BERT PARKS, FORMER PAGEANT HOST, DIES

                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: MONDAY, February 3, 1992                   TAG: 9202030128
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL                    PAGE: A-1   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: LA JOLLA, CALIF.                                LENGTH: Medium
BERT PARKS, FORMER PAGEANT HOST, DIES
Bert Parks, the entertainer known to generations of Americans for his annual rendition of "There she is, Miss America!" died Sunday. He was 77.
Parks, diagnosed recently with an inoperable lung disease, died at Scripps Memorial Hospital in his sleep, with his wife and children at his side, said Mark Howell, a family friend.
Parks served as emcee of the Miss America pageant for 25 years. He also worked in radio, television and films. His stage credits include the starring role in a Broadway production of the "The Music Man."
Born in Atlanta as Bert Jacobson, he was hired at 16 for his first broadcasting job by an Atlanta radio station. He later worked as a staff announcer for CBS.
Parks was fired as the Miss America Pageant emcee in 1980. Pageant officials said they wanted to give the show a younger look. His firing generated nationwide sympathy and a letter-writing campaign organized by Johnny Carson.
Parks made a special return appearance in 1990, when he sang along with a recording of his signature song. He received a standing ovation when he walked on stage, but the appearance was marred by gaffes and he did not return.
After the Miss America firing, Parks went on to emcee other pageants ranging from a tugboat competition to a contest judging small dogs.
In an endearing and quirky cameo, Parks played himself in the 1990 film comedy "The Freshman" with Marlon Brando. In a send-up of his own beauty pageant performances, he serenaded a giant lizard that was to be served up as the main course of a banquet.
He also had a dramatic television career. He began to act in the 1960s, making guest appearances on "Burke's Law," and in the '70s on "Ellery Queen" and "The Bionic Woman." He also appeared as ringmaster of the syndicated Circus series in the early 1970s.

by Bhavesh Jinadra by CNB