The Electric Hour
| Genre | Popular music |
|---|---|
| Running time | 30 minutes |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Language(s) | English |
| Syndicates | CBS |
| Starring | Nelson Eddy |
| Announcer | Frank Graham |
| Produced by | Charles Herbert |
| Original release | September 20, 1944 – June 9, 1946 |
The Electric Hour is an American old-time radio program of popular music. It was broadcast on CBS from September 20, 1944, to June 9, 1946.[1]
Format
[edit]Nelson Eddy starred in The Electric Hour, and each episode featured a guest star who sang duets with him.[2] Genres featured included music from films, folk songs, and "ballads from many lands".[1] Gail Lulay, Eddy's biographer, wrote in Nelson Eddy, America's Favorite Baritone: An Authorized Biographical Tribute, "This was Nelson's dream show because it had a musical format."[2] Lulay added that the program contained "some of Nelson's best music".[2]
Site
[edit]The program initially originated from CBS Columbia Square in Hollywood, California. Effective with the September 16, 1945, installment, it moved to the Walt Disney Studios in Burbank, California. A report in the trade publication Billboard said that the change was caused by "acute studio space shortage at CBS".[3]
Personnel
[edit]Eddy was the only regular featured performer on The Electric Hour. Guests included Jeanette MacDonald, who performed with Eddy in films.[4] Instrumental music was provided by Robert Armbruster's orchestra,[5] and Armbruster's chorus provided vocal support.[6] Frank Graham was the announcer, and Charles Herbert was the producer.[1]
Sponsor
[edit]The program's title came from its sponsor, a group of electric utilities across the United States. The organization had the slogan "local electric companies — all producing power for America under American business management."[5] The number of participating utilities was 167 in 1945.[5]
Summer versions
[edit]In 1945, 1946, and 1947, the same sponsors presented The Electric Hour Summer Series as replacements for regular programs. Dates and featured artists, which varied from year to year, are listed below:
- July 8, 1945 - September 9, 1945 — Francia White and Felix Knight[1]
- June 9, 1946 - September 22, 1946 — Anne Jamison, Bob Shanley, and the Sportsmen Quartet[1]
- July 13, 1947 - August 31, 1947 — Woody Herman, Peggy Lee, and Dave Barbour's orchestra[1]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e f Dunning, John (1998). On the Air: The Encyclopedia of Old-Time Radio (Revised ed.). New York, NY: Oxford University Press. p. 231. ISBN 978-0-19-507678-3. Retrieved October 31, 2019.
- ^ a b c Lulay, Gail (2000). Nelson Eddy, America's Favorite Baritone: An Authorized Biographical Tribute. iUniverse. pp. 130–131. ISBN 9780595138791. Retrieved October 10, 2017.
- ^ "'Electric Hour' To Resume From Disney Studio Sans Mob" (PDF). Billboard. September 15, 1945. p. 12. Retrieved October 10, 2017.
- ^ Sher, Aubrey J. (2013). Those Great Old-Time Radio Years. Xlibris Corporation. pp. 97–98. ISBN 9781483679099. Retrieved October 10, 2017.
- ^ a b c Bird, Harry Lewis (2008). This Fascinating Advertising Business. Wildside Press LLC. pp. 157–158. ISBN 9781434475541. Retrieved October 10, 2017.
- ^ Terrace, Vincent (1999). Radio Programs, 1924-1984: A Catalog of More Than 1800 Shows. McFarland & Company, Inc. p. 108. ISBN 978-0-7864-4513-4.