Spoiler : Grauer, Ben (birth name was Benjamin Franklin Grauer) Born on Staten Island, New York 6/2/1908; died 5/31/1977 from a heart ailment while asleep in New York City. Married to the famous decorator and industrial designer Melanie Kahane (1954-?). Grauer’s professional career began at age eight after a motion picture agent invited dancing school pupils to take part in a movie production. For several years, he worked as a film extra before going into broadcasting, appearing as a youngster in five motion pictures: The Mad Woman (1919), His Woman (1919), The Idol Dancer (1920), Annabel Lee (1921) and My Friend the Devil (1922). Following high school, Grauer attended New York’s City College where he was dramatic critic of the school newspaper, and editor-in-chief of the literary magazine. On stage, Grauer played juvenile roles in Betty at Bay, Maytime, Processional and revivals of Floradora and The Blue Bird. In a 1930 competition with some 200 entrants, Grauer won the Sandham Prize for Extemporaneous Speaking. After performing in some dramatic programs for NBC, he signed with the Network in October of 1930 as a staff announcer. By 1944, Grauer was certified by the National Academy of Vocal Arts as possessing “the most authoritative [voice] in the world.” The group labeled him NBC’s “best announcer” at the time.

Spoiler : Grauer was the radio personality that delivered the count-down to midnight at Times Square on New Year's Eve for many years on NBC, and he stayed with NBC until his retirement in 1973, but continued his New Year Eve ritual on The Voice of America.

Spoiler : All listings are for the National Broadcasting Company (NBC). Announcer for radio programs including Walter Winchell Show (1932-1944?); Twenty Thousand Years In Sing Sing (1933-1939); Vox Pop (1935); Your Hit Parade (1935-1937); The Magic Key Of RCA (1935-1939); Believe It Or Not (1937-1938); Battle of the Sexes (1938-1944); Eleanor Roosevelt (1940); Yvette (1940); Service With A Smile (1941); Vacation Serenade (1943-1944); Information Please (1943-1946); Chesterfield Supper Club (1947-1948); The Henry Morgan Show (1949-1950); Boston Symphony (1949- 1951); Sleep No More (1952-1957).

Spoiler : Host of radio programs including Name The Place (1939); Pot O' Gold (1939-1941); What Would You Have Done? (1940); Atlantic Spotlight (1944-1946); Living 1948, etc (1948-1951); The Boston Pops Orchestra (1951); Decorating Wavelengths (with wife Kahane) on Monitor (?-1959-?).

Spoiler : Moderator for television programs including Americana (1948-1949); What Do You Think? (1949). Host of television programs including Eye Witness (1947-1948); Say It With Acting (1949-1950); The Ben Grauer Show (1950); It's A Problem (1951-1952). Announcer for television programs including Kay Kyser's Show (1949-1954). Narrator for television programs including The Big Story (1955-1957); The March Of Medicine (1958).