Radio star King Owen

By Bob Cudmore, Focus on History, Daily Gazette, Recorder 

Sunday, November 16, 2025

     Avery King Clizbe, Jr., used the name King Owen when he performed at local night clubs and on radio stations including WENT in Gloversville-Johnstown, WGY in Schenectady, WCSS in Amsterdam and WWSC in Glens Falls. He died from long standing health problems in April 1955 at age 40.

His nephew William Clizbe, said his uncle was born in Amsterdam in June 1914, the son of Avery King Clizbe, Sr., head teller at City National Bank, and Mary Clizbe. The singer's brother James, William Clizbe's father, was two years older than Avery. The family lived at 35 Church Street in a row of brownstones between Grove and High streets.

Young Avery, who learned to play piano and cello as a youth, performed hillbilly or what we call today country music on WGY in the 1930s. He sang with the High Boys and Radio Rangers, Doye O'Dell and Max Raney, who were heard regularly on the powerful WGY, then owned by General Electric.

Avery moved on to Connecticut where he was part of a musical group who performed on NBC's Blue Network with over 33 affiliate radio stations then.

In 1938 Avery came back to the local area and married Gene Haff, the daughter of a Broadalbin couple, Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Haff. The wedding took place at the Haff’s home. Avery and Gene had two daughters, Marcia and Lynne.

The couple made their home in Broadalbin as Avery pursued his musical career on the road, checking in with postcards and telegrams. He played in the western United States and performed at Radio City in New York with Doc Schneider and the Texans. Avery also played the organ for some network radio shows in New York City.

In the mid-1940s Avery came back to Broadalbin. He was hospitalized for some time at the Homer Folks Tuberculosis Hospital in Oneonta.

William Clizbe said his uncle played piano, plus guitar, cello, piano-organ and accordion. He recalled a childhood memory that his uncle smelled of tobacco and had an inexhaustible supply of pink Canada Mints.

Avery played piano, sang, took requests and talked on the radio during his last years, first on WCSS in Amsterdam then at WENT in Gloversville-Johnstown.

Avery King Clizbe, using the air name King Owen, was the morning host on WENT in the early 1950s.

"He was an incredible talent," William Clizbe said. "He could listen to a song twice and then play the tune."

At WENT King Owen did not sing country music but instead performed the popular songs of the day.

He met Helen Comrie, the station bookkeeper. She became his second wife after he and Gene Haff divorced.

According to WENT's 1952 broadcast schedule in the Leader Herald, the station signed on at 6:28 a.m. A religious program, news, weather, sports, a show called Cock-A-Doodle Review and something called Quiet Time advanced the clock to 7:40 when King Owen took to the airwaves. He performed until 9:45 when it was time for In Town Today followed at 10 by Arthur Godfrey on CBS.

King Owen's last radio job was at WWSC in Glens Falls in 1954. He died the next year at St. Mary's Hospital in Amsterdam.

WENT has a picture of the smiling performer in a suit and what looks like a bow tie, at a piano in front of a WENT banner. The picture is signed, "Airfully Yours, King Owen."

You may call Bob Cudmore at 518-346-6657 or email [email protected]