rnest Chappell  (June 10. 1903 - July 4. 1983)
Height: 6' 4" (1,93 m) Marriages: (1) Gladys M. Flynn, teacher       (Jun 26. 1926 - ca. 1940, divorced)        Daughters:           Marilyn J. Murphy           (Mar 27. 1927 - Mar 8. 2014)           Barbara Ann Garthwaite           (Oct 28. 1928 - Aug 4. 2018) (2) Claudia Morgan, actress       (aka Claudeigh Louise Wupperman)       (May 1. 1943 ** - bfr. Feb 12. 1955,       divorced) (3) Mary Sharp *** aka Marguerite "Margie"      (1955 - Dec 1967, divorced)        Daughters:          Susan (bfr 1965 - )          James (bfr. 1965 - ) (4) Helen Greer, actress, TV writer and       producer       (aft 1968 - Jul 4. 1983, his death)         (Step)daughters:           Olivia Dinneen           Pamela Thum Brothers: Kenneth Chappell (1906 - 1924)                 Wilfred Chappell (1911 -)
Above right: Ernest E. Chappell (ca. 1935)
Ernest E. Chappell was born in Syracuse, NY on June 10. 1903 his father Eugene Edward Chappell (May 23. 1882 - Sep 14. 1959) , was a machinist at Brown-Lipe-Chapin and his mother was Emma M Green (1868 - Dec 28. 1967) was Canadian. In 1905 they still lived in Auburn, Cayuga, New York, they soon settled in Syracuse. Reportedly he started in radio as early as 1922 in Syracuse.  In 1923 Ernest sang with the Porter School Orchestra. Chappell graduated from Syracuse University in 1925 with aspirations of becoming a singer. Before transitioning to radio, Chappell pursued a diverse career as a concert baritone, musical comedy performer, lecturer, and stock company actor. Ernest "Chappie" Chappell began his radio career on February 10. 1925, as the announcer and director of WFBL *, the first radio station in Syracuse, NY (Hotel Onondaga). Additionally, Chappell contributed a column, Riding the Waves With Chap, to the Syracuse Herald, promoting local radio and the broadcasting industry (Since Nov 1925). He married Gladys M. Flynn, a teacher in a Public High School, on June 26. 1926, in Buffalo, Erie, New York, United States.  In March of 1927 it was reported that Ernest, after being the managing director of the local radio station WFBL for about three years, he resigned to accept the same berth with WHAM (NBC associated radio station) at Rochester.
Boven:  Ernest Chappell van Stromberg Carlson Company's WHAM station (8 sep 1927)
After serving as a producer for the Buffalo Broadcasting System (1929), he produced operas and directed True Detective Mysteries, Around the World with Libby and Jack Frost Melody Moments. He was program director and producer for the Judson Radio Program Corporation, then became general manager of production and vice-president of the ADAMS Broadcasting Service (1931 - 1932). His next position was director of the NBC Artists Bureau (May 1932) (contact man between NBC program and sales departments). As a free-lance producer and director, he managed Vera Van, later (Mar 1935) joining the radio department of Donahue and Coe. Incorporated. He might still be working at that job if it were not for one of those incidents which result in careers. Sponsors of the "Flying Reel Horse Tavern" were ready to discontinue the show for lack of an outstanding announcer. Someone suggested Ernest Chappell. He was hurriedly sent for and auditioned. And he was so satisfactory that he was signed on the spot.

In the 1930s, Chappell served as the master of ceremonies for Phil Spitalny's radio program. In November 1936 Variety reported that Ernest eyed the possibilities of a local dramatic stock with it's only theatre possibility the Empire (then a ground film house), its availability doubtful.  An early 1938 live talent show, logged as Headlines, featured UP-news flashes, with short dramatizations following, written and produced by Ernest E. Chappell of the Ben Rocke office. During the 1939 New York World's Fair, Chappell officiated at the very first televised beauty competition. In 1940 when regular Amos 'n' Andy interlocutor Bill Hay suffered a heart attack, Chappell filled in until Hay was on his feet. Also in 1940, announcer Ernest Chappell signed off a Ben Bernie program with an unpardonable error. He said, "This is the Columbia Broadcasting System," which it wasn't. A stand-by announcer heard the error, threw his switch, hurriedly and emphatically said, "This is the National Broadcasting Company." As a freelancer, Chappell jumped from network to network. He was just a bit absent-minded that night. Chappell apologized to the NBC executives "You know what you just did ?" squawk with: "Yes, I just heard about it from Columbia. They're mad as the devil." He was also the announcer for The Campbell Playhouse (the sponsored continuation of The Mercury Theatre on the Air) and The Adventures of Ellery Queen (1942 - 1944).

Above:  Orson Welles sits at a table, smoking his pipe, with his star, comedian Jack Benny, standing, center, and others during rehearsal of "June Moon" at the KNX radio station for the CBS Campbell Playhouse broadcast, Hollywood, California, March 24. 1940. From left: Bill Morrow (standing); Welles; Benny Rubin sitting behind Welles); Benny; Ernest Chappell (seated at table across from Welles); Jack Beloin (sitting facing camera, another Benny writer).

In 1941, Chappell narrated A Christmas Carol for an RCA Victor album, which featured four 12-inch records. On April 13. 1942 Are You a Genius started there Chappell asked the questions, giving the contestants time to write answers during a musical interlude an then told the answer.

Above: On April 13. 1942 Are You a Genius started there Chappell asked the questions, giving the contestants time to write answers during a musical interlude an then told the answer.

On May 1. 1943 ** Claudia Louise Morgan married Ernest Chappell (her 5th marriage). She was the daughter of Ralph and niece of Frank Morgan. They had first met on Radio Reader's Digest where Chappell was narrator and Claudia a guest star. They bought a farm near Flemington, NJ. His starring role came in the late-1940s radio program Quiet, Please. The show aired from 1947 to 1949 and marked Chappell's most significant acting achievement. One of the most extraordinary features of the series is the depth of characterization. Each week Ernest Chappell portrayed a different unique person with a complex background. Extraordinary research goes into describing every career in detail -- from railroad men to mountain climbers and oil rig workers and archeologists and soldiers.  His signature closing line was: "And so, until next week at this same time, I am quietly yours, Ernest Chappell." In the mid-1950s through the 1960s, Chappell became widely recognized as "the voice of Pall Mall," narrating American Tobacco's cigarette commercials. His memorable tagline was: "Buy Pall Mall famous cigarettes... 'OUTSTANDING! And they are mild!'"

Above left: "From the start Claudia Morgan knew she and "Chappie" had so much to share, with their radio-TV careers." (1952) Above right: A Puppet likeness of Raymond F. Sullivan (L), president, Sullivan, Stauffer, Colwell & Bayles, is introduced to radio-TV-announcer Ernest Chappell (R). The puppet was created by the SSC&B art staff and presided over the agency's recent eighth anniversary festivities.

Between 1952 and 1957 he served as announcer for 136 episodes of the TV-series The Big Story. It told a true story selected from newspapers across the United States. Comments from the actual reporter open and closed each show but the permanent narrator drove the plot line. Meanwhile he tutored Eleanor Roosevelt for her abiding radio appearances (including her own show). Chappell announced Eyewitness to History on CBS-TV (1960 - 1963) as well as that chain's early TV coverage of a myriad of presidential appearances. In 1965 he was preparing for semi-retirement, only to embark upon a new career. Chappell said, "I'm not interested in making a pile of money now — I don't need that. But what I am interested in is doing something about this country's sense of values." He planned, with other backers, to found a non-sectarian college in Palm Beach, FL, and eventually to add to it a school of engineering for radio and television aspirants.

Also included in Chappell's future plans is ownership of management of a television station. He'd like to work with Dr. Tom Moody, president of the Southern Baptist Pastors Association, in founding a new method for aiding in the spiritual development of the young people of America. Early 1968 he opened a radio production firm "Ernest Chappell Enterprises" which concentrated on radio commercials and FM program services. Right: Ernst Chappell around 1975 (Photo Palm Beach Daily News) Ernest passed away following a stroke at his home on July 4. 1983 in North Palm Beach, Florida. At his request, his body was cremated, according to his widow, Helen.

Notes: *  "FBL" apparently stood for "First Broadcast License" ** April 21. 1943 is mentioned. However Claudia in an interview said "although we met in August we didn't get married until the following May." *** "Ernest Chappell of Newark, NJ, and his recent bride, the former Mrs. Mary Sharp of Miami, FL." (Syracuse Post-Standard, Sep 1. 1955). Mary = Margie (Marguerite)? "Accompanying him were his wife, Margie, and their two children, Susie and Jimmy..." (Denton Chronicle-Recorder, Aug 22. 1965) Programs, facts or dates in red still need confirmation.

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Other references (1) Wikipedia (2) IMDb Additional video & audio sources (1) Quiet Please (2) OldTimeRadioDownloads (3) Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol YouTube

This profile is a part of Ellery Queen a website on deduction. The person above was announcer for the Ellery Queen radio series. Click Uncle Sam if you think you can help out...! Many of the profiles on this site have been compiled after very careful research of various sources. Please quote and cite ethically!

Page first published December 31. 2024  Version 1.3 - Last updated October 5. 2025

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