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A. Purves Pullen

      Born on February 2, 1909, he later became known as Dr. Horatio Q. Birdbath, star of radio, TV, stage and screen. His many appearances on WJW, WADC and WTAM from 1929 to 1944 endeared him to Akron listeners long before he became nationally featured on networks with Spike Jones, Ben Bernie, Walt Disney Shows and many others. As a mimic, Purv Pullen could do 300 different birdcalls plus dozens and dozens of burps, cinks and glugs. In the early days of radio, he was called “Whistlin’ Purv” and he made the tune “Let’s All Sing Like The Birdies Sing” famous. Purv was also skilled as a ventriloquist and did the voices of a chimpanzee, a wild boar, cheetah, hyena and farm animals. Many old-timers recall him as Bonzo in “Bonzo Goes to College” and as Cheetah in the Tarzan Movies as well as barnyard chickens and animals in “Old McDonald Had A Farm” presentations.