The Writer and Narrator of “A Tale for Today”
Woody Klose, the author of “A Tale for Today” has been
successful in radio since 1929 when he started as an announcer with KMOX,
50,000 Watt Columbia station in St. Louis. In succeeding years at KMOX he was
Production Manager and Program Director, leaving in 1932 to head the Radio
Department of a St. Louis agency.
In 1935 he started his own station, WTMV in St. Louis, and
functioned as Program Director. His program – “The Family Man” – a fifteen
minute daily monologue – was so successful there that NBC called him to New
York in 1938 and for nearly two years he was heard in this role over the Red
network, running up a mail-pull that has not yet been equaled. While writing
and appearing in “The Family Man,” Klose also wrote “Our Gal Sunday”, a leading
day-time serial for Anacin.
In 1940, “The Family Man” was converted into a half hour
weekly drama which Klose wrote and the played the lead, and which was purchased
by Lever Brothers for use in Canada. It averaged a 20.0 rating for its two year
run in Canada. During this period Klose also wrote “Dr. Susan”, a daily
domestic serial for lever, which averaged 7.5 in audience rating.
In 1942 Klose returned to the United States to become a
free-lance writer and producer and more effectively to operate his Dutchess
County dairy and fruit farm. He now wrote “My Best Girls” for Energine and
“Linda’s First Love” for the Kroger Baking Company.
In 1945 he originated “Mommie and the Men”, based closely on
his own family, for broadcast by Procter and Gamble, producing and directing as
well as writing this program. This program rose from 1.7 Hooper to an 8.3 in
less than six months against very difficult NBC opporsition in the 7:00 PM time
period.
During his years in Canada, Klose’s best friend was Dr.
Murray Moher, who is a nephew of the laste Frank O’Conner, founder of Laura
Secord, and through Moher, Klose acquired a special interest in and
appreciation of the distinctive Fanny Farmer-Laura Secord tradition.
Throughout his career, both as performer and producer and as
a writer, Woody Klose has manifested an unusual understanding of living
breathing human beings… people as they are. All his radio programs have brought
to the microphone real men, women and children in their normal environment – as
part of the American, or Candadian home, and the community of which it is a
part. As a writer, Klose continually emphasizes the traditional values of
loyalty, love and helpfulness that have made the American family the great
institution it is. As a performer, a story teller, Klose’s sincere, kindly, yet
dramatic voice --- his homey interpretation of familiar emotions… tie in
perfectly with the writing. Whatever Woody Klose does, he does simply and
sincerely.
(ARTICLE CITATION)
