Art Hellyer
Recorded May 08th, 1993 - 105 min
Chicago radio’s “hard-working nice guy” began his more than 50-year career in the mid-1940s. He became the originator and perhaps the foremost exponent of zany, off-the-wall comedy on the air. He was born August 7, 1923 and was 70 when he visited us at our Those Were The Days studio in the Museum of Broadcast Communications. This conversation is from our broadcast air-check.
Art Hellyer died September 5, 2018 at age 95.
Supper Club - 2/24/61 - With Art Hellyer, Carol March, Bob Vegas
Did you enjoy the interview? Listen to Art Hellyer on the WBBM Supper Club from February 24, 1961.
June 6, 2011 at 10:41 pm
Great to hear Art again.. No other like him, a fine gentleman, and a kind caring person who really, and, sincerely loves people: (that actually comes out over the radio.) He is really one of a kind,
September 3, 2012 at 10:32 am
I met Mr. Hellyer when he was a teacher at Columbia College in Chicago. He was a one on one type of teacher who treated our class as individuals and not as a group of students. He made our introduction to radio broadcasting class fun to be in and not just a course we needed to take to pass.
September 26, 2012 at 10:43 am
I had the great pleasure of working with Art at WBBM. A lovable, wild and crazy guy. Love you Art. Miss those wonderful days of “live” radio.
Thank you Chuck for keeping these magical times alive.
My best to you…. Carole March
August 19, 2014 at 12:32 pm
When I was in my late teens, Art would let this aspiring DJ visit his show on WCFL, as often as I wanted. He put my interest, in radio, into HIGH gear and now, after stints in South Dakota, Wisconsin, Indiana and, finally, in Huntington, West Virginia, I find myself retired and a member in the West Virginia Radio and Television Hall of Fame. I owe EVERY bit of my successful career to Art Hellyer. GOD BLESS you, Art, and THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH.
October 22, 2014 at 2:51 pm
In 1957 I was straight out of Newark, NJ, a student at Northern Baptist Seminary at 3040 West Washington Blvd. And when I was returning home a year and 1/2 later, I and a fellow student, Alvin Quamina, of Trinidad both visited Art at the WAIT station on a Christmas season and testified of our relationship to Christ. But it was Art’s programs each morning with the humor and the just plain funny recordings he played: The Old Philosopher, Buddy Hackett and the Chinese Waiter, had us laughing in class when we showed up. “There’s no light in the men’s room” Knock knock, “Well, Mayor Daley of Chicago! What do you have to say to the people of Chicago today?” Then, “this city is going to the dogs!” “Hi there Bunky” “Dr. K”, You say the stocks dropped 100 points?” “This is the Old Philosopher” “Try Jordan’s Atomic Nose Drops. They’ll not only cure your bile, but evaporate water on the knee cap!” Would love to be in touch. I’m in Whiting, Ocean County, New Jersey.