Scott Ellsworth

Scott Ellsworth (née Harvey Charles Ellsworth, January 4, 1927) is an American radio personality, news presenter, and actor. The host of Scott's Place, a jazz radio broadcast that came to prominence in the late 1960s, he has been on the air at Financial News Network, KFI, KCOP-TV, KNX-TV in Los Angeles and KWXY in Cathedral City, California.[1][2][3][4]

Scott Ellsworth
Born
Harvey Charles Ellsworth

(1927-01-04) January 4, 1927
Plymouth, Pennsylvania, U.S.
OccupationRadio personality, news anchor, tv host, actor
Years active1952–present
Known forHost of Scott's Place (1968–1972, 1992–present)
Children6

Early life and education

Scott Ellsworth was born Harvey Charles Ellsworth in Plymouth, Pennsylvania in 1927.[5] His family moved to New Jersey where he graduated from Pompton Lakes High School in 1944. His father, Harvey Warren Ellsworth, was as a "song plugger" who also played the trumpet and led Ellsworth to his first inspiration to go into the arts and entertainment.[5] His father was also a vocalist first at KDKA in Pittsburgh in and then to New York City on NBC radio, movie theaters and stage productions.[5] Ellsworth would play the trumpet and cornet during high school up until he entered the Armed Forces during WWII. Directly following high school School Ellsworth served in the United States Merchant Marine, he would serve in the Pacific Theater of the war.[6]

Following his military service, Ellsworth moved to Brooklyn, New York in 1948 and enrolled in New York University in Manhattan. He signed up for a speech class, and was told by the professor he had a "'professional sounding voice" and could make it "his profession".[5] Ellsworth earned a Bachelors of Arts degree in both Psychology and Drama from NYU in 1952. After graduating Ellsworth moved to Montrose, Colorado to pursue his dream in broadcasting after having cut an audio, audition disc for producer Pat Kelly at NBC studios in New York.[5]

Radio and television career

1952–1965: Colorado and Utah

In 1952, Ellsworth moved his family to Montrose, Colorado where he worked in numerous capacities as newscaster, program manager and announcer for KUBC at $400 a month.[7][8] They allowed Ellsworth to exercise a number of ideas he had for the station. In 1955 the KUBC owner bought KVOD in Denver and wanted Ellsworth to become program director; he moved to Denver and worked in radio and T.V. broadcasting for the next 5 years for KBTV and KVOD. Ellsworth eventually resigned from his position at KVOD and moved to station KLZ in Denver. He would create successful shows such as "Active Radio" which was an on the spot news and events broadcast. He would soon move back to KVOD (now KHOW) as operations manager. Another ownership change and other difficult circumstances with management prompted Ellsworth to eventually move to KALL, an ABC affiliate in Salt Lake City.[5]

In 1963 Ellsworth resigned from KHOW and moved his family from Colorado to Salt Lake City where he served as a newscaster and program director at KALL (1963–65).[9][10][11][12] KVOD was an ABC affiliate station, the primary ABC network business manager helped Ellsworth secure the position at KALL at the top of the pay scale (ABC affiliate in Salt Lake City). In 18 months of moving there Ellsworth and his family realized this was not the right position or the location they ultimately desired to live in.[5]

1965–1984: Los Angeles, California

On June 12, 1965 Ellsworth traveled to Los Angeles looking for work and was doing taping for TV commercials, he visited the KFI studio (affiliate of NBC), where he was offered a job after auditioning for KFI station manager Pat Kelly.[5] He was given duties of being a staff announcer going from studio to studio doing commercial and station IDs, as well as other on-air responsibilities.[5] On June 5, 1968 Ellsworth was the on-site reporter for KFI during Robert F. Kennedy's victory speech for the California, Democratic Party primary.[13] He was literally within arm's distance of witnessing and reporting on Kennedy's assassination at the hands of Sirhan Sirhan.[14]

Ellsworth moved his family to the Southern California/Los Angeles region settling in the Reseda area in the San Fernando Valley, just north of the KFI, Burbank studios. He worked for KFI radio and then KCBS-FM in 1973. He later worked for KCOP-TV as a newscaster, sportscaster, writer, announcer and talk show host for several years.[15][16] At KCOP-TV Ellsworth produced, wrote and hosted Daybreak and Who Can I Turn To which were weekly talk shows dealing with financial and medical topics. For 2 years he was the talk show host for KNX-TV's (Los Angeles) Noontime midday show. In 1974 Ellsworth lent his talent to the Toshiko Akiyoshi/Lew Tabackin Big Band album Kogun. His voice is heard on the track Memory as part of a narrative and story telling relating to Japanese folklore. Memory is also included on the 2008 Mosaic 3 CD compilation, Mosaic Select: Toshiko Akiyoshi – Lew Tabackin Big Band.[5]

In 1965 KFI's station manager Pat Kelly who suggested Ellsworth use the name "Scott." In August 1984 Ellsworth officially changed his name from "Harvey Charles Ellsworth" to his professional and stage name, "Scott Ellsworth."[17]

In early 1981 Ellsworth signed on with the Financial News Network as news anchor.[18] In 1983, Financial News Network (FNN) established a 24-hour feed on cable TV only. At night, it added SCORE (television), a mini-network that aired sports events and news. Ellsworth become the evening news anchor and interviewer for FNN, broadcasting out of their Santa Monica studio.[19][20] FNN was sold to CNBC around 1991, and Ellsworth went back to being a jazz music DJ, hosting Scott's Place on KWXY from 1992 until the station traded hands around 2012.[21]

Scott's Place

Ellsworth created and hosted on the radio program Scott's Place. It aired on KFI-AM 640 in Los Angeles from 1967 through 1974, Monday through Saturday for 4 hours live midnight to 4 am.[22][5][23] Ellsworth moved the show to KWXY near Palm Springs during the 1990s, and broadcast from KWXY for ten years. He left KWXY when the format changed in 2011.[24] Ellworth continued his on-line radio program from his own studio, which he initiated in April 2014.[1][25][26]

NBC was trying to finally get out of the radio business in 1968. During this transition their affiliate KFI was losing numerous DJs to include Al "Jazzbeaux" Collins who would eventually move to the San Francisco Bay area.[27][5] With the sudden exit of Collins, Scott Ellsworth was able to obtain a program time slot. The new show, Scott's Place, aired midnight until 4:00 am daily and featured jazz and big band music, interspersed with interviews with musicians and entertainers.[5] Due to KFI's wide distribution, the show was heard across the United States and gained national attention.[5][28]

Artists would bring some of their favorite recordings to Scott's Place and talk about their music and careers over a 2 to 3-hour period.[5] Count Basie recorded a song written especially for Ellsworth, Scott's Place composed by Sammy Nestico (recorded on the Basie Have and Nice Day LP) This became the opening theme music for Ellsworth's show.[5] Ellsworth also did special broadcasts from the Monterey Jazz Festival, Disneyland's "All That Jazz Weekend" and other live locations featuring jazz artists.[29][30][31][5][32]

In early-1972, Ellsworth was approached by KFI to change his format to popular Rock & Roll.[33] His last guest was Johnny Mercer.[5] Ellsworth's interviews from the show are archived at the American Jazz Institute in Pasadena, California.[5]

As an extension of the radio program, for a short time Ellsworth hosted his own music performance venue at "Torches West" in Woodland Hills starting in June 1972.[34][5][35] Tex Beneke offered his band for the first weekend and the venue also hosted the bands of Freddy Martin, Charlie Barnett and vocalist Kay Starr. It only latest four weeks due to less than desired attendance and the heavy financial burden taken on by Ellsworth. For starting this venue and his past support of artists, he received the "Friend of the Musicians" honor from the American Federation of Musicians (AF of M) local 47 in Los Angeles due to his continual support for the preservation of jazz.[35][34]

Acting career

Ellsworth began working as an actor in the early 1970s. His credits include TV shows and movies, including Girls Are for Loving (1973), The F.B.I. (1972–1973), Cannon (1975), The Moneychangers (1976), 79 Park Avenue (1977), The Rockford Files (1977–1978), Grandpa Goes to Washington (1978–1979), H.O.T.S. (1979), Beyond Westworld (1980), and The A-Team (1985), among others. He has been featured in theater productions to include Hostile Witness, The Best Man, Becket, Move Over, Mrs Markham, Social Security and Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?.[36][37][38][39]

Education career

Ellsworth was an adjunct professor in the Communication and Media studies department at California State University, Long Beach. He was also an instructor at College of the Desert, Santa Monica College and the Don Martin School of Radio and Television Arts and Sciences.[5]

Radio and T.V. program/station affiliation
Years Station Show or occupation Media
1952–1955KUBCProducer/News AnchorRadio
1955–1963KVOD, KLZ, KBTV, KHOWProducer/News AnchorRadio and television
1963–1965KALLProducer/News AnchorRadio
1966–1972KFIScott's Place/News AnchorRadio
1974KCBS-FMNews AnchorRadio
1975–1976KNX-TVNoontime/talk show hostTelevision
1972–1981KCOP-TVNews anchor/talk show hostTelevision
1981–1985Financial News NetworkNews Anchor/CommentatorCable television
1985–2012KWXY and syndicationScott's Place/Mid-day program, special featuresRadio
2014–presentindependentScott's PlaceRadio

Television appearances (partial list)
Year Title Role Production company
1971–72O'Haratwo episodesUniversal
1972–73The F.B.I.two episodesQM Productions
1973General HospitalNetwork ExecutiveABC
1975Cannonfour episodesQM Productions
1976Days of Our LivesNavy Medical DoctorNBC
1977–78Rockford Filesfour episodesUniversal
1978Lou GrantT.V. NewsmanMTM Enterprises
Young and the RestlessProsecuting AttorneyCBS
1980SanfordPlayboyTandem Productions
Beyond WestworldT.V. CommentatorMGM Television
1985A-TeamT.V. NewsmanCannell Entertainment

Filmography
Year Title Role Production company
1971Dead Men Tell No TalesDave20th Century
1973Girls Are For LovingJames L. WhitneyDerio Prod.
A Christmas VisitSupporting RoleZavada
1976The Money ChangersTreasury SecretaryRoss Hunter Productions
197779 Park AvenueVice-detectiveUniversal
SecretsLove InterestParamount
1978Grandpa Goes to WashingtonSenatorParamount
To Save His LifeMovie Director20th Century
Loose ChangePlay DirectorUniversal
1979H.O.T.S.High School TeacherGreat Amer. Movie Mach.
Anatomy of a MuggingDetectiveParamount

References
  1. "Radio's Voice of Jazz Launches Internet Broadcast". All About Jazz. April 15, 2014. Retrieved April 6, 2014.
  2. Hentoff, Nat (April 1, 2004). "Bringing Up New Jazz Listeners". JazzTimes. Retrieved April 6, 2019.
  3. Herman, David (June 4, 2006). "Melodic Trip Back in Time". Riverside Press Enterprise. p. B1.
  4. Leavelle, Ardele. Fred Directory of Radio, Fear & Loathing, 1980.
  5. "Association of Recorded Sound Collections, interview with Scott Ellsworth, 2011 ARSC Conference" (MP3).
  6. Form MS-73, Certificate of Graduation, U.S Maritime Service Training Station, Sheepshead Bay New York, Ellsworth, Harvey Charles, service #4414-16740. signed and dated September 18, 1944
  7. Mulvey, Tom. "Denver Radio: 80 Years of Change" BPC. Referred to as Harvey Ellsworth in this article working KHOW
  8. The Working Press of the Nation, Volume 3. National Research Bureau, 1960. pp. 21
  9. Billboard. "Vox Jox". Harvey C. Ellsworth takes over as manager at KALL. August 17, 1963. pp. 43
  10. Salt Lake Tribune. April 6, 1964, pp. 32, Harvey Ellsworth listed in program guide for Daily broadcast on KALL/ABC Radio
  11. Broadcasting, Broadcasting Publications Incorporated, 1964. Ad listed by Harvey Ellsworth for KALL pp. 91
  12. Sponsor, Volume 17, Part 3. "Harvey C. Ellsworth to program director and John Cavanaugh to the news department at KALL". pp. 60
  13. Pasik, Herb. "As Newsman, actor, Ellsworth was there when..." Weekend Desert Post. May 6, 1988. pp. 36
  14. Youtube: ABC Television report. June 6, 1968. Ellsworth appears @ 1:42 in the left side of screen as RFK passes him shortly after speech is completed on the stage. Ellsworth is very blonde and stands out.
  15. The Los Angeles Times, March 15, 1972, Wed., Page 102. Listing of KFI programming to included Scott Ellsworth
  16. Earth Signals, listing and portraits/pictures of KFI Announcers from the 50s to the 80s
  17. U.S. Department of State, Affidavit Regarding Change of Name, Signed by witness, Deborah Everett and Passport Agent Hildreth M Sokoloff, August 24, 1984
  18. Feature article, Scott Ellsworth, Cable Vision magazine, May 24, 1982
  19. FNN Staff citations and History
  20. Cable Vision, Volume 8, Cahners Business Information, 1983, pp.190
  21. Where Are They Now? LARP – E Compiled by Don Barrett
  22. ATVaudio.com. Scotts Place. March 30, 1970 – April 1, 1972 KFI 640 Los Angeles AM Radio
  23. Hellman, Jack. "Light and Airy" Variety Magazine. April 5, 1971
  24. Grandi, John. Stay Tuned. Big Bear Grizzly (Big Bear Lake, CA). July 23, 2003
  25. Johns, Howard. "Palm Springs Confidential: Playground of the Stars!" Barricade Books, 2004, Notation on Scott Ellsworth in Palm Springs, pp. 278
  26. Scott's Place online
  27. Fox, John. "Don't lose touch while traveling" Orange County Register. October 26, 1997. KEZY morning personality speaking of earlier mentors Collins and Ellsworth.
  28. Hall, Claude. Billboard Magazine "Vox Jox". December 12, 1970. pp. 36
  29. Chilton, John. "Let The Good Times Roll:: The Story of Louis Jordan and His Music" University of Michigan Press, 1997. Louis Jordan, KFI interview with Scott Ellsworth, April 26, 1971 cited throughout book. Chapt 1, 2, 6 and 8
  30. Harris, Steven. "The Kenton Kronicles: A Biography of Modern America's Man of Music, Stan Kenton" Dynaflow, 2003, Interview by Scott Ellsworth with Stan Kenton December 19, 1970. pp. 336
  31. Stratemann, Klaus. Scott Ellsworth interview with Duke Ellington. "Duke Ellington, Day by Day and Film by Film" JazzMedia, 1992. pp. 611
  32. Shaw, Arnold. BMI: The Many Worlds of Music. Interview with John Williams. Broadcast Music, Incorporated, 1972. pp. 32
  33. Page, Don. "Clarifying Some Radio Rumors" February 6, 1972, Calendar Section
  34. Reference to Ellsworth being host of June 1972 performance. Coda. Volume 10, Issues 6–11, 1973, pp. 38.
  35. Sippel, John. Billboard. June 10, 1972. pp. 12
  36. Review: Kolber, Al. "3 Starred Adventures Mark Mrs Markham" Orange County News. June 18, 1986. pp. 7
  37. Britton, Jeff. Review: Tea and Sympathy. The Desert Sun. January 15, 1993. pp. 14
  38. Turnbill, Lisa. Review: Social Security. The Desert Sun. November 6, 1990
  39. Graham, Elizabeth. Review: Move Over. Los Angeles Times. June 20, 1986
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