F. Hemingway; Former Radio, TV Newscaster

Frank Hemingway, a folksy, whimsical radio and television newscaster who was prominent on Los Angeles airwaves in the 1940s, ‘50s and ‘60s, died Sunday at St. John’s Medical Center in Santa Monica.

He was 86 and had been retired since 1972.

Hemingway had a loyal and amused following in his years on the air, often reading news items in the dialect of the country involved.

Hemingway during World War II would imitate Adolf Hitler, Charles de Gaulle, Joseph Stalin and others, offering quotes from each as he wove them into his newscasts.

Hemingway originally intended to break into the entertainment world as a singer and actor.

But on a visit to Oregon, he was offered a job on a Bend radio station, moved to Portland and then to Southern California.

Over the years, he was heard on the Mutual and Don Lee radio networks, locally on radio stations KGO and KMPC and on ABC television in 11 western states.

He was one of the first newscasters on KTTV Channel 11 in the early 1950s and, for a time, broadcast every noon with his wife, Constance, who survives him.

Services are scheduled for 1 p.m. Friday at Church of the Hills, Forest Lawn Memorial-Park, Hollywood Hills.