Jon Arthur

Jon Arthur (1918-1982), born as Jonathan Arthur Goerss, was an American entertainer known for his role as Big Jon Arthur, the host of the Saturday morning children's radio series Big Jon and Sparkie. Born in New Kensington, Pennsylvania, Arthur began his broadcasting career at radio station WJLS in Beckley, West Virginia in 1939. He later moved to Ogdensburg, New York before heading to the West. Arthur's distinctive voice brought Sparkie, 'the little elf from the land of make-believe,' to life on the show. He was a third-generation German-American, with both his paternal and maternal great-grandparents emigrating from Germany. Jon Arthur's contributions to children's entertainment have left a lasting impact.