Al Sheehan

Alvin Barrett Sheehan (October 8, 1899 – January 17, 1967) was an American entertainment businessman and radio host known as a producer of stage shows, night club acts, and water ballets. Announcing for WCCO radio in Minneapolis, he became the station's assistant general manager, director of production, program director, and established the WCCO Artist's Bureau to manage talent. At the same time, he was superintendent of attractions at the Minnesota State Fair, staged shows at Excelsior Amusement Park, and was master of ceremonies at the Minnesota and State Theaters.

Leaving the radio business when taking control of the artist's bureau in 1945, Sheehan privatized the agency as Al Sheehan Incorporated and produced shows across the United States. By 1949, Billboard magazine described him as "Mr. Show Business of Minnesota". He produced and directed the Aqua Follies as part of the Minneapolis Aquatennial, by signing former Olympians and competitive swimmers for the show which later expanded to Seafair festival in Seattle. His agency booked more than 1,000 shows per year by the 1960s, including Minneapolis night club acts the Edgewater Eight and the Golden Strings, and the annual Medora Musical spectacular in North Dakota.

Early life and education Alvin Barrett Sheehan was born on October 8, 1899, in Caledonia, Minnesota, the son of Timothy and Mary Sheehan. His father was a school teacher turned merchant, and his mother's family homesteaded in Houston County.

Studying at Winona Normal School, Sheehan was involved with the school's stage productions, theater at the Winona Opera House, and appeared occasionally as an extra. He worked summers for the Chautauqua circuit, gaining insight to production while setting up the tent, staging, and lighting; and ticket taking. After one year at Winona Normal School, he transferred to University of Minnesota as a member of the Student Army Training Corps and considered becoming a lawyer. After World War I, he completed a teaching license at Winona Normal School but never taught.

Sheehan returned to the oil business in Minneapolis in 1928, then sold stocks and bonds, and joined the MacPhail School of Music and Dramatic Art.

Becoming a full-time announcer by 1932, Sheehan did interviews and previews for theaters and concerts, and voiced roles in radio mysteries. He also broadcast baseball play-by-play for the Minneapolis Millers in the summer, and Minnesota Golden Gophers football in the fall. He became WCCO's expert on contract bridge despite not knowing "one card from another", In 1945, he resigned from radio business to pursue a talent agency career.

The Aqua Follies was a water ballet show including 32 swimmers, 16 stage actors, a 16-person choir, and an 18-person band. Sheehan's production of the Aqua Follies took inspiration from Billy Rose's Aquacade at the Great Lakes Exposition. Searching for talent, Sheehan signed former Olympians Buster Crabbe and competitive swimmers and Hobie Billingsley, Gloria Callen, and June Taylor. He also recruited gymnast and showman Larry Griswold. and a ten-year/100-performance streak without rain outs as of 1951. Sheehan began a second version of the Aqua Follies in Seattle in 1950, which played for two weeks in August after its two weeks in Minneapolis.

The Seattle version of the Aqua Follies played at the Green Lake Aqua Theater during the annual Seafair festival from 1950 to 1965, with many of the same performers from Minneapolis. Shows were emceed by celebrities including Bob Hope and Bert Parks, and had sellout crowds of more than 5,000 people watching midnight performances. Collaborating with hotel owner Curt Carlson, Sheehan formed the Golden Strings composed of eight violins, a double bass, and two grand pianos. The ensemble performed to more than two million people from 1963 to 1981, credited as the world's longest running violin show according to Variety magazine. Beginning in 1965, Sheehan produced an annual musical spectacular on the history of North Dakota performed at the Medora Musical, which included a portrayal of Teddy Roosevelt in the Badlands.

Personal life In December 1942, Sheehan married Bailey Levitan, known professionally as Rea Bailey, a former staff pianist and organist at WCCO and KSTP.

After retirement, Sheehan was a resident of Minnetonka.