What pops into your head when you hear Detroit? If it’s Motown Records and stars like Stevie Wonder, Diana Ross, and Michael Jackson, you’re not alone. But there’s another side to Detroit’s music scene that you might not know about – television. Thanks to Bill Kennedy, Detroit’s residents spent many an afternoon watching their favourite movie stars on the small screen.
Did you know that Bill Kennedy was born as Willard A. Kennedy on June 27, 1908, in Cleveland Heights, Ohio? From a young age, he was interested in radio speaking and worked hard to develop his voice. After a few years at Assumption College in Ontario, Canada, he ditched his studies to find work. In 1934, he started as a staff announcer for WTAM, before moving to WWJ in Detroit, Michigan.
Kennedy was a man of many talents, and he wasn’t afraid to use them. His deep booming voice helped him make a name for himself in the world of radio and TV, and his career spanned nearly five decades. Despite this success, Kennedy wasn’t content to stay behind the microphone. He took a shot at Hollywood in the 1940s, working for Warner Brothers. Even though he didn’t quite hit the big time, he’s still remembered for the dozen or so “B” westerns he produced for smaller studios after World War II.
In his early TV career, Kennedy appeared in guest roles in shows like “Boston Blackie,” “The Public Defender,” “Burns & Allen,” and “I Married Joan,” as well as several episodes of the western series “The Cisco Kid,” “Death Valley Days,” and “The Gene Autry Show.”
Despite his TV success, Kennedy had to work as a door-to-door salesman and truck driver during slow periods in his career. When he lost his hosting job with KNXT in Hollywood in 1956, he moved back to Detroit. He eventually found a new gig hosting “Bill Kennedy’s Showtime,” a weekday program aired on CKLW-TV, a station located just across the Detroit River in Ontario, Canada. The show was later renamed “Bill Kennedy at the Movies” and moved to WKBD channel 50. Kennedy was a popular local figure right up until his retirement in 1983.
On his afternoon TV show, Kennedy showed old movies and shared stories about the actors and the movie’s production. These insights came from his own Hollywood experience. He had a dry, sardonic style, much like Ed Sullivan. Kennedy was also known for his honest movie reviews, often saying something like, “We have a moderately good picture for you today.” He also took on-air calls from viewers, which were a highlight of his daily shows. When he showed a film he had been in, he would chat about his role during every break, always with a touch of humor.
In 1969, Kennedy started broadcasting with WKBD, Channel 50 in Southfield, and he continued to host “Bill Kennedy at the Movies” until his retirement in 1983. The twice-married father of three spent his final years in Palm Beach, Florida, where he died on January 27, 1997.
Bill Kennedy’s filmography is extensive, with movies like “Highway West” (1941) and “Don’t Make Waves” (1967) under his belt. He is still remembered today for his significant contributions to the Detroit music and TV scene.
For more information about Bill Kennedy, check out the Detroit Historical Society and IMDb, the world’s most popular and authoritative source for information on movies, TV shows, and celebrities.
To learn more about Detroit and Bill Kennedy, check out articles like “Things to do at Detroit Metro Airport” and “Under the Radar, Michigan Visits the Thumb.”
Bill Kennedy was a beloved TV personality in Detroit, known for his deep voice and dry sense of humor. He spent decades entertaining Detroit’s residents, showing old movies and sharing stories from his own Hollywood experience. Even after his retirement in 1983, Kennedy’s impact on Detroit’s TV scene is still felt today. He is remembered not just for his work on-screen, but for his larger-than-life personality and his dedication to his craft.
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To learn more about Bill Kennedy’s impact on Detroit’s TV scene, check out [Bill Kennedy – a prolific actor and powerful TV personality in Detroit](https%3A%2F%2Fthumbwind.com%2F2022%2F08%2F21%2Fdetroit-bill-kennedy-supremes%2F).
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Author: Malcom Mott
Excerpt: In 1969, Detroit’s Bill Kennedy began his broadcast with WKBD, Channel 50 in Southfield and he continued to host ‘Bill Kennedy at the Movies’ until his retirement in 1983.
Slug: detroit-bill-kennedy-supremes
