Sherlock Holmes and Ellery Queen Radio Plays Program Bios

Bios – 1948

Lizzie “Fingers” Manilla: Lizzie has been tickling the ivories since she was knee-high to a grasshopper. She played in her first speakeasy when she was 15 years old and has entertained a vast array of audiences in social clubs, theaters and juke joints ever since. Lizzie is happy to play piano for the world-famous Rosendale Radio.

Deirdre Quirk-Fallon: Deirdre was born in Burbank, California to Bobby Quirk and Mae Fallon, two of the foremost animators at Warner Brothers. While tagging along to her parents’ work as a child began as a necessity, her parents soon realized it was an asset—Deirdre was more than happy to provide any necessary baby sounds for the animation team, and as she got older, it was clear that she had a proclivity for voices. She voiced minor characters in any animated features that needed it, notably Honeymoon Hotel at age 10 and Lady in Red at age 11. When Mel Blanc was unavailable to re-record a line for Porky Pig and the Awful Orphan, Deirdre was asked to step in, and has been used as a stand-in for family friend Mel ever since. While her love of animation will always burn strong, she decided to move to New York City at age 21 to expand her horizons toward music and theater.

Smokey Adams: The son of a prominent, politically connected gilded age Hudson Valley family, Smokey attended multiple boarding schools and Dartmouth College (legacy admission), where he pursued a degree in geology. He was a splendid athlete and singer and while at Dartmouth developed an interest in the theatre. After college, he toured Europe, returning to a variety of forgettable stints as a local radio personality, bartender and amateur speluker. He abruptly quit and made his way to Hollywood, where he got work as a band vocalist. This led to small singing roles in films beginning in 1934 and then sang on the radio. He was hired by Warner Brothers as a supporting actor who could croon a tune when called upon. His good looks and good-natured personality made him a natural choice for the supporting cast. His first starring role was in the western Treachery Rides the Range. In the westerns that followed, he would sing the tune while riding the horse or romancing the gal. After several pictures in which he was billed as Chick Adams, he was signed by Warner Bros. and his name was changed to Smokey. In 1940, Smokey headed for Universal where he was, again, in the supporting cast. He worked in serials, Rangers of Fortune ; horror, The Mummy’s Hand; to comedy, Ride ‘Em Cowboy. His signature theme “I’m Smokin’ With Love For You” was introduced in Lasso Lady.  After that, roles were sporadic. In recent years, Smokey has devoted himself to radio full-time, appearing in soap operas and mysteries and on occasion, often providing comedy relief. A reliable and feisty second banana, he’s traded quips with the best of them: Eddie Cantor, Jack Benny, Hilda Benson, Fred Allen, Tubby Johnson, and Milton Berle.

Bob ‘C.C.’ Foltz: Foltz is an American theater, television and radio actor best known for his comedic timing, clever dialogue and wild imagination.

Foltz added the C.C. to his name accidentally on the air in 1932, when he responded to a reference about a radio broadcast being Coast-to-Coast. “You know that’s my middle name…” he chortled, and then decided to keep the initials, often repeating the refrain that they stood for to “Coast-to-Coast, City-to-City and Cha-Cha.”

Foltz was born in Chicago and studied at Northwestern University. He got his start on stage and walked the boards in most of the major theaters there. On the radio he began playing smaller roles and got his big break as the host of a game show called Battle of the Half-Wits which pitted less than brilliant contestants against each other trying to make up the most outlandish answers to questions where they had no idea what the real answers were. These flights of fancy became associated with Foltz and as a result he was often brought in for guest appearances on shows such as Bob, Bob, Rob and Robert, The Cheese Talks and Fly Zipper Follies.

Moving into television and motion pictures Foltz’ has enjoyed a wide range of character parts in everything from Let’s Play Reporter, to Gunsmoke, and Highway to the Stars as well as film roles in The Killers, Love is like Linguini and The Pomeranian.

No stranger to The Adventures of Ellery Queen, Foltz took over for Carlton Young, and played the title Character on CBS from 1943–1946. And in 1946 the series received a nomination, along with Mr. and Mrs. North for a Best Radio Drama Edgar Award from the Mystery Writers of America. CC is very excited to be reprising the role here on WRDL.

Stephen Bathory: Stephen was given the name of his grandfather, one of the Hungarian patriots executed at Trieste in 1867. He grew up blissfully on the island of Antekirtta, mentored by his maternal grandfather, Mattias Sandorf. It was at Antekirtta where he joined traveling acrobat and strongman performers Pescade and Matifou — famous from Provence to all Mediterranean ports of Europe and Africa. Arriving in Paris, Bathory, took his apprenticeship with legendary acting teacher Marcel Lidji, immersing himself in all aspects of French theatre and culture. He played Christian to Lidji’s Cyrano, and later was honored to replace his mentor in the title role. It was at Lidji’s recommendation to his friend, Laurence Olivier, that Stephen joined the Theatre Royal of London. After a successful production of Romeo and Juliet in which he performed the role of Mercutio, the company toured the United States. While in Bridgeport, CT, Bathory was invited to reprise the role made famous by the legendary American actor James O’Neill — The Count of Monte Cristo. On break in Chicago, he stumbled on to the set of the film, Thunder, and followed it up the next year with an uncredited role in The Unholy Three. He signed a contract with RKO who gave him small roles in a number of films, including Girl Crazy, Bird of Paradise, and The Most Dangerous Game. Over at Mascot Pictures he supported John Wayne in a serial, The Three Musketeers, which was later re-edited into a film entitled Desert Command. Stephen’s radio experience includes stints at Blue Network, Mutual Broadcasting System, and ABC.

Slide Manners: Slide is a musician and comedian who left her home in Camden NJ at the age of 15 and travelled with an All-Girls band called Rhapsody in Red. She played (you may have guessed it) the Trombone. She was noted for every style of music from the hottest jazz to symphonic classics. She met her husband, Bernie Levine, a Vaudevillian, on the road when they were both playing the RKO Palace in Rochester, NY. Bernie was part of the duo Levine and Sydell, whose act consisted of both comedy and cleverly trained fox terriers. They married when she was 24. Bernie and Slide formed the well-known act, Manners and Levine, and played on the Borst Belt circuit for many years where they became regulars at Grossingers in the Catskills. They are known for bringing Jerry Lewis to the attention of Jennie Grossinger and this is where he got his start! Slide and Bernie remained great friends with Jerry and had a front row seat when Martin and Lewis made their debut in Atlantic City in 1946. They performed for a brief stint with the Ziegfeld Follies where Slide became good friends with Fanny Brice who shared a love of both radio and comedy. Bernie and Slide had a radio show on WRDL for several years and now reside on a 10-acre farm in the Hudson Valley where they also bred fox terriers.

Sydnie Gale began her career as a stage manager, most notably for Sarah Bernhardt’s American tour. Miss Bernhardt brought her back to France, but not knowing the language Miss Gale moved to London. She spent the next few years touring with plays by Shaw and Wilde. While working with the Gaiety Players she was asked to direct Shaw’s The Philanderer. The tour was a great success and she became the company’s regular director bringing some American plays into their repertoire. In 1928 the Gaiety Players toured the United States and Miss Gale decided to stay. She directed for The Theatre Guild bringing the works of Shaw, Molnar and Pirandello to the American Stage. As radio became more popular she often adapted her productions for broadcast. Miss Gale was the primary director/adapter for Gotham Radio Theatre. She is delighted to be bringing her work to WRDL and have the opportunity to work with these wonderful actors.