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Over the years, Gene and Terry Arnold recorded virtually thousands of radio spots and TV Voiceovers..both as the creator's of the concepts such as for Deb Shops and Merry Go Round Fashion chains nationally, and as the voices cast on many other spots. Their agency, Gene Arnold & Company, was operated in Philadelphia and New York until 1988,when Gene was injured in an auto accident. Gene has appeared in many major industrial films and TV commercials; some of which were photographed by long-time Philadelphia cinematographer Ted Greenspun, who recently passed away. Ted deserves mention here for making Gene "look so good" on all those TV spots and films. Gene has also done many TV shoots with Beta-Vision Productions over the years. Thanks to Nate Weisman for the great lighting and solid audio on those spots. Gene still is the TV voice of Steinway Piano and Jacobs Music for Beta-Vision. Doing this work is something Gene sadly misses.
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Philly's own Fabian and Rick in Hollywood. As a singer and young actor, Gene (his real middle name) was named Rick Roman at American Bandstand by Dick Clark, who thought that's what girls would like. Dean Reynolds was his first manager, and arranged his first recording contract and appearances. Gene later co-owned the major recording studio in the city at the time at 212 North 12th Street, and launched San-Dee and Worldwide Limited Records from there with Alan Lee and wife Terry. The Good Guys, The Tridels, The Stylettes,(co-produced with Dave Chackler, another Philly-NY-LA record-whiz) Terri Hunter, and every Philly group you HAVE heard of all recorded there.The next owners had better luck. They called it Sigma Sound..The later difference was the engineering...and Joe Tarsia's great ear. Rick's first official Fan Club was formed in (of all places) French Lick, Indiana, in 1959. His fan club president was Ruthie Burton, who remained as such until Jeanne Martin took over in 1960. They were great days on the road, and as an upcoming actor learning his craft from the best, like Robert Alda, J. Carroll Naish, Jody McCrea, and the great director of "Force Of Impulse," the first film Gene worked with. He had to be hospitalized and quarantined at Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami when a crew members child kissed him and he got measles.
There goes THAT movie. He did get to work with Vince Montana Jr's idol, Lionel Hampton, and learned a lot about songwriting and music from the "master" vibrophonist and the original "Happy Face." Gene (and Jody)were later in Dino DiLaurentis' great Philly film, "Fighting Back" with Tom Skerrit. Since then, Gene has hosted and co-hosted the Philadelphia portions of many of the top telethons in the nation over the years, teamed with Jerry Lewis, Art Fleming, Jack Smith, Henry Winkler and Bert Parks, among others. His favorite charity is "The Sunshine Foundation," providing terminally ill children with their wishes. Gene and Terry have worked closely with them in the past making wishes for kids to meet their favorite celebrities come true.
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Definately one of our "Top Ten" favorite pictures. Jody, (our producer) and brothers Frank (middle) and Brian (left) hanging together in the tub. I am fortunate enough to work with Brian daily. We only see Jody and his new family when we hit LA, or when he, Deborah (and now son Max) visit us, although we collaborate frequently on shows, our books, and everything else we do. After all, he's the spark that got us back with you on the internet.
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Most people didn't know that Gene was an "un-official" member of the Phillies in the late 1970's, representing most of the greats of the era like Schmidt, Luzinski, Boone, Bowa, Maddox, Carlton, McGraw, Lonberg and most of the others including Pete Rose for PR and licensing. Here Gene does a TV spot with Steve Carlton and Larry Bowa, dropping the mike to catch a ball. Gene travelled with the team, and his young son Frank played with now-greats like Brett and Aaron Boone, and Tim McCarver (the superstar singer son of Phils pitcher Tug.)
Frank eventually developed into a great player himself, and once, when interviewed by the Philadelphia Inquirer after a championship game, was quoted as saying "I thought you just went to the Vet, put on a uniform, and played. That's how I grew up." Gene and Terry did have the thrill of paying to see Frank play at Veteran's Stadium in a city Championship game. Frank went on to play center-field at Temple, next to Bobby Higginson, the Tigers slugging outfielder. An injury during his last college-game forced an end to draft dreams for him. Frank was voted by the Philadelphia Daily News as one of "The Top 100 Players in Philadelphia Baseball History". Gene and Terry built many of their business appointments around his baseball schedules from Little League through college and summer semi-pro games, and rarely missed any of Frank's games, Jody's gym meets, or Brian's skating "exhibitions." The guys were all very athletic, and we had the pleasure of seeing them compete at almost every event they were ever in. Money buys a lot, but it can't buy that!
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Gene shown here with his favorites..."O' Dem Golden 45's......THOSE were the days....no casette, no CD....just 45's and 12 inch 33's to go gold. Here are some "Philly Sounds" that went gold in the 1970's and early '80's.
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Our good friend Stewkey was the lead singer for Nazz at their beginnings, ("Hello, It's Me', Wildwood Blues," Under The Ice" etc, and is STILL the lead singer of NazzII, a wonderful re-creation of their original sound. Visit www.stewkey.com to check out their latest happenings. We recently MC'd them at the Brotherly Love Concert at The TLA Theater, and again and "Bike Nite" in Lansdale PA in front of 40,000.
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