for many radio shows of the time, he was the host with Bess Meyerson of   "Second Honeymoon", and also announced many TV shows, off camera. In addition to  the television shows, Ralph was in demand for voice-overs and commercials. He was a long time spokesman for such clients as " Colgate-Palmolive",  "Admiral", "Volkswagen"  and many, many others. The list is too long to share here. 
Ralph also traveled with Vaughn Monroe's "Camel Caravan" as "warm up man" and Announcer. This next picture is of Ralph during those years.

taken NYC mid-50's

Even though Ralph was well known after the above shows, he is probably best remembered as being the announcer for "The Ed Sullivan Show".  Ralph announced that show from October 11, 1959 to August, 1961, as alternate week lead announcer and Colgate-Palmolive spokesman.  He also announced the September 12, 1965 Sullivan Show when the Beatles performed. That can be heard on the "The Sullivan Show" featuring the Beatles DVD, released in the fall of 2003. He was back on the show permanently October 25, 1964 until it went off the air on June 6th, 1971.  Many can almost hear that distinguishable voice..."LIVE, from the Ed Sullivan Theater on Broadway...the Ed Sullivan Show, brought to you by...or...AND herrrrre he is (pause)...ED...SULLIVAN".  Often Ed would thank Ralph on camera and once Ed forgot his last name and stuttered through... "Ralph...uh... Ralph, well thank you Ralph". That was Ed.  During the run of the Sullivan Show, Ralph continued doing commercials, personal appearances, hosting, etc.  He also taped  31 programs from March 26, 1961 - November 5, 1961 of "What's My Line"  as regular weekly show announcer & voice of Kellogg's billboards and 31 bumpers.  "The Ed Sullivan Show" had it's last broadcast in June of 1971. It was indeed the end of an era. The next phase of Ralph's life was on the horizon.

Ralph met Roberta in NYC in August 1966. Roberta was singing in a Pub called "The Publik House"  next to "PJ Clarkes" on the upper East side.  They became good friends but Ralph realized it was more than that when he proposed to Roberta on December 13, 1967. They were married in the home of Roberta's parents in Madison, Ohio on January 20, 1968. Attending at the wedding were Ralph's daughter Eileen, Son Martin (who was headed to Vietnam at the time) and Ralph's father, Ralph, Sr. who traveled from Denver to Cleveland by train for the event. Also attending were Roberta's Son, Kenneth and daughter Julianne. Two families merging at a happy event. Roberta moved to Greenwich CT where Ralph had a home. On July 12, 1969 a son Steven Frederick was born and on Mother's Day, May 9, 1971 a daughter Robin Eve was born. The Sullivan Show went off the air in June 1971.

Ralph, his bride of 3 years, son and infant daughter moved to Amityville, Long Island, NY the summer of 1971. He chose Amityville as he had heard it was a great place to live. He heard right.  They moved to Amityville  because the commute from Greenwich, CT was impossible. Ralph had been  hired as the "Director of Radio and Television" at  Nassau Community College on Long Island.   The radio station WHPC  (We Help People Communicate) was still in it's infancy. They welcomed someone with Ralph's expertise and the degree he had earned in Education many years before at UD, finally came to serve him well.  As time went on, a college Television station was developed to enhance the media program. Many students from Nassau went from college directly into broadcasting or related fields. Ralph was very proud of that statistic. 

Ralph's pleasures in his life aside from family, were fly fishing (you can't take Colorado out of the man), wilderness camping in New York's Adirondacks,  golf (he always said "my handicap is my putter",  salt water fishing, Broadway Shows, politics (there was no way one could sway him from his political beliefs), community (he owned, with his wife an Amityville business called "The Village Knotter"  a 70's Macramé  Shop and later,   "Paul Family Day Care"  NYS licensed, to care for and teach children from infant to 12. He and his wife were commended by the Suffolk County Executive for 25 years service to Suffolk's children). The kids just loved him. Ralph also was involved locally in the schools, Cub Scout Pack 2, " The Amityville Club" and a member of Saint Paul's Lutheran Church. 

Ralph retired from Nassau in 1983 due to failing health. The first picture above, taken October 4, 1986 is a treasure. He was to give daughter Julianne away and we are certain he kept himself going to make that wedding.  He failed rapidly after that event. He looked good, but Alzheimer's and other medical problems took their toll. Ralph died November 28, 1987, he was 67 years 1 month and 17 days old. Very young in this day and age. As per his request, he died at home where he had been an invalid the previous 4 years.

Ralph is survived by his wife, Roberta;  daughters Eileen, Julianne and Robin;  sons Martin, Ken and Steven, daughter-in-law Joyce, Son-in-law James Nolan, and grandchildren, Joshua, Chelsea  and Geoffrey Rader, Jennifer, James II, Jacquelynn Nolan and Sarah White. He was predeceased by his first wife Betty Jane, the mother of Eileen and Martin. He was also predeceased by his father, Ralph Paul, Sr. who as a Denver Fireman authored the training manuals used by that Fire Department for many years.  

Ralph had a favorite spot in the Adirondacks where he ALWAYS caught beautiful trout. No one else in the family could land one there. We picture Ralph there, doing what he loved, fly rod in hand. His ashes were scattered along the Moose River in the northwest Adirondacks on February 11, 1988. 

It was a good run Ralph, the voice is stilled, rest in peace. We miss you.............see picture below.

Please note: Added September 8, 2007. Ralph has been gone almost 20 years. For quite a while, I have enjoyed a particular broadcaster in the mornings, on LI NY. He has a great sound and is just the quality that I consider good broadcasting.  His style resembled Ralph in that his sound was "a class act". One morning I decided to enter a contest on the station, and I won. In subsequent e-mails, I mentioned the fact that we consider ourselves a part of "the show biz family". I pointed him to this website and suggested he might enjoy it. His response was such a gift to me and my family. For you see, this many years later I found out that Ralph is still "broadcasting" through this man, who it turns out was a student of Ralph's at WHPC - 90.3 FM, Nassau Community College.

So to you JIM DOUGLAS at KJOY-FM (98.3) 

 THANKS FOR BEING THERE and for the gift you give this family daily. Ralph does live "somewhere out there". He would be real proud of you.
You sir, are indeed a "class act" and a real pro at what you do.    Link to KJOY - FM

Roberta Paul (Mrs. Ralph Paul)

Compiled by 
Roberta Paul
(Copyright 2001-2008
Roberta Paul)         

The Song Playing is known by a couple of different titles.

"There is a Ship" and "The River Is Wide"

Picture below was taken the day after we were married, with Ed Sullivan.
Ralph had to do the show before we went on a honeymoon. We honeymooned
the following week in a cabin in the backwoods of Bear Mountain NY. Each year
afterward, we would spend time there even with our children. Indeed,
Very happy times!

Picture taken - January 21, 1968