Frederick William Foy | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | (1921-03-21)March 21, 1921 |
| Died | December 22, 2010(2010-12-22) (aged 89) |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Branch | United States Army |
| Service years | 1942–1946 |
| Rank | Corporal |
| Unit | 14th Special Service Company |
| Conflicts | World War II |
| Other work | Radio and television announcer |
Frederick William Foy (March 27, 1921 – December 22, 2010) was an American radio and television announcer and actor. He is best known for his narration ofThe Lone Ranger. Radio historianJim Harmon described Foy as "the announcer, perhaps the greatest announcer-narrator in the history of radio drama."[1]
Shortly after graduating from high school in 1938, Foy began in broadcasting with a part-time position atWMBC, a 250-watt independent station in Detroit. He moved toWXYZ in 1942, butWorld War II interrupted his radio career.
He was inducted August 28, 1942, entering the American armed forces September 11, 1942. Attached to the 14thSpecial Service Company, Sergeant Fred Foy became the American voice on Egyptian State Broadcasting, delivering news and special programs to the Allied Forces in Cairo. He handled the distribution throughout the Middle East of American recordings, in addition to local broadcasts ofCommand Performance,Mail Call,Personal Album,Radio Bric-a-Brac andFront Line Theatre. He also announcedThe American Forces Programme. ForStars and Stripes he didAmerican News Letter, a weekly summary of news from America, plus sport flashes and items from various theatres of war. For Cairo cinemas, he announcedHeadline News of the Day. Foy helped stage and announceUSO sponsored programs, including aJack Benny broadcast from Cairo to New York and anAndre Kostelanetz concert withLily Pons.
Foy scripted his own shows, includingUp To Scratch, a lively program of the current hit tunes, andShows on Parade, which he hosted. When he wrote and directedChristmas Overseas, broadcast from theChurch of the Nativity inBethlehem, inthe Holy Land it received top honors from Washington. Featuring Christmas music by the Franciscan Boys’ Orphanage Choir, the program opened with a Christmas story offering reasons for fighting the War. Working withStars and Stripes, he created and announced a program airingWorld Seriesplay-by-play to GIs. He also scripted, directed and acted with theAmerican Red Cross during the 1945 War Fund Campaign. Foy received a commendation for voluntarily remaining at his post during the hours from August 10, 1945, until final August 15 confirmation of the Japanese surrender, making the latest news available at all times during the news emergency prior to the surrender. He was discharged on January 3, 1946, atCamp Atterbury inIndiana.
After the war, Foy returned to WXYZ in Detroit. He took over the position of announcer and narrator for radio'sThe Lone Ranger beginning July 2, 1948 and continuing until the series ended on September 3, 1954. He understudied the title role and stepped into the part on March 29, 1954, whenBrace Beemer had laryngitis. His long run as announcer and narrator ofThe Lone Ranger made the Foy's distinctive voice a radio trademark. He was also heard on radio'sThe Green Hornet andChallenge of the Yukon.[2][3]
His stentorian delivery of the program's lead-in thrilled his audience for years and helped the program achieve even greater popularity and status. Most radio historians agree that Foy'sLone Ranger introduction is the most recognized opening in American radio:
In 1955, Foy reprised his famous "Return with us now..." opening narration forThe Lone Ranger television series (1949–57) in syndication (ActorGerald Mohr did the opening narration in the original network run). In 1961, Foy joined the ABC announcing staff in New York. ForABC Television he spent five years as announcer and on-camera commercial spokesman forThe Dick Cavett Show. He was also the announcer forThe Generation Gap and other network quiz shows. ForABC Radio he narrated the award-winning news documentary,Voices in the Headlines, as well as serving as host and narrator for the ABC's radio drama series,Theatre 5 (1964–65). He narrated network documentary specials in tribute to SirWinston Churchill,John F. Kennedy,Herbert Hoover and others.
As spokesman for national advertisers, Foy representedColgate,General Motors andSinclair. Foy, who was also heard doing newscasts on WABC radio in New York, stayed with ABC until 1985. He was also the voiceover for the fall promo onNET in 1966.
Additionally, Mr. Foy was the on-air announcer for several Miss America pageant telecasts in the 1980s which were held in Atlantic City, New Jersey.
Fred Foy was inducted into theNational Radio Hall of Fame in March 2000 and received the Golden Boot Award from the Motion Picture and Television Fund in August 2004.
Foy performed his "Return with us now..."Lone Ranger opening narration live at theHollywood Bowl in August 2000, with theHollywood Bowl Orchestra and conductorJohn Mauceri. In 1986, he wrote his autobiography,Fred Foy from XYZ to ABC: A Fond Recollection, and he has also released a 45-minute CD/cassette of memories,Meanwhile, Back at the Ranch.
Fred Foy died on December 21, 2010, of natural causes.[5]
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