I lived with the name Bobbin Beam all my life, but I still  get the questions or comments, like “Was your mother a seamstress?

Answer. Nope.

I was Roberta Ann Beam, until  nurse Rupenthol (who occasionally baby-sat me) started calling me “Bobbin”.

So, Bobbin is my nickname and I explain it to people as a strange hybrid cross between Bobbie and Robin, which are also used as nicknames for Roberta.  To those who think it’s really different, well it is. But it’s unique, memorable, and not as different  in my opinion as Whoopie, or Swoozy. heh.

I was Bobbin until I entered first grade, which is when I decided to be called, Roberta. I felt Bobbin sounded too much like a “boy” name. I was aserting my femininity, and at that age, well, boys had cooties. So I was “Roberta” until seventh grade. Boys no longer had cooties, and it was then I felt that Bobbin had a better feel of who I had become… a fun, playful and creative young woman.

I started working at my first radio station while still a senior in high school. The station liked my name, and “Bobbin Beam” has served as my professional name spanning my radio and TV career well into my 20+ years as a full time voice actress.