House Jameson

House Baker Jameson (December 17, 1902 – April 23, 1971) was an American actor in the era of old-time radio and early television. Early years Jameson was a native of Austin, Texas. He was named for Edward M. House, a political figure who was a friend of the family. He graduated from Columbia University. Jameson said that he knew at age 5 that he wanted to be an actor, when an aunt, who raised him after his father died, took him to see a performance of The Shepherd King. Jameson told TV Guide that after the family returned home, he "absolutely refused to go to bed until the family rustled up some costumes and re-enacted the play." Radio Jameson broke into radio in the early 1930s, as an announcer with WEVD. Jameson admired a WEVD announcer named Roland Bradley in Chicago, and wrote him a letter telling him so. This led to a friendship and an invitation to occasionally pinch-hit as an announcer. Bradley left WEVD, and in 1934, Jameson was named chief announcer and dramatic director. Jameson soon became known for his leading roles in Renfrew of the Mounted and Crime Doctor. Renfrew was an adventure story based on the novels and stories by Laurie York Erskine, and was aimed at a juvenile audience. Jameson played Inspector Douglas Renfrew, a Canadian Mountie, from 1936 to 1940. The show was so popular at one point that, after a single offer of a photograph of Jameson in full Renfrew regalia, it received 17,000 requests. In an episode of Behind the Mike, Jameson recounted the case of a boy who recovered from a serious illness after receiving a telegram and an autographed photo from "Renfrew." The boy's brother had contacted Jameson at home to ask for his assistance.