Peter Marshall ("The Hollywood Squares") Dies at 98

[Pink Freud]

Courtesy of today's New York Times:

He was born Ralph Pierre LaCock on March 30, 1926, in Clarksburg, W.Va., and lived in Wheeling until he was 10, when his father, a pharmacist also named Ralph, died.

Mr. Marshall stayed with his extended family in Huntington, W.Va., while his sister, Letitia, moved to New York City with their mother, Jeanne LaCock, a costume designer. His mother got a job at Macy’s, and his sister became a model under the name Joanne Marshall.

He also worked as a page at NBC radio, where he learned how to be a disc jockey and got his first job in show business, as a singer with Bob Chester’s band, when he was still a teenager. The bandleader suggested that Mr. Marshall change his name from LaCock, so he adopted his sister’s modeling surname. (His sister later took the name Joanne Dru and became a successful actress before marrying the singer Dick Haymes.)

He is also the father of longtime Chicago Cubs/K. C. Royals first baseman Pete LaCock.

[netboy65]

The old Hollywood Squares was such a classic! Paul Lynde, Rose Marie, Buddy Hackett, Charley Weaver (or later George Gobel) and on and on....

[Pink Freud]

The old Hollywood Squares was such a classic! Paul Lynde, Rose Marie, Buddy Hackett, Charley Weaver (or later George Gobel) and on and on...

Ah, yes..."Charley Weaver", the folksy old character that actor Cliff Arquette first made famous with Jack Paar (Johnny Carson's "Tonight Show" predecessor). What an interesting family:

Grandfather of smokin' actress Roseanna Arquette, who lived with Peter Gabriel for four years (lucky stiff) and was the subject of the Toto song "Roseanna" from her relationship with lead singer Steve Porcaro.

Grandfather of alleged actor David Arquette, who was for some godforsaken reason married to Courtney Cox.

Grandfather of actress Patricia Arquette, who was married to actors Thomas Jane and Nicolas Cage.

Cliff Arquette ("Charley Weaver") opened and operated his own Civil War Museum in Pennsylvania, which became the Soldiers National Museum until it closed about a decade ago.