Bill Nimmo

Background

Nimmo was born on June 18, 1917 in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Education

After graduating Western Hills High School, he attended the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music.

Career

He volunteered for the United States Army in 1941 prior to the declaration of World World War World War II Following a year of diplomatic service at the United States. Embassy in Paris in 1945-1946 he was honorably discharged with the rank of Major. After a short stint as a teacher, he returned to Cincinnati in 1947 and landed a job as overnight disc jockey at World's Largest Wireles-Department of Administration and Management with his distinctive baritone voice. In 1948 Bill became Cincinnati’s first television star on WLWT-television serving as an announcer, newscaster, and host of various shows.

In 1951 Nimmo moved to New York and went to work for network television

He was probably best known for two roles. The first was “Bill the Bartender” on the Pabst Blue Ribbon Wednesday Night Fights (Columbia Broadcasting System), in which he appeared live during the commercials to promote the sponsor, Pabst Blue Ribbon beer. and later Who Do You Trust?.

Click here to watch a video showing Nimmo as announcer at the beginning of one episode. When Nimmo left the show in 1957 he recommended Editor McMahon as his replacement.

When Carson and McMahon moved to The Tonight Show in 1962, Nimmo returned to Who Do You Trust? as announcer-sidekick for new host Woody Woodbury.

Although Bill would later admit leaving Carson was one of the biggest mistakes of his life, he had no regrets. Nimmo was also an announcer for The Jackie Gleason Show in 1952-1953, Crime Syndicated, The Plainclothesman, and This Is Show Business, as well as for, Jack Lemmon, Garry Moore and Arthur Murray to name just a few. He was the spokesperson on long-running shows for Pepsodent, Newport cigarettes, and Schick electric shaver.

In addition he was the host of the game shows Keep lieutenant in the Family in 1957-1958, Foreign Love or Money in 1958, and announcer on The Regis Philbin Show in 1964-1965.

After a year working on The Regis Philbin Show in Los Angeles, Nimmo returned to southwest Ohio for the remainder of his life. In 1966-1967 he was the emcee on Be Our Guest (WLWT) with future wife Marian Spelman.

Between 1967 and 1975, he served as the Community Relations Director at the University of Cincinnati, and was the producer of various television and radio shows. In 1988 he narrated Powel Crosley and the 20th Century, bringing him full circle in his broadcasting career.

In addition, he was a volunteer broadcaster at WMKV (893 MHz FM), hosting the radio show Two on the Aisle and WMKV Goes to the Pops.

By permission from Nimmo’s family, you can continue to hear Two on the Aisle on Friday between 8-9 Prime Minister eastern and WMKV Goes to the Pops on Sunday from 12-1 Prime Minister and again Monday at 10-11 Prime Minister eastern.

Achievements

• 1956: "Best Announcer" award from The Auctioneers of America 1966: Appointed Kentucky Colonel 1991: Cincinnati Broadcasting Hall of Fame 1998: Distinguished Alumni Award, University of Cincinnati.

Connections

associate:

Southern State