A Quinn Martin Production

Does anybody know who the "announcer" was for all those great '70s Quinn Martin detective shows?

I can hear him now...

"Barnaby Jones, a Quinn Martin Production. Starring Buddy Ebsen, Also starring Lee Meriweather, Mark Shera. With guest stars Peter Haskell, Burr DeBenning, Joanne Linville, Andrew Duggan,  and with special guest star, Trisha Noble.  Tonight's episode 'Mother of Mercy, Child of Death''"

UPDATE:  The mystery is solved. The announcer was Hank Simms aka Henry Fry Simms. Where is his statue at the TV Academy?

Comments

[Bryon]

It was William Conrad wasn't it? I love the Who Shot Mr. Burns episode of The Simpsons that parodied this.

[David J. Montgomery]

That was one of my Mom's favorite shows. I remember watching it in reruns. I always preferred Quincy, though.

[Mark A. York]

Remember it well but don't know the announcer's name. It wasn't a screen actor I know that much.

[googler]

Hank Sims.

What are you, too lazy to type "Quinn Martin" + announcer into Google?

Sheesh!

;-D

[Richard Yokley]

Actually, its Hank Simms (2 m's)and sometimes went by 'Henry Fry Simms'.

[Lee Goldberg]

Thank you so much!!

So...whatever happened to Mr. Simms?

He deserves a place in the TV Hall of Fame, if you ask me.

[Tom Wahl]

Hello Hank Simms fans. I have admired Hank's work since I was a little boy. I too am announcer and have 2 guys who were my inspiration...Hank Simms and Dick Tufeld (former ABC and Disney announcer, and Lost In Space robot voice). I remember the first time I heard Hank. I was hooked. I used to catch the openings of all the Quinn Martin shows just too hear him. Also, I looked forward each year to hear him announce the Academy Awards shows which he did for about 25 years as memory serves me. Just last year, I received a very nice letter from....yes, Hank. For those of you wondering, he is living in Arkansas these days. Sadly, Mrs. Simms passed away last year I believe. Hank was born in Oklahoma so he's in his element. I thought it strange for a Los Angeles guy to move to Arkansas until I learned more about him. Based solely on his nice letter to me and a phone conversation with T-J Lubinsky in Pittsburgh (T-J lured Hank out of retirement to do the voiceover intro to a show he does on public t-v there and it's T-J I have to thank for helping me make contact with Hank), Hank is a very humble man. I believe he doesn't realize how much of an impact he had on younger announcers like me. Thanks for the high standard of announcing you have set for us. It gives me a goal to shoot for.

Regards,

Tom Wahl
WEAR-TV
Pensacola, Florida.

[Frank Simms]

Hey all interested in the great voice of Hank Simms. I just ran across this site and noticed the admiration of my father's voice which I think is well deserved as well! Yes I am his son and I to think he deserves more credit for his great work with Quinn Martin and for his great work announcing the Academy Awards for 25 years.
As Tom Wahl mentioned in his very kind words towards my father, my loving mother passed away in 2003 from cancer and we miss her plenty. My dad is relaxing in retirement in Hot Springs, Arkansas in his young year of 82. His voice still sounds great even though he is so humble he won't tell you that himself.

Frank Simms

[Jean Layette]

Hi, i'm a big fans of all series made by QM Productions. I collect ABC TV Photos from the series The Invaders. Over the years i found a lot of pics from actors who play in the serie. I have 3x5 index cards autograph of mr thinnes, mr. kent smith and Quinn Martin. i also have a pics of these 3 person =) I never found a pics of Hank Simms or William Woodson =(

So i ask here to mr frank simms if it's possible to see a pics of your father in the 60's ? or maybe you can contact me ? i am just a fans who want to complete a great collection of pictures from the people who works for QM Production.

Thanks in advance from a fans in Montreal Quebec

[Frank Simms]

To Jean Layette -

I could probably get you an autographed picture of my dad around the '60s. My E-mail is frankfest@hotmail.com Get a hold of me and we'll see what we can do.

Frank Simms

[Margie]

Hi,
I am looking for the announcer who did the opening introduction of The Rifleman.....
The Rifleman Starring Chuck Connors.

It has been brought to my attention that this could be Quinn Martin's announcer Henry Fry Simms.

Here is the link to a clip that someone had made up for me with Henry Fry Simms annoucing some TV shows. They have included "The Rifleman" to compare it with.

http://rifleman-branded.com/wavs/rifleman_announcer_clip.mp3

I have been searching for this information for some time, hope you can help me in this matter.

Thank you,
Margie aka Cowgirl

[Dan Dermody/WIRL Radio/Peoria, Illinois]

Back in the late 70's, I was working for a radio station in Vero Beach, Florida. I was an advertising rep, and one day when I came back into the station there was a gentleman recording , believe it or not, an 'audition' tape. He was applying for the possibilty of doing some 'free-lance' work, since he had retired recently and was now living in Vero Beach. Well, after he left, and I heard the tape..I knew immediately it was the same person who had done all the Quinn Martin shows. I later learned his name was Hank Simms. I had heard him do the Academy Award Show for years as well, and couldn't believe we were lucky enough to have this giant in the industry wanting to cut commercials for our clients. He was a heck of a nice guy, and I, for one, am glad to have had the opportunity to watch , listen and learn from him. Thanks for being so nice to me, Hank. I'll never forget you.

[Ken Szymanski]

Hank Simms' son Frank has said that his father was the announcer for Barnaby Jones, The FBI, Streets of San Francisco, and Cannon, but NOT for The Fugitive, The Invaders, or 12 O'Clock High (even though the senior Mr. Simms is often credited with being the announcer on these shows). A good listen reveals it is a different voice (and this is not to be confused with the Narrator). Does any QM Production afficianado know who this narrator is?? Thanks!

[chris]

Dick Wesson was the earlier QM announcer who did THE FUGITIVE. Wesson may have also done THE INVADERS and 12 O'CLOCK HIGH. All began production before the shows which Hank Simms did.

This can be evidenced by listening a FUGITIVE opening and comparing that voice to this one heard on WALT DISNEY'S WONDERFUL WORLD OF COLOR, a show which Wesson definately did:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-kBBVcgvMZU

[Ken Szymanski]

Thanks, Chris. We read an imdb message that stated the same thing about Dick Wesson and also saw the reference in a book about Quinn Martin; plus Frank Simms related the same thing -- all these things converged yesterday. For me, it was a pleasant surprise as I wasn't sure if the announcer could ever be verified. Dick Wesson was a classy announcer and an important part of The Fugitive!

Ken