Bert Parks
The velvet-voiced showman whose annual serenade of the Miss America pageant became an inseparable, nostalgic piece of American television ritual.
1914–1992 (age 78)·American actor and singer·Birthday: December 30·The Greatest Generation
Biography
Bert Parks was the consummate broadcaster, a voice that meant 'event.' He honed his smooth baritone on 1930s radio, hosting everything from quiz shows to musical programs, mastering the art of intimate, live entertainment. In 1955, he was hired to host the Miss America pageant's national telecast, and with his tuxedoed charm and paternal warmth, he became the show's beating heart. For 25 years, his climactic performance of 'There She Is' was the moment a winner was crowned, a tradition that felt as fixed as the boardwalk itself. His sudden, unceremonious firing in 1980 caused a public outcry, proving how deeply he was woven into the cultural fabric. Parks never slowed, popping up in films, on Broadway, and as a beloved commercial pitchman. He embodied a mid-century ideal of show business—polished, reliable, and always with a twinkle in his eye.
The Greatest Generation
1901–1927
Grew up during the Depression, fought World War II, and built the postwar economic boom. Defined by shared sacrifice, institutional trust, and a belief that hard work and loyalty would be rewarded.
Bert was born in 1914, placing them squarely in The Greatest Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Bert Was Born
The biggest hits of 1914
Bert's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1914Born
World War I begins
President: Woodrow Wilson
1919Started school
Treaty of Versailles signed; Prohibition ratified
President: Woodrow Wilson
1927Became a teenager
Lindbergh flies solo across the Atlantic; The Jazz Singer premieres
President: Calvin Coolidge"My Blue Heaven" — Gene Austin
1930Could drive
Pluto discovered
Gas: $0.20/galHome: $3,510President: Herbert Hoover"Body and Soul" — Paul WhitemanBest Picture: All Quiet on the Western Front
1932Could vote
Amelia Earhart flies solo across the Atlantic
Gas: $0.18/galPresident: Herbert Hoover"Night and Day" — Fred AstaireBest Picture: Grand Hotel
1935Turned 21
Social Security Act signed into law
Gas: $0.19/galHome: $3,450President: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Cheek to Cheek" — Fred AstaireBest Picture: Mutiny on the Bounty
1944Turned 30
D-Day: Allied forces land at Normandy
Gas: $0.21/galHome: $3,400Min wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Swinging on a Star" — Bing CrosbyBest Picture: Going My Way
1954Turned 40
Brown v. Board of Education desegregates US schools
Gas: $0.29/galHome: $8,925Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Little Things Mean a Lot" — Kitty KallenBest Picture: On the Waterfront
1964Turned 50
Civil Rights Act signed; Beatles arrive in America
Gas: $0.30/galHome: $13,450Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"I Want to Hold Your Hand" — The BeatlesBest Picture: My Fair Lady
1974Turned 60
Nixon resigns the presidency
Gas: $0.53/galHome: $22,600Min wage: $2.00/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"The Way We Were" — Barbra StreisandBest Picture: The Godfather Part II
1984Turned 70
Apple Macintosh introduced
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $59,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"When Doves Cry" — PrinceBest Picture: Amadeus
1992Died at 78
LA riots after Rodney King verdict
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $84,300Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"End of the Road" — Boyz II MenBest Picture: Unforgiven
Key Achievements
- Hosted the Miss America pageant telecast for 25 consecutive years (1955-1979), making his rendition of 'There She Is' iconic.
- Had a long and successful career in network radio, hosting major programs like 'Break the Bank' and 'The Bob Hope Show.'
- Starred on Broadway in the musical 'Mack & Mabel' and appeared in several films, including 'The Freshman.'
- Inducted into the American Theater Hall of Fame and the Broadcasting & Cable Hall of Fame.
Did You Know?
He was the original television host of the game show 'The Big Payoff' and 'Stop the Music.'
He famously returned to sing 'There She Is' at the Miss America pageant in 1990, a decade after being fired.
He voiced the character of 'The Mayor' in the animated television series 'The Smurfs.'
He served as a master of ceremonies for both Democratic and Republican National Conventions.
“There she is, Miss America. There she is, your ideal.”
