Russell Arms

Russell Arms

Arms in 1956.
Born Russell Lee Arms
(1920-02-03)February 3, 1920
Berkeley, California, U.S.
Died February 13, 2012(2012-02-13) (aged 92)
Hamilton, Illinois, U.S.
Occupation Actor, singer
Years active 1942–1985
Spouse(s) Mary Lynne Arms (19??–2012; his death)
Barbara J. McGinnis (1966–1974; divorced)

Russell Lee Arms[1] (February 3, 1920 – February 13, 2012) was an American actor and singer.

Career

Arms was born on February 3, 1920[2] in Berkeley, California,[3] gaining acting experience via the Pasadena Playhouse. He began his career on radio, including working at WNEW in New York City.[4]

He moved up to minor screen roles during World War II as a contract player with Warner Brothers and later as a freelance performer, mostly in Westerns. Subsequently, he appeared in supporting roles in both feature films and television. He was well known for his 1957 hit single, "Cinco Robles (Five Oaks)", which entered the charts on January 12, 1957 and stayed there for 15 weeks, peaking at No. 22. In 1957, he released the album Where Can A Wanderer Go, on the Era label.

From 1952 to 1957, he was best known as a vocalist on Your Hit Parade, an NBC television series that reviewed the popular songs of the day and on which a regular cast of vocalists would perform the top seven songs of the week. Arms and Eileen Wilson (who starred on the show from 1950 to 1952) were the only surviving lead performers from the show until Arms' death in 2012. He authored an autobiography in 2005, My Hit Parade ... and a Few Misses.

Arms made three guest appearances on Perry Mason, including the roles of Attorney Everett Dorrell in the 1960 episode The Case of the Credulous Quarry, and Roger Correll in the 1963 episode The Case of the Greek Goddess. Arms played the role of Chester Finley in the 1953 film By the Light of the Silvery Moon, as the piano instructor and hopeful suitor to Doris Day.

In 1957, Arms was a singer on The Hidden Treasure Show, "the first nationwide quiz show in which home viewers win the money..."[5] The syndicated program was sponsored by Disabled American Veterans.[5]

In 1976, Arms appeared in an episode of the NBC dramatic series Gibbsville.

A 1958 newspaper story about Arms noted, "Although Arms started in show business as an actor, he became a singer 'by accident,' and now he can't get anyone to believe he can act. 'I'm now in the process of proving them wrong,' he said."[6]

Military years

He was a graduate of the Signal Corps OCS program out of Ft. Monmouth, New Jersey (1941–46) and again at Ft. Monmouth (1951–53).

Personal life

Arms and his second wife, Mary Lynne, resided in Palm Springs, California for many years. They then moved to Hamilton, Illinois, where Arms died on February 13, 2012,[7] aged 92.[3]

Partial discography

Further reading

References

  1. ↑
  2. ↑ Arms was born in 1920, not 1922, as per paid Intelius search
  3. 1 2 "Passings: Russell Arms, David Kelly, Philip Kellogg". Los Angeles Times. February 16, 2012. Retrieved April 13, 2015.
  4. ↑ "TV Key Mailbag". The Brooklyn Daily Eagle. June 4, 1954. p. 15. Retrieved April 21, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. 1 2 "80 Outlets Get Vet 'Treasure' Home Quizzer". Billboard. March 16, 1957. p. 9. Retrieved 22 April 2015.
  6. ↑ "Russell Arms Wants to Show He Can Act". Idaho State Journal. November 16, 1958. p. 6. Retrieved April 21, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ↑
  8. ↑ "Reviews of New Pop Records". Billboard. November 6, 1954. p. 40. Retrieved 21 April 2015.
  9. ↑ "Recent Pop Releases: Coming Up Strong". Billboard. February 9, 1957. p. 46. Retrieved 22 April 2015.
  10. ↑ "Reviews of New Pop Records". Billboard. April 13, 1957. p. 82. Retrieved 18 May 2015.
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