Morgan, Henry

▪ 1995

      (HENRY LERNER VON OST), U.S. radio announcer and television personality (b. March 31, 1915, New York, N.Y.—d. May 19, 1994, New York), singed the airwaves with his savage wit as the sardonic host of "Here's Morgan," which showcased his gifts as a mordant ad-libber; his irrepressible satiric commentary was so biting and irreverent that it even extended to network sponsors advertising Life Savers, Oh! Henry candy bars, and Schick razors and was the source of his blacklisting during the 1950s communist witch-hunts. At the age of 18 Morgan held court as the youngest radio announcer in the U.S. He worked in Philadelphia, New York City, Duluth, Minn., and Boston before launching his own show in the 1940s. After serving in the army air forces during World War II, he returned to the airwaves and continued to dispense his unique brand of humour. Though he was blacklisted, he did find work on television as the star of "Henry Morgan's Talent Hunt" (1951) and "Here's Morgan" (1953) and as a regular panelist on "I've Got a Secret" and "What's My Line?"

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