Topic: Bert Parks

Bert Parks, born Bertram Jacobson (December 30, 1914 – February 2, 1992), was an American actor, singer, and radio and television announcer and host, best known as the longtime host (1955–1979) of the annual Miss America telecast.

Parks was born in Atlanta, Georgia, the son of Hattie (née Spiegel) and Aaron Jacobson, a merchant.

Parks got his first broadcasting job at age 16, for Atlanta's WGST radio. He moved to New York when he was 19. He was hired as a singer and straight man on The Eddie Cantor Show before becoming a CBS Radio staff announcer. Parks became the host of Break the Bank, which premiered on radio in 1945 and was telecast from 1948 to 1957, and Stop the Music on radio in 1948 and on television from 1949 to 1952.