Peter Allen, American radio broadcaster, Died at 96

Peter Allen (birth name Harold Levy) was born on September 17, 1920, in Toronto, Ontario, Canada and died on October 8, 2016.

He was an American broadcaster and radio announcer.

Peter noted for hosting the Saturday afternoon radio broadcasts of the Metropolitan Opera for some 29 years.

Allen later moved with his parents to Cleveland, Ohio.

He was educated at Ohio State University (OSU), where he met his future wife Sylvia.

Sylvia Allen was an artist and the sister of the Broadway actor Paul Lipson.

He started his radio career at the OSU station, WOSU, and also worked for a commercial station in Columbus.

Together they then moved to New York City where Allen began his long tenure as an announcer at WQXR radio in 1947.

Peter connection with the Metropolitan Opera began in 1973 when he served as the backup for Milton Cross who had been announcing the Met’s Saturday afternoon broadcasts since their inception in 1931.

During 1975, after Cross’s sudden death, Allen took over as a announcer for the Met and continued in the job until 2004.

He retired in May 2004 after 29 seasons and was succeeded by Margaret Juntwait.

He was noted for his ability to improvise live on air as the occasion required.

He has release Several popular books about opera published for the Metropolitan were also edited and introduced by Allen.

He died at his Manhattan home.

Peter Allen passed away at 96 years old.