JOHN TILLMAN

Introducing JOHN TILLMAN

AT FRANK DAILEY’S Meadowbrook last summer, a young ex-GI named John Tillman earned himself the moniker of “Dream Scream,” delightedly bestowed on him by the bobbysoxers who found his looks and his emceeing irresistible. In a way, Tillman found this very satisfying, certainly a change from having “Sergeant!” screamed at him for three years. Matinee at Meadowbrook is still on the air, beamed for GI’s still overseas. We ordinary citizens hear John as m.c. of Danny O’Neil’s Singing in the Morning (daily 9:15 A.M., EST, CBS) and as the smooth-voiced announcer of The Stradivari Orchestra (Sundays, CBS, 2:30 P.M., EST).

John was born in Clio, Alabama, during the first World War. He became a professional performer while he was still attending Barbour County High School. At the age of sixteen, he became a staff announcer and singer on Station WAFG in Dothan, Alabama. His mother accompanied him on the organ for his singing program.

After he was graduated from high school, John took a job on Station WSB and for four years combined radio and college. Then, one day the station director of WHAS in Louisville, Kentucky, got in touch with him and offered John a job as master of ceremonies and news commentator. John had to make a choice. It was just before his coveted BA degree became his, but John chose the job and put off his degree.

His next step was the big one. While with WHAS, John made a few audition records and mailed them to CBS in New York. He didn’t really expect any answer—but he got one a month later. Two weeks after that, John was working for CBS in New York—where he stayed for the next four years until he got his “Greetings” from Uncle Sam.

Back from the Army less than a year, John now is announcer of the daily “Winner Take All” (CBS, 3:30 P.M., EST) and “Time to Remember” (CBS, 10:45 A.M., EST) programs, as well many another.

Now, John is working at having his cake and eating it, too. He’s back in double harness. He goes to NYU at night to get that BA degree.