Even though his name isn't in the IMDB, I am pretty sure Chappell did television work in the 1950s so perhaps some footage survives somewhere. He was the spokesman for Pall Mall cigarettes for many years and, in addition to voice overs, he often appeared in their commercials. If you search for "television continuity" on the Tobacco Documents Library website at http://dlxs.ckm.ucsf.edu/index.html you can find copies of scripts for early TV shows like "The Big Story" and "Doorway to Danger" complete with commercials, intros, promos, etc., by Chappell. Here are some excerpts:
[From script of July 3, 1953 episode of "Doorway to Danger":]
AMERICAN CIGARETTE & CIGAR CO. PALL MALL FAMOUS CIGARETTES
TELEVISION COMMERCIAL #50
OPEN SHOOTING OVER SHOULDER OF CHAPPELL SEATED IN HOME SETTING WITH MAGAZINE IN LAP, OPEN AT PALL MALL AD. AS HE SPEAKS, HE TURNS TO LOOK AT CAMERA
CHAPPELL: Friends, look here a minute - over my shoulder...
CAMERA DOLLIES IN TO UPPER PART OF AD, MAN'S FINGER POINTS TO WORDS IN HEADLINE MORTISE AS HE READS THEM
[CHAPPELL:] See what it says? "Guard against throat scratch. Enjoy the smooth smoking of fine tobaccos - the finest quality money can buy."
DOLLY IN FURTHER, TILL JUST PICTURE APPEARS ON SCREEN. PICTURE COMES TO LIFE. MAN IN AD SPEAKS TO CAMERA
MAN IN AD: That's right, folks - smoke a PELL MELL! [...]
___________________
[From script of August 14, 1952 episode of "Doorway to Danger":]
AMERICAN CIGARETTE & CIGAR CO. PALL MALL FAMOUS CIGARETTES
TELEVISION COMMERCIAL #64 (REVISED) ONE MINUTE ...
MAN'S HEAD FAR RIGHT BLOWS PUFF OF SMOKE. THFN GIRL'S HEAD FAR LEFT BLOWS PUFF OF SMOKE
CHAPPELL: Let your throat enjoy smooth smoking
HANDS HOLDING PACKS COME THROUGH SMOKE TO ECU OF PACKS
Let your throat enjoy PELL MELL!
CUT TO CHAPPELL AT DESK GIVING STRAIGHT PITCH TO CAMERA. HE HOLDS UP OPEN PACK OF PALL MALLS AND TAKES ONE OUT
That's right, folks...there's no substitute for PELL MELL - the finest quality money can buy. No other cigarette of any length can give you the pleasure you get from PELL MELL.
HE PICKS UP SHORT CIGARETTE AND HOLDS IT NEXT TO PALL MALL
Compare PELL MELL with any short cigarette. PELL MELL is longer...
HE PUTS DOWN SHORT CIGARETTE AND LIGHTS PALL MALL AS HE TALKS
See how PELL MELL's greater length of traditionally fine, mellow tobaccos filters the smoke further and makes it mild.
HE PICKS UP LONG CIGARETTE AND HOLDS IT NEXT TO PALL MALL THEN PUTS IT DOWN
Compare PELL MELL with any long cigarette. PELL MELL is finer - the finest quality money can buy. And fine tobacco is its own best filter for cooler, sweeter smoking.
START DOLLY IN AS HE DRAWS AGAIN ON PALL MALL
Smoke PELL MELL, the cigarette that changed America's smoking habits.
DOLLY IN FURTHER AS HE HOLDS UP PACK
Guard against throat scratch. Enjoy a smoothness, mildness and satisfaction no other cigarette can offer you.
DOLLY IN TO ECU OF PACK IN HIS HAND AND HOLD TO FINISH
PELL MELL Famous Cigarettes - "Outstanding!" - and they are mild!
___________________
[From script of August 21, 1953 episode of "Doorway to Danger":]
SCENE OPENS WITH ERNEST CHAPPELL SITTING AT DESK OF WHAT SHOULD LOOK LIKE THE CORNER OF A NEWSROOM.
CHAPPELL GOOD EVENING, I'M ERNEST CHAPPELL. FOR THE PAST 8 WEEKS IT'S BEEN OUR PLEASURE TO BRING YOU THE INTRIGUING ADVENTURES THAT LIE BEHIND "DOORWAY TO DANGER". WE HAVE ENJOYED OPENING THAT FAMOUS DOOR, AND WE HOPE YOU HAVE ENJOYED COMING IN WITH US.
(CHAPPELL GESTURES AROUND ROOM.)
I AM SURE THIS IS A FAMILIAR SIGHT TO YOU. THE NEWSROOM OF ONE OF AMERICA'S GREAT NEWSPAPERS. THE NEWSROOM OF THE _____ _______ (Name of paper)
THE SCENE OF NEXT WEEK'S EXCITING "BIG STORY". YES, FRIENDS, NEXT WEEK AND EVERY WEEK THEREAFTER THE "BIG STORY" WILL BE BACK ON TELEVISION.
(DISSOLVE TO FILM)
AND BEFORE WE GIVE YOU A PREVIEW OF NEXT WEEK'S "BIG STORY" WE WANT TO THANK ALL THOSE WHOSE EFFORTS HELPED MAKE "DOORWAY TO DANGER" A SHOW WE HOPE YOU'VE ENJOYED.
(DISSOLVE TO TELOPS) [...] ___________________
[From script of October 1, 1953 episode of "Doorway to Danger":]
2-25 REVISED
CREDITS - TELOPS - SUPERIMPOSE ON DOOR - DOLLY FILM AND SET OF SHOW) (HOLD CHAPPELL TELOP)
CHAPPELL (LIVE) This is Ernest Chappell speaking for the makers of PELL MELL Famous Cigarettes who hope you have enjoyed this series, "Doorway to Danger". Now it is my pleasure to bring you one the most lovable entertainers in the world today in a scene from his brand-new show "Where's Raymond." Here he is. Ray Bolger who will be on next week and every week at this same time.
(FILM SOF) (22 SECONDS)
FADE IN ZOOM OF PELL MELL.
CHAPPELL (LIVE) Don't forget. Be sure to be with us next week at this same time when PELL MELL Famous Cigarettes, the finest quality money can buy, brings you "Where's Raymond" starring Ray Bolger.
I don't believe he was in anything but Pall Mall commercials since he was the spokesperson for them (the job that kept him in the money), but as previously pointed out my MS, he was in some of the commercials to the show mentioned. He also appeared in general Pall Mall ads in which the camera "cuts to Chappell" who talks directly to the camera.
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Comments on Ernest Chappell on video/DVD
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Does anybody know if there are any videos/films/stock footage of Ernest Chappell ?
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An IMDB search shows no Ernest Chappells.
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Even though his name isn't in the IMDB, I am pretty sure Chappell did television work in the 1950s so perhaps some footage survives somewhere. He was the spokesman for Pall Mall cigarettes for many years and, in addition to voice overs, he often appeared in their commercials. If you search for "television continuity" on the Tobacco Documents Library website at http://dlxs.ckm.ucsf.edu/index.html you can find copies of scripts for early TV shows like "The Big Story" and "Doorway to Danger" complete with commercials, intros, promos, etc., by Chappell. Here are some excerpts:
[From script of July 3, 1953 episode of "Doorway to Danger":]
AMERICAN CIGARETTE & CIGAR CO. PALL MALL FAMOUS CIGARETTES
TELEVISION COMMERCIAL #50
OPEN SHOOTING OVER SHOULDER OF CHAPPELL SEATED IN HOME SETTING WITH MAGAZINE IN LAP, OPEN AT PALL MALL AD. AS HE SPEAKS, HE TURNS TO LOOK AT CAMERA
CHAPPELL: Friends, look here a minute - over my shoulder...
CAMERA DOLLIES IN TO UPPER PART OF AD, MAN'S FINGER POINTS TO WORDS IN HEADLINE MORTISE AS HE READS THEM
[CHAPPELL:] See what it says? "Guard against throat scratch. Enjoy the smooth smoking of fine tobaccos - the finest quality money can buy."
DOLLY IN FURTHER, TILL JUST PICTURE APPEARS ON SCREEN. PICTURE COMES TO LIFE. MAN IN AD SPEAKS TO CAMERA
MAN IN AD: That's right, folks - smoke a PELL MELL! [...]
___________________
[From script of August 14, 1952 episode of "Doorway to Danger":]
AMERICAN CIGARETTE & CIGAR CO. PALL MALL FAMOUS CIGARETTES
TELEVISION COMMERCIAL #64 (REVISED) ONE MINUTE ...
MAN'S HEAD FAR RIGHT BLOWS PUFF OF SMOKE. THFN GIRL'S HEAD FAR LEFT BLOWS PUFF OF SMOKE
CHAPPELL: Let your throat enjoy smooth smoking
HANDS HOLDING PACKS COME THROUGH SMOKE TO ECU OF PACKS
Let your throat enjoy PELL MELL!
CUT TO CHAPPELL AT DESK GIVING STRAIGHT PITCH TO CAMERA. HE HOLDS UP OPEN PACK OF PALL MALLS AND TAKES ONE OUT
That's right, folks...there's no substitute for PELL MELL - the finest quality money can buy. No other cigarette of any length can give you the pleasure you get from PELL MELL.
HE PICKS UP SHORT CIGARETTE AND HOLDS IT NEXT TO PALL MALL
Compare PELL MELL with any short cigarette. PELL MELL is longer...
HE PUTS DOWN SHORT CIGARETTE AND LIGHTS PALL MALL AS HE TALKS
See how PELL MELL's greater length of traditionally fine, mellow tobaccos filters the smoke further and makes it mild.
HE PICKS UP LONG CIGARETTE AND HOLDS IT NEXT TO PALL MALL THEN PUTS IT DOWN
Compare PELL MELL with any long cigarette. PELL MELL is finer - the finest quality money can buy. And fine tobacco is its own best filter for cooler, sweeter smoking.
START DOLLY IN AS HE DRAWS AGAIN ON PALL MALL
Smoke PELL MELL, the cigarette that changed America's smoking habits.
DOLLY IN FURTHER AS HE HOLDS UP PACK
Guard against throat scratch. Enjoy a smoothness, mildness and satisfaction no other cigarette can offer you.
DOLLY IN TO ECU OF PACK IN HIS HAND AND HOLD TO FINISH
PELL MELL Famous Cigarettes - "Outstanding!" - and they are mild!
___________________
[From script of August 21, 1953 episode of "Doorway to Danger":]
SCENE OPENS WITH ERNEST CHAPPELL SITTING AT DESK OF WHAT SHOULD LOOK LIKE THE CORNER OF A NEWSROOM.
CHAPPELL
GOOD EVENING, I'M ERNEST CHAPPELL. FOR THE PAST 8 WEEKS IT'S BEEN OUR PLEASURE TO BRING YOU THE INTRIGUING ADVENTURES THAT LIE BEHIND "DOORWAY TO DANGER". WE HAVE ENJOYED OPENING THAT FAMOUS DOOR, AND WE HOPE YOU HAVE ENJOYED COMING IN WITH US.
(CHAPPELL GESTURES AROUND ROOM.)
I AM SURE THIS IS A FAMILIAR SIGHT TO YOU. THE NEWSROOM OF ONE OF AMERICA'S GREAT NEWSPAPERS. THE NEWSROOM OF THE _____ _______ (Name of paper)
THE SCENE OF NEXT WEEK'S EXCITING "BIG STORY". YES, FRIENDS, NEXT WEEK AND EVERY WEEK THEREAFTER THE "BIG STORY" WILL BE BACK ON TELEVISION.
(DISSOLVE TO FILM)
AND BEFORE WE GIVE YOU A PREVIEW OF NEXT WEEK'S "BIG STORY" WE WANT TO THANK ALL THOSE WHOSE EFFORTS HELPED MAKE "DOORWAY TO DANGER" A SHOW WE HOPE YOU'VE ENJOYED.
(DISSOLVE TO TELOPS) [...]
___________________
[From script of October 1, 1953 episode of "Doorway to Danger":]
2-25 REVISED
CREDITS - TELOPS - SUPERIMPOSE ON DOOR - DOLLY FILM AND SET OF SHOW) (HOLD CHAPPELL TELOP)
CHAPPELL (LIVE)
This is Ernest Chappell speaking for the makers of PELL MELL Famous Cigarettes who hope you have enjoyed this series, "Doorway to Danger". Now it is my pleasure to bring you one the most lovable entertainers in the world today in a scene from his brand-new show "Where's Raymond." Here he is. Ray Bolger who will be on next week and every week at this same time.
(FILM SOF) (22 SECONDS)
FADE IN ZOOM OF PELL MELL.
CHAPPELL (LIVE)
Don't forget. Be sure to be with us next week at this same time when PELL MELL Famous Cigarettes, the finest quality money can buy, brings you "Where's Raymond" starring Ray Bolger.
Junior Member
Usergroup: Member
Joined: May 04, 2003
Total Topics: 3
Total Comments: 37
I don't believe he was in anything but Pall Mall commercials since he was the spokesperson for them (the job that kept him in the money), but as previously pointed out my MS, he was in some of the commercials to the show mentioned. He also appeared in general Pall Mall ads in which the camera "cuts to Chappell" who talks directly to the camera.