Peter Marshall at his 88th birthday party
American entertainment icon Peter Marshall passed away on Aug. 15, at the age of 98. A family member said Marshall died of kidney failure.
Mr. Marshall hosted more than 5,000 episodes of the five time Emmy award winning Hollywood Squares on NBC TV from 1966-1981. The game show host was also known to many fans at the “Boy Singer.”
WDOD broadcast the Peter Marshall radio show daily in early 2000 while affiliated with the Music of Your Life Network. This writer had several telephone conversations with the former game show host and he remembered passing through Chattanooga many times staying at the downtown Read House. Mr. Marshall was very complimentary of the city mentioning seeing the “General,” which was once housed at the L&N railroad station across from the famous downtown hotel. Mr. Marshall said he had sung the “Chattanooga Choo Choo” many times; it was one of his favorite big band selections.
Mr. Marshall starred in Broadway shows, one with George Gobel who started in Chattanooga at the WDOD radio playhouse in the 1940’s.
Many friends called Mr. Marshall the perfect host and entertainer. Thank you, Peter Marshall for entertaining us for so many years.
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Pictures are from Brad Walker of Knoxville, who is the current director of the Les Elgart Band and was good friends with the game show host. Mr. Walker said he visited with Mr. Marshall several months ago at his Los Angeles home and he was very weak but he had a sharp mind. Mr. Walker said, “Peter Marshall was a great guy and a very down to earth entertainer who will be missed.”
Peter Marshall autographed picture for bandleader Brad Walker