Tex Antoine
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| Tex Antoine | |
| Born | April 21, 1923 Illinois |
|---|---|
| Died | January 12, 1983 Manhattan |
| Occupation | Weatherman |
| Spouse | Suzanne |
| Children | Nancy Antoine Shaffin |
| Parents | Herbert Jon Antoine, Sr. (1894-1970) Bertha Campbell |
Herbert Jon Antoine, Jr. (April 21, 1923 – January 12, 1983), known professionally as Tex Antoine, was an American meteorologist on New York City television for nearly three decades.
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[edit] Biography and early career
He was born as Herbert Jon Antoine, Jr., in Illinois, and was raised in California and Texas. His father was Herbert Jon Antoine, Sr. (1894-1972), an auto supply salesman. [1] His mother was Bertha Campbell, and by 1930 the family was living in Los Angeles. [2] [3]
Antoine (whose nickname "Tex" came from his growing up in Texas) first joined NBC in New York as a page in 1943, and a year later became a staff announcer for the network. He was the first announcer, beginning in 1944, for the long-running religious drama, The Eternal Light. His run with the program ended in 1945. [4] His other radio announcing credits include The Adventures of Archie Andrews and The Adventures of Frank Merriwell. [5]
[edit] The WNBT / WRCA-TV / WNBC years (1949-1966)
He started out his weather career in 1949 on WNBT (later WRCA-TV, now WNBC), working with a wooden sidekick known as "Uncle Wethbee." His theme music was "Fine and Dandy." According to Bob Tilden, who wrote a column reminiscing, "His nightly weather report was a wonderful mix of weather, cartoon art, and storytelling. He would start his weather segment standing next to an easel covered by blank papers, and he would proceed to draw the weather systems that were pertinent to the nation and the area. As his hands drew in the lows, highs, and fronts, his voice would narrate their past and expected movements, and what their effects would be. As he filled page after page of the easel, building the map as he described each feature, he engaged his audience. He instructed the viewers about their weather, rather than just informing them of a forecast."
Antoine also entertained viewers young and old alike during each report by writing the temperature in large numerals on his big blank pad of paper and then adding further strokes of his marker as he proceeded with a narrative about the weather until the numeral was finally all but concealed in a simple cartoon representing some aspect of the day's weather or forecast. It was a unique and fascinating talent and it was a draw to many viewers regardless of their interest, or lack thereof, of weather information.
[edit] To WABC-TV
In 1966, Tex Antoine moved from WNBC to WABC-TV. He was not allowed to plug his new home on his last channel 4 broadcast. So, with Uncle Wethbee's Magic Marker in hand, he said and wrote something to the effect of: "Remember that 4 plus 3 equals 7, and that's as easy as ABC."
Two years later, in 1968, WABC revamped all its newscasts under the banner of Eyewitness News under a new news director, Al Primo, who decreed that all their on-camera talent would wear matching blue blazers with a "circle 7" crest displayed on their jacket pockets. When Antoine, who up to that point wore smocks on the air, protested that it would affect his image, Primo retorted, "Either we all wear jackets, or we all wear smocks." Tex would wear jackets on the air thereafter.
[edit] Rape quip and final years
On November 24, 1976, his weather spot came up just after a report of a violent rape of a five year old girl. Tex thereupon quipped: "With rape so predominant in the news lately, it is well to remember the words of Confucius: 'If rape is inevitable, lie back and enjoy it.'" (The same joke later helped derail Texas gubernatorial candidate Clayton Williams' 1990 election bid and got Indiana University Basketball coach Bob Knight in trouble during an interview with Connie Chung in 1988). Roger Grimsby led the 11 p.m. newscast that night with the official apology from WABC. Five days later Grimsby would introduce Antoine's replacement, Storm Field with "Lie back, relax and enjoy the weather with Storm Field." Antoine closed out his career with a brief stint as weatherman for WNEW-TV in 1977.
He had married Suzanne around 1964, and he died in Manhattan in 1983, at age 59, under the name "H. Jon Antoine". [6] [2] [7]
[edit] References
- ^ Herbert Jon Antoine, Sr. (1894-1972) was born in Alabama and he died in Texas according to the Texas Death Index
- ^ a b Social Security Death Index Name: H. Jon Antoine; SSN: 449-28-9777 ; Last Residence: 10028 New York, New York, New York, United States of America; Born: 21 Apr 1923; Died: Jan 1983; State (Year) SSN issued: Texas
- ^ 1930 US Census for Los Angeles, California with Antoines: Herbert Antoine 36; Bertha E. Antoine 36; Patricia H. Antoine 9 and Herbert Antoine, Jr. 6.
- ^ Eternal Light, The
- ^ Copyright 2008 J. David Goldin
- ^ "Tex Antoine, 59, Dies; TV Weather Forecaster", New York Times, January 13, 1983. Retrieved on 2007-06-06.
- ^ "UPI: They Can Always Talk Weather.", Mansfield News Journal, December 31, 1964. Retrieved on 2007-06-21.
