Jack Berch Explained

Jack Berch
Birth Date:	August 26, 1907 or August 26, 1911
Birth Place:	Sigel, Illinois
Death Date:	December 10, 1992
Death Place:	Jamaica, New York
Occupation:	Singer
Alma Mater:	St. Viator College
Spouse:	Margo Orwig
Children:	4
Known For:	Radio programs

Jack Berch (August 26, 1907 or 1911^[1] – December 10, 1992) was an American baritone singer best known for his radio variety/talk programs^[2] from 1935 to 1954.^[3]

Early years

Berch was born in Sigel, Illinois, where his father ran a general store. Following his father's death, Berch began working after school as a stock boy in a dry goods store when he was "about 11 years old".^[4] His primary and secondary education came in Effingham, Illinois.^[5]

Berch graduated from St. Viator College.^[5] During his college years, he was a dishwasher and played drums for a dance band.^[6] He later worked as a door-to-door coffee salesman who sang as he approached the door of a house. When one potential customer in Youngstown, Ohio, turned out to be the wife of the manager of radio station WKBN, that led to an audition.^[2]

Radio

Berch's first job on radio was at WKBN. He had dual roles as a singer and an announcer, "introducing himself in one voice and singing in another. Then he would thank himself for the performance."^[7]

He also worked at WLW in Cincinnati, WTAM in Cleveland^[1] and WOAI in San Antonio.^[8]

Berch was the star of The Jack Berch Show, a variety/talk program that was broadcast on ABC, CBS, Mutual and NBC at various times from 1935 to 1954.^[3] His programs at times went by other names, including The Kitchen Pirate (1935–36) and The Sweetheart Serenader (1939–1941).^[2] A comment published in the trade publication Radio Daily said, "The singing of Berch is particularly well designed to give the day a sunny sendoff."^[9]

At times, he also wrote scripts and worked as an announcer and producer on other people's programs.^[1]

Recording

In 1950, Berch signed a contract with RCA Victor to make recordings in both children's and popular music genres.^[10]

Personal life

Berch was married to the former Margo Orwig.^[11] They had a son, Jon, and daughters Carol, Shirley,^[12] and Mollie.^[13]

Death

Berch died on December 10, 1992, in Jamaica, New York.^[2]

Partial discography

• Shenanigans/The Greatest Mistake of My Life - 1949 with The Charlie Magnante Trio (London 559)^[14]
• The Letter I Forgot to Mail/Kemo Kimo - 1949 with The Charlie Magnante Trio (Regent 144)^[15]
• Bibbi-Di Bobba-Di Boo/Cinderella - 1950 with The Mullen Sisters and The Charlie Magnante Trio (London 20012)^[16]
• Sunday School Songs (Parts I & II) - 1950 (Victor 470222)^[17]
• The Teddy Bear's Picnic/Me and My Teddy Bear - 1950 with the Henri René Orchestra (Victor 47–0225)^[18]
• The Little Lost Sheep - 1952 (Bibletone KL 221)^[19]

Notes and References

1. Grunwald, Edgar A., Ed. (1940). Variety Radio Directory 1940-1941. Variety, Inc. P. 877.
2. DeLong, Thomas A. (1996). Radio Stars: An Illustrated Biographical Dictionary of 953 Performers, 1920 through 1960. McFarland & Company, Inc. . P. 30.
3. Book: Dunning, John. On the Air: The Encyclopedia of Old-Time Radio. John Dunning (detective fiction author) . 1998. Oxford University Press. New York, NY. 978-0-19-507678-3. 363 . The Jack Berch Show . Revised. 2019-10-20.
4. Berch. Jack. This I Believe. Radio and Television Mirror. April 1950. 33. 5. 26–27, 104–105. 28 November 2015.
5. News: (untitled brief). Altoona Tribune . Altoona Tribune. March 21, 1950. Pennsylvania, Altoona. 13. Newspapers.com. November 30, 2015.
6. Alden. Ken. Facing the Music. Radio Mirror. July 1937. 8. 3. 48–49. 27 November 2015.
7. News: Jack Berch, Young Veteran Of Air, All-Around Artist. The Paris News. May 21, 1939. Texas, Paris. 15. Newspapers.com. December 1, 2015.
8. Births. 2 December 2015. Billboard. April 17, 1948. 44. Google Books.
9. News: Program Reviews and Comments. 2 December 2015. Radio Daily. July 20, 1937. 6.
10. Music--as Written. 2 December 2015. Billboard. May 27, 1950. 18. Google Books.
11. (untitled brief). Radio and Television Mirror. February 1951. 35. 3. 74. 2 December 2015.
12. Berch. Jack. World Full of Neighbors. Radio and Television Mirror. January 1949. 31. 2. 34–35, 83–84. 26 November 2015.
13. Happy Easter. Radio and Television Mirror. April 1948. 29. 5. 39. 27 November 2015.
14. Record Reviews. 2 December 2015. Billboard. December 10, 1949. 34. Google Books.
15. Record Reviews. 2 December 2015. Billboard. March 19, 1949. 40. Google Books.
16. (London Records advertisement). 2 December 2015. Billboard. April 15, 1950. 31. Google Books.
17. Record Reviews. 2 December 2015. Billboard. October 7, 1950. 104. Google Books.
18. Record Reviews. 2 December 2015. Billboard. October 28, 1950. 128. Google Books.
19. Albums and LP Reviews. 2 December 2015. Billboard. November 22, 1952. 88. Google Books.