Jim Hall, Instructor

I grew up in California, and at the age of 11 joined the Disney Group "Kids of the Kingdom", playing at Disneyland where Captain EO now is located, which used to be an outdoor stage, andthe flying saucers. We played with our lead singer Kurt Russel, and many times we played for Walt Disney himself.... I played in the group for the next 5 years, while going to school and Boy Scouts and normal kid stuff.... I moved into announcing when the company asked me to audition...I took right to this like a duck to water....I also was driving my first car, a 1941 Chevy that my dad obtained for me from an old guy that was the original owner.... I began racing at local drag strips and also became the Irwindale track announcer when they found out I was the "Disneyland park announcer".

I raced for the George Hurst Performance Team out of Orange County Raceway...and drove "Funny Car" for 2 years....a car known as "The Hawaiian:,,, In the meantime...I was graduating from school and the military draft wanted me....so I enlisted in the Air Force and became an announcer for the Armed Forces Radio and Television Network in Europe....The very last show that Bob Hope did in Vietnam, I worked on and videotaped for replay and feeds to the U.S..... I had the opportunity to go to school for Radio/Tv and rejoined the Walt Disney Productions upon my discharge..and still continue to do voice tracks and special event taping on contract.....while in the military I had the opportunity to work off-base at local radio & Tv stations to obtain experience..... I was involved as an owner of KAVR AM/FM which was a haven for many stars coming to the High Desert just 80 miles outside of Hollywood where many were participating in talk shows and variety shows while resting in our community. I was able to act in a few productions, such as "Urban Cowboy", "Smash up on Interstate 5", "The Cat From Outer Space", and "Emergency" the Movie... I worked as an EMT, and later was trained as a paramedic and worked in the field for 8 years while doing local Los Angeles Radio at KRLA, and later KRTH (K-Earth) while pursuing an opportunity to go to Medical School... I obtained my position in the Open Heart Team and worked in that field while producing and running my own TV Production company, which produced many TV commercials that you watch everyday and have heard on Radio Stations as a nation distribution throughout the U.S.. I also have been involved for many years with the making of and producing/directing of Music Videos, such as "The Bangles" which recorded 4 albums with 12 videos listed in the top 10. I find that my time here in the Odyssey Instructional Television is very rewarding and a nice cap to a very busy career which still remains just that...VERY BUSY