ROY ROWAN

January 25, 1920

Roy Rowan was born in Paw-Paw, Michigan. He became an announcer for CBS Radio, eventually leaving to freelance for CBS TV starting with “I Love Lucy” (1951-57) and “The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour” (1957-60).  After “I Love Lucy” ran its course of 179 shows, Rowan worked for Ball on 156 episodes of “The Lucy Show” (1962-68), and 144 segments of “Here’s Lucy” (1968-74).

His first of very few on-camera appearances was as the announcer for the radio show “Mr. and Mrs. Quiz,” part of the plot of “Lucy Gets Ricky on the Radio” (S1;E32) first aired on May 19, 1952. He was such a hit, he became a regular part of the Desilu family. 

When the season two favorite “The Handcuffs” (ILL S2;E4) was repeated during season four, Roy Rowan introduced the encore broadcast on camera sitting on the desk of the MGM office of Mr. Reilly in 

n “Ricky Needs an Agent” (S4;E29). Lucy and Desi closed the repeat with a pitch for their summer replacement series, “Those Whiting Girls.”  These scenes were not included in the syndicated episodes. 

On “The Lucy Show” he was heard announcing the TV football game in “Lucy is a Referee” (TLS S1;E3)… 

…and made a rare on-camera appearance in “Lucy Takes Up Golf” (TLS S2;E17) on January 27, 1964. 

When there was a voice coming from a TV, radio, or loudspeaker, it generally belonged to Rowan.  

Rowan eventually became part-owner of radio stations in Las Vegas, Stockton and San Jose. In 1968 he joined the media brokerage firm Blackburn & Co. and headed its Beverly Hills office for 22 years, handling the sales of TV stations and hundreds of radio stations. When Blackburn closed its West Coast offices, Rowan formed Rowan Media Brokers in Encino. 

Roy Rowan died in 1998 at age 78. He was survived by his wife, Marilyn, and two daughters.