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Paul Tripp
Actor, Writer, Additional Credits
Died August 29, 2002 (91 years)
Paul Tripp was born on NYC's Lower East Side on February 20, 1911. Originally he wanted to be an actor and singer in grand operas, but he had to lower his sights and perform in comic operas at local functions instead. He went to college and studied education. He graduated with a Master of Education degree. When he was unable to find any teaching jobs, he worked as a performer, scriptwriter and producer in legitimate theater, radio, nightclubs, vaudeville and burlesque. After a stint in the US Navy Signal Corps during WWII, Tripp returned to NYC, where he and his wife Ruth Enders Tripp did volunteer work for "Christian Dora House" settlement project. There the pair engaged the children in original plays that would utilize their imagination. This unique concept of teaching kids through music, stories, acting and discovery came to the attention of a talent agency. The agency heads were looking for someone to host a new children's TV show. Impressed with their educational concept, the agency heads took the show to CBS TV producer Irving Pincus, who bought the show and Mr. I. Magination (1949) debuted on the CBS TV network on Sunday night, April 24, 1949. Writing, producing and hosting the show, Paul Tripp and his wife got a child actor and/ or child actress to recreate the lives of famous persons or had them perform in the Tripp's own variations of popular fairy tales. Often "Mr. I." (Mr. Tripp) and his cast of regulars: Simon Oakland, Joe Silver, Ted Tiller and Richard Boone interviewed guest inventors who showcased the latest devices created to help mankind. Mr. I. Magination (1949) moved to Saturday mornings in l951, where it remained on air until the series was cancelled on Saturday morning, June 28, 1952. On Saturday morning, June 5, 1954, Paul & Ruth Tripp succeeded Allen Ludden as the second hosts/performers and instructors of CBS TV's kids TV news magazine On the Carousel (1955). The Tripps and Ted Tiller engaged their viewers in craft making, hobbies, songs, dramatizations, stories and interviews with guest performers, personalities and high school scientists and musicians. On the Carousel (1955) won the 1956 NYC Emmy award for "Best Children's Educational TV Show". Tripp compared a Saturday Night Magic TV Show for a family audience. He performed magic tricks with the top illusionists of the day. It's Magic (1952) was seen Saturday nights on the CBS TV Network from Saturday July 31, 1955 to Saturday, September 4, 1955. Tripp succeeded Ginger McManus as the second host/performer of WOR TV Ch. 9 NYC's: "Looney Tunes Show" weekday evenings from Monday, January 12, 1959 to Friday, July 10, 1959. Following his departure from the station, Tripp left NYC for Hollywood, California to play character parts in TV dramas and sitcoms. He made two memorable guest appearances on CBS TV's Perry Mason (1957) as a villain and as an unfaithful boyfriend of "Sally Rogers" on The Dick Van Dyke Show (1961).
Filmography
| 2000 | Maybe Baby · as Mr. Furblob |
| 1975 | Tubby the Tuba · as Narrator (voice) |
| 1971 | Mean Justice · as Thayer Wilson |
| 1966 | The Christmas That Almost Wasn't · as Sam Whipple |
| 1962 | Empire (TV Series) · as Thayer Wilson |
| 1962 | Saints and Sinners (TV Series) · as John Caldwell |
| 1962 | The Flood · as Animal Caller |
| 1961 | The Dick Van Dyke Show (TV Series) · as Ted Harris |
| 1961 | Ben Casey (TV Series) |
| 1961 | The DuPont Show of the Week (TV Series) · as Cast |
| 1961 | The Defenders (TV Series) · as Judge |
| 1960 | The Law and Mr. Jones (TV Series) · as George Forrester |
| 1960 | |
| 1960 | Checkmate (TV Series) · as Dean Philips |
| 1960 | Diagnosis: Unknown (TV Series) · as Ed Marvin |
| 1959 | Adventures in Paradise (TV Series) · as Derek Benson |
| 1959 | The Twilight Zone (TV Series) · as Man #2 |
| 1959 | The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis (TV Series) |
| 1959 | Sunday Showcase (TV Series) · as Dr. Douglas |
| 1958 | The Donna Reed Show (TV Series) |
| 1957 | The Real McCoys (TV Series) · as Nelson Thayer |
| 1957 | Perry Mason (TV Series) · as Steven Banks |
| 1957 | Have Gun, Will Travel (TV Series) |
| 1955 | Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs · as Narrator |
| 1955 | Sleeping Beauty · as Narrator (us Version) |
| 1955 | Alcoa Hour (TV Series) · as Roger Harrison |
| 1955 | Snow-White and Rose-Red · as Narrator (dubbed Version) |
| 1955 | Puss 'n Boots · as Storyteller (us Version) |
| 1954 | Hansel and Gretel · as Narrator, U.s. Version |
| 1953 | The Man Behind the Badge (TV Series) · as Cast |
| 1953 | You Are There (TV Series) · as President Lincoln |
| 1953 | General Electric Theater (TV Series) · as John Harding |
| 1951 | Goodyear Television Playhouse (TV Series) · as Mr. Harrison |
| 1951 | Tales of Tomorrow (TV Series) |
| 1950 | The Lux Video Theatre (TV Series) · as Paul |
| 1950 | The Armstrong Circle Theatre (TV Series) · as Jessup |
| 1949 | The Big Story (TV Series) · as Lee Fuhrman |
| 1948 | Studio One (TV Series) · as Howard |
| 1948 | The Philco Television Playhouse (TV Series) · as Ted Murray |
| 1947 | Kraft Television Theatre (TV Series) · as Radnai |