THE HAT SQUAD: JOHN CONTE

John Conte, an actor in television, radio, films and on Broadway for decades before he went behind the cameras and founded his own television station, died here on Monday. He was 90.

Born in 1915 in Palmer, Mass., Mr. Conte was a permanent cast member in the companies of George Burns and Gracie Allen, Edward G. Robinson and “The Silver Theater.”

He appeared in numerous television shows, including episodes of “The Untouchables,” “Perry Mason,” “Bonanza,” “Your Show of Shows” and “Studio One.”

He was the host of many live productions for NBC’s “Matinee Theater,” a live-drama series that was one of the first daytime shows on network television.

In the Palm Springs-Rancho Mirage area, he founded the local NBC affiliate, KMIR-TV, in 1968. He sold the station in 1999.

TV SERIES
"The Best of the Post" (1960) TV Series .... Host
"Mantovani" (1959) TV Series .... Host
"Woman with a Past" (1954) TV Series

TV MOVIES
The Desert Song (1955) (TV) .... Paul Fontaine

TV SPECIALS
Max Liebman Presents: The Merry Widow (1955) (TV) .... Georges
Max Liebman Presents: Naughty Marietta (1955) (TV) .... Lt. Gov. LeGrange

TV GUEST APPEARANCES
"Bonanza"
- The Return (2 May 1965) - Paul Dorn
"77 Sunset Strip"
- The Positive Negative (27 January 1961) - Gunnar Isis
- The Eyes of Love (5 May 1961) - Actor
"The Untouchables"
- Kiss of Death Girl (8 December 1960) - Vito
"Perry Mason"
- The Case of the Madcap Modeste (30 April 1960) - Charles Pierce
- The Case of the Blind Man's Bluff (11 March 1961) - Karl Addison
- The Case of the Injured Innocent (18 November 1961) - Kirby Evans
- The Case of the Lover's Leap (4 April 1963) - Roy Comstock
- The Case of the 12th Wildcat (31 October 1965) - Jud Warner
"Target"
- Lost Identity (14 November 1958) - Actor
"Matinee Theatre"
- The Red Sanders Story (26 December 1955) - Actor
- The Old Payola (8 August 1956) - Actor
- End of the Robe (24 March 1958) - Actor
[Toobworld question: Could this be a misprint?]
- End of the Rope (27 June 1958) - Actor
[If the previous entry is a misprint, this could be a repeat.]
"Climax!"
- Fear Strikes Out (18 August 1955) - Actor
"Goodyear Television Playhouse"
- Tangled Web (3 July 1955) - Actor
"Star Tonight"
- The Week-end (10 February 1955) - Actor
"Suspense"
- See No Evil (16 June 1953) - Actor
"Tales of Tomorrow"
- The Quiet Lady (21 November 1952) - Actor
"Danger"
- The Escape Artist (1 April 1952) - Actor
"Somerset Maugham TV Theatre"
- The People You Meet (21 February 1951) - Actor
"Your Show of Shows"
- Episode dated 28 October 1950 (28 October 1950) - Actor
- Episode dated 7 April 1951 (7 April 1951) - Actor
"Musical Comedy Time"
- Anything Goes (2 October 1950) - Actor
"The Chevrolet Tele-Theatre"
- Londonderry Air (14 March 1949) - Actor
- Half an Hour (27 June 1949) - Actor
- Temporarily Purple (14 November 1949) - Actor
"Studio One"
- Let Me Do the Talking (26 November 1948) - Actor
- Flowers from a Stranger (25 May 1949) - Actor
- A Chill on the Wind (12 March 1951) - Actor

BCnU....
Tele-Toby