R.I.P.: Philly TV Icon Sally Starr Dies at 90

Sally Starr

Legendary local TV personality Sally Starr passed away Sunday morning. She was 90-years-old, according to NBC10 Philadelphia.

Born Alleen Mae Beller in Kansas City, Missouri on January 25, 1923, Starr was a major figure in Philadelphia television, radio and stage for over 50 years.

Starr got her first taste in show business at the age of 12, when she and her sister Mildred debuted on the CBS radio program “Blush Creek Follies,” as the “Little Missouri Maids.”

Starr sang and performed country music throughout her young adult life. By the end of the 1940’s, she became the regional voice of the Pepsi-Cola Company and did all their commercial spots, leading to a full-time gig in radio.

During the 1940’s Starr married Jesse Rogers and the two performed on radio programs such as “Hayloft Hoe-Down” which was produced in the old Town Hall in Center City. Sally also formed the band, “The Saddle Buddies” who performed in various clubs in the area.

Having already mastered radio and the stage, Starr’s next stop was television. On October 3, 1955, Sally Starr became the hostess of “Popeye Theater,” on WFIL-TV (now WPVI) which eventually became Philadelphia’s highest rated children’s program. During the show, Starr presented half-hour western TV shows, cartoons, Three Stooges comedies, live acts and special features. Sally also had a country music radio program on Philly’s WJMJ.

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