Passport Land -
Walter Kaner (1920-2005)
Biography
Walter Kaner was born 5 May 1920 in New York, NY and grew up there. He
was one of three children of Philip and Ida Kaner. He was a journalist
and broadcaster.
As “Tokyo Mose” during and after World War II, Kaner aired on US Army
Radio, answering Tokyo Rose’s broadcasts. In Japan, his “Moshi, Moshi
Ano-ne” theme song, sung to the tune of “London Bridge is Falling
Down,” was so popular with Japanese children and GIs alike that Stars
and Stripes, the Army paper, called it “the Japanese occupation theme
song.” Elsa Maxwell’s column and radio show in 1946 referred to Kaner
as “the breath of home to unknown thousands of our young men when they
were lonely.”
Following his Army discharge, Walter Kaner was a
columnist for the original daily Long Island Press, the New York Daily
News, the Queens Gazette and other publications for more than 50 years.
Kaner once stood in for Ed Sullivan, jokingly reminding his television
audience that he was the one who rejected such acts as Harry Belafonte
and Barbra Streisand. From 1946, he also had an advertising agency,
Walter Kaner Associates/ Walter Kaner Agency, 42nd St and Fifth Avenue.
Prior to that he was WLIB director of publicity and promotion.
He was married to Billie Elliot Kaner, who died 29 September 2004.
Kaner referred to his wife in his columns as “Doll Face”.
They were married for "50 years", so no later than 1954.
In 1950, he founded the Walter Kaner Children’s Foundation to help
poor, handicapped and mentally disabled kids in New York. His
foundation has enhanced the lives of more than 250,000 physically and
mentally challenged, economically disadvantaged children in the New
York Metro area. Walter Kaner truly loved children and delighted in
making
them laugh and improving their lives. He served on the boards of and
supported numerous children’s organizations.
Walter
Kaner died 27 June 2005, Port Washington, Nassau Co, NY. He lived at 14
Evelyn Road, Port Washington, Nassau Co, NY from at least 1992. Amboy
Lane
between Jamaica Avenue and Springfield Boulevard in Queens was renamed
"Walter Kaner Street" in May 2006.
You can read more about him on Wikipedia.
Ancestry
His father was Philip Kaner (26 Jun 1881 Austro-Hungarian Empire
(Czechoslovakia) - Aug 1967, Kings Park, Suffolk Co, NY), emigrated
1900, parents born Austria, all Yiddish-speaking.
In 1910, he owned his own furniture store and was living at 656 ____
Avenue, West New York Ward 3, Hudson Co, NJ. In 1930, they were living
at 4410 30th Avenue, Queens, NY, and he was a
peddler in hack wear (?).
His mother was Ida Kaner (5 Aug 1889, Russia - Nov 1973, Flushing,
Queens Co, NY), parents both born Russia, emigrated
1895. In 1930,
she was a storekeeper for a candy store. Ida Kaner died on 5 May 1959,
Walter Kaner's birthday.
They married in 1908, and had three children:
- Augusta Kaner (19 in
1930, born New Jersey), married ____ Gordon. Died before 2005.
- Kay Kaner (21 Jan 1913, New Jersey - 26 Sep 1996, Delray Beach,
Palm Beach, FL). Kay Kaner married
Aaron Barkan (21 Mar 1912, New York, NY - 2 Jan 2009, Lauderhill, FL),
son of Benjamin Barkan and Gussie (both born Russia). In 1973, Kay
Kaner Barkan lived at 5301 32nd Ave, Flushing, NJ. By 1986, Kay Kaner
Barkan lived at 6650 S Oriole Blvd, Apt 401, Delray Beach, FL. In 1970,
Kay Kaner Barkan appeared in the directory "Foremost Women in
Communications". Aaron Barkan moved to Fort Lauderdale by 1998.
- Walter Kaner (SEE ABOVE)
Passport
Walter Kaner's passport was issued on 24 Apr 1972. You can also view
his 1959 and
1977
passports.
