The Ameches

     In my youth, I remember vividly one television program called International Showtime. Each week it would feature a different circus. The host was Don Ameche. Decades later, when my wife and I became big fans of old movies, we got more acquainted with Ameche's career as an actor, which spanned 58 years, and included an Oscar late in his career. He was married for 54 years to Honore Prendergast, who bore him six children.

Don's younger brother was Jim, who was about seven years his junior. He also acted, although his career was more heavily weighted toward radio. Jim also had six children.

A cousin of the acting Ameches was Alan "The Horse" Ameche, who won the Heiman Trophy in college and went on to play six seasons in the NFL.