How to describe Arbogast? Bob Arbogast was a comedy writer, a radio personality, a voiceover specialist, a creator of funny commercials and a TV host…and even that doesn't begin to tell you who he was.
His was a voice you heard many times, especially if you lived in the Los Angeles area. He popped up on many shows doing funny bits and around 1967, he and his then-partner Jack Margolis did a very popular Bob-and-Ray style radio show on KLAC. There have been thousands of Bob-and-Ray style radio teams in this country but Arbogast and Margolis were among the best. There was a small ruckus when they were cancelled…with pretty high ratings. Reportedly, it was all because of protests, from sponsors and pressure groups, when they did some material opposing the Vietnam War.
Arbogast later worked solo on radio, both in front of the microphone and for others in that position, and wrote a number of TV shows and a lot of very funny commercials. He also did the occasional cartoon voice, including a stint in the cast of Roger Ramjet.
Among folks who do funny voiceovers, he was kind of a legend. There's a memorial service Wednesday afternoon in Los Feliz and I expect to see a stunning array of talented folks who worked with him…or just admired his work. Here's an obit.