# J. Donald Wilson

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American radio & film writer and producer (1904–1984)

J. Donald Wilson Born John Donald Wilson (1904-06-05)June 5, 1904 Kansas City, Missouri, U.S. Died January 26, 1984(1984-01-26) (aged 79) Van Nuys, California, U.S. Occupation Radio writer film writer producer voice actor Years active 1936–1960 Spouse Loraine Wilson (1948; divorced) Christine McIntyre ​ (m. 1953)​

**John Donald Wilson** (June 5, 1904 – January 26, 1984) was a radio and film writer, producer, and voice actor, born in [Kansas City, Missouri](/source/Kansas_City%2C_Missouri).

He created the title character in the radio series *[The Whistler](/source/The_Whistler_(radio_series))*,[1] a show that he wrote.[2] His other radio writing, producing, and directing work included *[The New Adventures of Nero Wolfe](/source/The_New_Adventures_of_Nero_Wolfe)*,[3] *[The Adventures of Bill Lance](/source/The_Adventures_of_Bill_Lance)*,[3] and *[Dark Venture](/source/Dark_Venture).*[3]

He did voice work in radio in the 1930s. He voiced [Mickey Mouse](/source/Mickey_Mouse) in select 1938 broadcasts of *[The Mickey Mouse Theater of the Air](/source/The_Mickey_Mouse_Theater_of_the_Air)*[4] as well as other characters in Disney productions such as *[The Reluctant Dragon](/source/The_Reluctant_Dragon_(1941_film))*.[5] He was the announcer on *[Strange As It Seems](/source/Strange_as_It_Seems)* and *[Charlie Chan](/source/Charlie_Chan#Radio)*.[6] After more than a decade of acting on radio, he became production head of ABC and later was promoted to vice president.[7]

In 1952, Wilson produced *Mystery Theater*, a Friday night television program in Los Angeles. In the era of live TV, when holding TV programs to their intended durations was a problem, Wilson was noted for keeping *Mystery Theater* on time by using techniques that he had practiced with radio programs. Reading scripts aloud ahead of time and marking where optional cuts could be made provided the ability to adapt if a program began to run long.[7]

He was known for his work on films such as *[The Whistler](/source/The_Whistler_(1944_film))[8]*[9][10] and *[Key Witness](/source/Key_Witness_(1947_film))*.[11]

He inverted his first and middle names so as not to be confused with [Don Wilson](/source/Don_Wilson_(announcer)), the announcer on *[The Jack Benny Program](/source/The_Jack_Benny_Program)*. In 1938, it was announced that he had adopted the name Norman Wilson,[6] but at some point he went back to J. Donald Wilson.

He was married to Loraine Wilson, who sued him for divorce in 1948 over numerous affairs, including one with his secretary Tania Karl.[12] Wilson was later married to [Christine McIntyre](/source/Christine_McIntyre).[13] He reportedly suffered a [nervous breakdown](/source/Mental_disorder) in 1946, but was soon back at work.[14] He died in 1984.[15]

## Filmography

Year Title Role Notes 1936 To Spring Head Elf Voice, uncredited 1939 Society Dog Show Judge Voice, uncredited 1941 The Reluctant Dragon Mayor, Knight Voice, uncredited 1942 Bambi Chipmunk #2[16] Voice, uncredited

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** Cox, Jim (2015). [*Radio Crime Fighters: More Than 300 Programs from the Golden Age*](https://books.google.com/books?id=gLzwCQAAQBAJ&q=%22J.+Donald+Wilson%22+radio+writers+-wikipedia&pg=PA8). McFarland. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-1-4766-1227-0](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1-4766-1227-0).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** Encyclopedia of American Radio, 1920–1960, Volume 2. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [9780786429424](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/9780786429424).

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:0_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:0_3-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-:0_3-2) Dunning, John (1998). [*On the Air: The Encyclopedia of Old-Time Radio*](https://archive.org/details/onairencyclop00dunn). Oxford University Press. p. [7](https://archive.org/details/onairencyclop00dunn/page/7). [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-19-984045-8](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-19-984045-8).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** Korkis, Jim (2014). The Book of Mouse: A Celebration of Mickey Mouse. Theme Park Press. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0984341504](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0984341504).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** RKO Radio Pictures Horror, Science Fiction and Fantasy Films, 1929–1956. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-1-4766-1683-4](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1-4766-1683-4)

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:1_6-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:1_6-1) "Behind the Mike". *Broadcasting*. 1938-01-01. p. 50.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:2_7-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:2_7-1) Ames, Walter (March 4, 1952). ["Tenney, Kenny Feud Moves to Video Tonight; Wilson Using Radio Technique on TV Film"](https://www.newspapers.com/clip/46925778/the-los-angeles-times/). *The Los Angeles Times*. California, Los Angeles. p. 20. Retrieved March 19, 2020 – via [Newspapers.com](/source/Newspapers.com).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** Blottner, Gene (2011-12-22). [*Columbia Pictures Movie Series, 1926–1955: The Harry Cohn Years*](https://books.google.com/books?id=FUzc4If3M8gC&q=%22J.+Donald+Wilson%22+whistler+-wikipedia&pg=PA300). McFarland. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-7864-8672-4](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-7864-8672-4).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** Erickson, Hal (2014). [*From Radio to the Big Screen: Hollywood Films Featuring Broadcast Personalities and Programs*](https://books.google.com/books?id=mCXOAwAAQBAJ&q=%22J.+Donald+Wilson%22+whistler+-wikipedia&pg=PA208). McFarland. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-1-4766-1558-5](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1-4766-1558-5).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** Wilk, Ralph (1944-04-10). ["Los Angeles"](https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-Radio-Daily/RD-1944/RD-1944-04.pdf) (PDF). *Radio Daily*. p. 4. Retrieved 2020-03-18.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** [*Catalog of Copyright Entries: Third series*](https://books.google.com/books?id=50whAQAAIAAJ&q=j.+donald+wilson+key+witness&pg=RA3-PA54). 1947.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** "Radio's Don Wilson Sued for Divorce". *Pasadena Independenti*. 1948-01-30. p. 40 – via Newspapers.com.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-13)** "Obituaries". *Variety*. Vol. 316, no. 1. 1984-08-01. p. 71.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-14)** ["Production"](https://www.worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Magazines/Archive-BC-IDX/46-OCR/1946-04-22-BC-OCR-Page-0062.pdf) (PDF). *Broadcasting & Telecasting*. 1946-04-22. p. 60. Retrieved 2020-03-18.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-15)** "Necrology of 1984". *Variety*. Vol. 317, no. 12. 1985-01-16. p. 232.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-CartoonVoices_16-0)** Scott, Keith (3 October 2022). *Cartoon Voices of the Golden Age, Vol. 2*. BearManor Media.

## External links

- [J. Donald Wilson](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0933524/) at [IMDb](/source/IMDb_(identifier))

- [J. Donald Wilson](https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/5726051/j_-donald-wilson) on [Find a Grave](/source/Find_a_Grave)

- [J. Donald Wilson](https://radiogoldin.library.umkc.edu/Home/RadioGoldin_Records?searchString=Wilson,%20J.%20Donald&type=Artists) on the RadioGOLDINdex

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