the initial run of Kukla, Fran and Ollie: in the late 1950s, she hosted The Fran Allison Show, a panel discussion TV program in Chicago; and appeared in television musical specials displaying her singing abilities, including Many Moons (1954), Pinocchio with Mickey Rooney (1957), Damn Yankees (1967) with Phil Silvers and lastly Miss Pickerell (1972). She had her own program, The Fran Allison Show on WGN-TV (1958-1960). In the 1980s, she hosted Prime Time, a show for senior citizens, on KHJ-TV in Los Angeles. Recordings Allison made records for the RCA Victor label. She had two minor pop hits. In 1950 her recording of "Peter Cottontail" charted at #26 around Easter of 1950. The next year her recording of "Too Young" achieved position #20. In both recordings she is backed by Jack Fascinato, who was the orchestra leader of Kukla, Fran and Ollie. Recognition In 1950, Allison was nominated for an Emmy Award as Most Outstanding Kinescoped Personality. In 1959, she won two Chicago Emmy awards. In 2002, she was a Silver Circle honoree of the Chicago/Midwest Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. In 1967, Iowa Wesleyan University awarded her an honorary doctorate of letters. Personal life Allison was married to music publisher Archie Levington. In her free time, she devoted her efforts to promoting mental health. From a profile in the Freeport Journal-Standard, "For mental health, she will travel anywhere, anytime." Death In later life, Allison lived in Van Nuys, California. She died June 13, 1989, aged 81, from myelodysplasia in Sherman Oaks, California, and was buried in Mount Calvary Cemetery in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. She was survived by a brother, saxophonist James "Lynn" Allison. Legacy For contributions to the television industry, Allison was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6763 Hollywood Boulevard. She was inducted into the Chicago Television Academy's Silver Circle in 2002. She appeared with puppets Kukla and Ollie on a 44¢ US commemorative postage stamp in the "Early TV Memories" series, issued on August 11, 2009. References External links Fran Allison at TV.com Allison at the Museum of TV Tribute website 1907 births 1989 deaths 20th-century American actresses 20th-century American singers 20th-century American women singers 20th-century American comedians American radio personalities American television personalities American women television personalities People from La Porte City, Iowa RCA Victor artists Coe College alumni Actresses from Iowa Singers from Iowa