Television Personality. He was a Native American television host of the mid-20th century. His show was the longest-running children's program in Philadelphia, being broadcast from 1951 to 1999, airing on Channel 6 (WPVI-TV). His audiences spanned three generations of children. He educated young people on American Indian culture with a soft spoken fatherly delivery. Born Traynor Ora Halftown, "Chief" Halftown was a full-blooded Seneca Indian, an Iroquoian tribe from western New York State. He was a U.S. Army veteran of World War II. Prior to his television career, he was a nightclub singer, who was billed as "the Singing Seneca," and a radio disc jockey. During the television position, he launched bowling clinics for children as he was very involved with the sport. He died from the complications of being a diabetic.
Television Personality. He was a Native American television host of the mid-20th century. His show was the longest-running children's program in Philadelphia, being broadcast from 1951 to 1999, airing on Channel 6 (WPVI-TV). His audiences spanned three generations of children. He educated young people on American Indian culture with a soft spoken fatherly delivery. Born Traynor Ora Halftown, "Chief" Halftown was a full-blooded Seneca Indian, an Iroquoian tribe from western New York State. He was a U.S. Army veteran of World War II. Prior to his television career, he was a nightclub singer, who was billed as "the Singing Seneca," and a radio disc jockey. During the television position, he launched bowling clinics for children as he was very involved with the sport. He died from the complications of being a diabetic.
Bio by: Paul Theodore Riegert
Advertisement
See more Halftown memorials in:
Advertisement
