Biographical Note
Allen Prescott (1904-1978) was host of the radio program, The Wife Saver, a program offering household hints to housewives several mornings and afternoons a week. His cheery introduction, “Hello, girls,” opened the program, and his signature sign-off, “Mrs. Housewife, I hope there’s nothing burning,” characterized the show’s light and breezy style. Listeners from all over the country sent him hundreds of letters a week with household tips in hopes of Prescott reading them on the air.
The Wife Saver aired on New York radio stations WINS and WABC in 1929, moving to NBC’s Blue Network in 1932, where it was broadcast for 15 minutes, thrice weekly. In 1933 the show could be heard on early morning time slots. By 1941 the program’s name and format changed to Prescott Presents and the show aired weekdays for 30 minutes until 1943. In addition to hosting his radio program, Prescott wrote two books, The Wife-Saver’s Candy Recipes and Aunt Harriet’s Household Hints.
Allen Prescott began his radio career as a newscaster. According to Thomas DeLong’s Radio Stars, Prescott was “working as a New York Mirror reporter in 1929, appearing on a WMCA news program with Walter Winchell. By 1931 Prescott was on the air as a WINS newsman, covering special events such as aerial maneuvers over Manhattan and polo matches from Governors Island.” In later years he would host other radio programs, New York Tonight, Say It with Words and Crossword Quiz, taking them with him when he made the transition to television. He also appeared periodically on For Men Only, Mile O’Dimes, Uncle Jim’s Question Bee, Hemisphere Revue, and a public affairs program, Once in Every Family.
His work in television included a six-week run of The Wife Saver on NBC in 1947 and as emcee for the locally produced ABC show, Quizzing the News, from 1948 to 1949.
Born in St. Louis, Prescott moved to New York at an early age and graduated from the New York Military Academy and the University of Pennsylvania. He served for two years during World War II in the naval air service.
Allen Prescott died January 28, 1978, from a heart attack and left no survivors.