Ron the Yarn Spinner

 

Two Ton Baker

“Has Anyone Here Seen Bubbles? B-u-b-b-l-e-s”

                                                      

Well, have you, ever?

 

Here’s a radio and TV entertainment personality seniors might remember.

 

 

                      Dick "Two Ton" Baker (May 2, 1916 – May 4, 1975)

Richard (Dick) Baker was a talented singer and entertainer who was a prominent Chicago radio and television personality in the 40s and into the 1960s. Born and “fed” in the Windy City, he started playing the piano at age three. By age four he was playing piano at musical engagements. After high school, Dick joined a local 12-piece band, and played the piano at various gigs in the Chicago area and where he sometimes sang and served as master of ceremonies.

Baker's full-time professional entertaining career began in 1938, playing for night clubs. In 1939 he also took a job in Chicago radio as a disc jockey and subsequently acquired the entertainment name “Two Ton” from a co-worker. It stuck and “Two Ton Baker the Music Maker” was born.

Baker tried to join the Army at the beginning of WW II, but he could not pass the physical. As he gained popularity, however, he began entertaining troops at Soldier Field and Dick was particularly active at Chicago’s Gardiner General Hospital, where he spent more than two hundred hours with wounded GIs.

What I remember most is his TV show – and yes, the Bubbles Song.

From 1952 to 1956 he was host of a kid’s program on WBKB entitled The Happy Pirates, featuring various skits, "Squawky the Parrot" and old Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck cartons that had played in movie theaters. He was also the spokesperson for Riverview Amusement Park. Television commercials for Riverview had Two Ton riding one of the Park Rides and him saying, "Laugh your troubles away at Riverview!" These commercials lasted until the park closed. Dick continued to work in TV, and he managed to get a part in Mickey One starring Warren Beatty, which was Baker's only movie role.

Later in life he returned to entertaining at Chicago night clubs. He was a mainstay at the Ivanhoe from 1965 until 1970. In 1972 Baker was selected by Duke Ellington to play piano at a symposium honoring Ellington and the history of jazz.

“He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,” Yes, Dick could have easily filled a Santa suit. He was a jolly fat man, said to be thoroughly pleasant and contented. He was happy with his lot in life, and he radiated that happiness to others. "The only thing I've ever wanted to do in this world," he said in a 1949 interview in the Chicago Tribune, "is play the piano and sing on the radio. This isn't work, it's play--and I'm getting paid for it!  I like to think my radio show helps make people a little more friendly. The world is full of petty stings. I hope my monkeyshines and songs make people forget the barbs for a little while.”

What is most interesting about Two Ton is that he never received any musical training. He could not read sheet music but played entirely by ear.

 How much did he weigh?

Dick was a big man 6’2” 350 lbs.