textzarnowralphgerald1932.html

North High Hall of Fame Inductee - 1987
Ralph Gerald Zarnow
Class of June, 1932

Ralph Zarnow's 1932 class page: http://ndmhs.com/pages/yearclass1932.html

Above: 1995 listing
Zarnow Entertainment & Orchestra Service;
Des Moines

Photo at left: Dagwell Orchestera
second from left, Dale Crowell;
third from left, Ralph Zarnow;
fifth from left, Roy Ramsay

Text from obituary from Des Moines Register dated Friday, March 21, 1997:
Ralph G. Zarnow, who was known throughout Iowa as an orchestra leader and entertainment-industry promoter, died Thursday at Mercy Hospital Medical Center. He was 82.
Mr. Zarnow, who lived at 1181 Ninth Street, died of a heart ailment. Services will be at 1:00pm today at Beth El Jacob Synagogue, of which he was a member. Burial will be at Jewish Glendale Cemetery.
Mr. Zarnow, a lifelong Des Moines resident, was a musician and entertainer, an Army veteran of World War II, and a member of Za-Ga-Zig Shrine, Masonic Lodge, and Argonne American Legion Post.
After returning from the Army, he opened the Ralph Zarnow Entertainment Agency, where he became legendary for his ability to book bands, ventriloquists, or any form of entertainment a customer would request. He produced the Shrine Circus at Veterans Memorial Auditorium for decades and played the grandstand at the Iowa State Fair for several years.
He also ran the Ralph Zarnow Orchestra, which played places such as the Kit Kat Club, the Gay Paree, and the Belvedere.
"He was Mr. Entertainment around town for years. Everyone knew him, " said Dan Hartzer, who met Mr. Zarnow 35 years ago when he began playing the trumpet in the orchestra.
Hartzer remembered the photos of Bob Hope, Liberace, John Davidson, and even Sonny and Cher lining Mr. Zarnow's office. They were just a few of the many celebrities Mr. Zarnow had worked with over the years.
"Their agent would call Ralph and say, "We're coming to town and we need a back-up band." Just about anybody who was anybody knew him. He was the number one agent, " Hartzer said.
Shirley Kever was the singer with Mr. Zarnow's orchestra for so long that she could tell by the look on his face what the next song would be. She remembered him as a boss and a friend.
"I don't think anyone could ever have a better boss than I had," she said. "Ralph could almost pick his musicians. Everyone wanted to work for him. He was a great guy. He's gonna be missed by an awful lot of people."
A sister, Sylvia Zarnow of Des Moines, survives.
Arrangements are being handled by Dunn's Funeral Home. Memorial contributions may be made to his synagogue or to the North High School Band Department.


When?	1945; El Paso, TX	When?

Deceased: March 20, 1997

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