BERT PARKS, FORMER PAGEANT HOST, DIES

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

DATE: MONDAY, February 3, 1992                   TAG: 9202030093
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL                    PAGE: A1   EDITION: STATE 
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 Parks Scripps Memorial Hospital in his sleep, with his wife and children at his side, said Mark Howell, a family friend.
Parks was best known as host of the Miss America pageant for 25 years. He also worked in radio, television and films. He had starred as Professor Harold Hill in a Broadway production of "The Music Man."
Born in Atlanta, Parks began his career in broadcasting at 18 when he became a staff announcer at CBS, when the radio network was only 5 years old.
Parks serenaded the newly crowned beauty queen each year with a rendition of the song "There she is," until he was fired 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 again sang 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, he had gone 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 endangered lizard that was to be served up at the main course of a banquet.
Parks is survived by his wife of 48 years, Annette; his twin sons Joel and Jeffrey; daughter Annette; and two grandchildren.
There will be no funeral but a memorial service will be scheduled, most likely in California, Howell said.

by Bhavesh Jinadra by CNB