Larry Thor (August 27, 1916 – March 15, 1976) was a radio newscaster and announcer, an actor in film and radio, and a university professor. He "was noted for his distinctive voice ... his rich resonant tones."

Early professional life A native of Lundar, Manitoba, Canada, Thor was a soldier, a construction worker, a farmer, and a rancher before he went into broadcasting. His first experience in radio came in 1937 as an unpaid singer at CFAR in Flin Flon, Manitoba, Canada. He soon became the writer for CFAR, a job he held for three years. From there he went to CKGB in Timmins as an announcer. Later, he moved to CKCL in Toronto as a newscaster. In 1946, he moved to the United States, joining the staff of KFAC in Los Angeles. Following that, Thor worked at KMPC, in Hollywood, California, as a newscaster and writer. In 1948, he left KMPC and went to KNX in Hollywood as an announcer. From 1964 to 1967 he was the radio announcer on the TV program Gilligan's Island, and appeared as himself on S02 Episode 04 Smile, You're on Mars Camera.

Radio drama Thor's involvement with drama on radio began in Canada. In addition to his work as an announcer (noted above), he began his own company, Peak Radio Ltd., which produced radio dramas. During Thor's time on American network radio, he was an announcer for Green Lama,Sies, Luther F. (2014). Encyclopedia of American Radio, 1920–1960, 2nd Edition, Volume 1. McFarland & Company, Inc. . pp. 139, 277. Rocky Jordan,Dunning, John. (1998). On the Air: The Encyclopedia of Old-Time Radio. Oxford University Press. . pp. 120, 582. and Suspense. He was perhaps best known for starring in Broadway Is My Beat, playing Detective Danny Clover. He also was the announcer on the syndicated radio program, The Clyde Beatty Show.

Recordings In 1964, Thor recorded a 12-song album for children. Galloping on My Dinosaur was released on the Harmony label. Thor also wrote the music and lyrics for the songs in the album.

Writing Thor wrote his first script for an episode of Suspense. "The Man Who Cried Wolf" was broadcast February 9, 1953. He went on to write scripts for episodes of This is our Heritage, Fantasy of Fact, The Record Collectors, and Hallmark Hall of Fame. He also wrote four books.

Teaching Thor began teaching in the screenwriting program at the University of California, Los Angeles, in January 1968, offering "a special course for the advanced writers." He continued to teach there, enhancing his courses with "many professional actors, producers and writers who were brought into his class as guest lecturers" until he died in 1976.

Family While still in Canada, Thor married the former Leona Finnie of Winnipeg when he was 21. They had four children. In 1956, Thor married Jean Howell, an actress and writer. She divorced him after four months.

Filmography Thor had roles in 29 feature films, as shown in the table below. Title Year Role Notes The Pride of St. Louis 1952 St. Louis Home Games Announcer Uncredited The Mississippi Gambler 1953 Captain UncreditedThe Roar of the Crowd 1953 Announcer Uncredited The Kid from Left Field 1953 First Announcer Uncredited The Fast and the Furious 1955 Detective Sergeant Five Guns West 1955 Confederate Captain Portland Exposé 1957 Captain Vincent Uncredited Hell Bound 1957 Doctor Uncredited The Amazing Colossal Man 1957 Major Eric Coulter, MD Zero Hour! 1957 Vancouver Radio Dispatcher The True Story of Lynn Stuart 1958 Police Sergeant Uncredited Machine-Gun Kelly 1958 Detective Drummond The Littlest Hobo 1958 Police Captain The Hunters 1958 Captain Owynby Uncredited The Gun Runners 1958 Captain Uncredited Tarawa Beachhead 1958 Colonel Kempler A Nice Little Bank That Should Be Robbed 1958 Detective Uncredited Gunmen from Laredo 1959 Captain Garrick Uncredited Holiday for Lovers 1959 Captain Uncredited Battle of the Coral Sea 1959 Army Major Uncredited Wake Me When It's Over 1960 TV Broadcaster Uncredited Let's Make Love 1960 Wilson Uncredited Spartacus 1960 Staff Officer Uncredited Where the Boys Are 1960 Doctor Uncredited Bachelor Flat 1961 Officer in Sheriff's Office Uncredited Company of Killers 1970 Clarington Tora! Tora! Tora! 1970 Major General Frederick L. Martin Uncredited The Phantom Tollbooth 1970 Tock the Watchdog Voice Night Games 1974 Court Reporter (final film role)

Selected Television Appearances Perry Mason (1957-1963) (2 episodes) (Season 1 Episode 5: "The Case of the Sulky Girl") (1957) as Police Surgeon (Season 6 Episode 28: "The Case of the Witless Witness") (1963) as Commentator Sea Hunt (1958) (Season 1 Episode 6: "Female of the Species") as Pete Zawicki Wagon Train (1958) (Season 1 Episode 28: "The Sally Potter Story") as Sergeant Hood Rawhide (1959) (Season 1 Episode 20: "Incident of the Judas Trap") as Brown The Rifleman (1962) (Season 4 Episode 24: "Tinhorn") as Jesse Phillips The Andy Griffith Show (1964) (Season 5 Episode 2: "Barney's Physical") as Mr. Bronson The Alfred Hitchcock Hour (1965) (Season 3 Episode 12: "Crimson Witness") as Detective Haskel The Munsters (1965) (Season 1 Episode 18: "If a Martian Answers, Hang Up") as Second Man The Man from U.N.C.L.E. (1966) (Season 3 Episode 7: "The Thor Affair") as Announcer The Mod Squad (1968) (Season 1 Episode 1: "The Teeth of the Barracuda") as Doctor

References

External links

Larry Thor, Theater Arts: Los Angeles – The University of California Galloping on My Dinosaur and Other Fun Songs for Children