John Hundley

John Walker Hundley (July 4, 1899 – April 17, 1990) was an American musical comedy actor, singer, and CBS television executive born in Hightstown, New Jersey. He was named after his grandfather, the Reverend John Walker Hundley (1841–1914), a Baptist minister of some prominence in Virginia.

Hundley's Broadway career spanned from 1925 to 1932, during which he appeared in a number of musical productions including Just a Minute, Heads Up, Walk a Little Faster, Spring Is Here, and Polly. His role in the 1929 Broadway premiere of Polly, a musical adapted from the 1917 comedy Polly With a Past, came about when he replaced Archie Leach — who would later achieve fame as Cary Grant — after Leach had played the part during out-of-town tryouts. Also in 1929, Hundley appeared in Spring Is Here, which featured a score by Rodgers and Hart, and it was in that production that he introduced the song "With a Song in My Heart."

In 1938, Hundley transitioned from the stage to broadcasting when he joined CBS Television. Beginning as a network announcer, he advanced through various roles in programming and sales. Among his executive responsibilities was a position as editor of program practices — the network's censorship function — during the era of live television. In that capacity, he screened performers for sobriety and ensured that women's costumes met CBS broadcast standards.

Hundley married Eleanor Rothschild in New York in 1932 and resided at 168 East 74th Street in Manhattan, where he remained until his death in New York City on April 17, 1990.