The Bob Crosby Show (radio program)

This article is about the radio program. For the television program of the same name, see The Bob Crosby Show.
The Bob Crosby Show
Country of originUnited States
Language(s)English
SyndicatesCBS
Mutual
NBC
StarringBob Crosby
Eileen Wilson
The Pied Pipers
AnnouncerLes Tremayne
John Lund
Written byCarroll Carroll
David Gregory
Ben Freedman
John Murray

The Bob Crosby Show can refer to any of several old-time radio musical variety program in the United States. They were broadcast on CBS, Mutual and NBC, with the first beginning in 1935 and the last ending in 1950.[1]

Format

The program focused on music, with Crosby as the star and his Bobcats orchestra providing accompaniment.[2] One of its characteristics was featuring "a different up-and-coming female vocalist" each week.[3] Peggy Lee, Kay Starr and Jo Stafford were among those in that group.[3] Radio historian John Dunning, in his reference book, On the Air: The Encyclopedia of Old-Time Radio, wrote, "The Bob Crosby Show, as such, was a product of the 1940s, but it had its roots in the big band era of the previous decade."[4]

Personnel

Singer/bandleader Bob Crosby was the star of the program, with Johnny Mercer as the host. Other singers included Eileen Wilson and The Pied Pipers.[2] Announcers included Les Tremayne, John Lund[5] and Larry Keating.[6] Writers included Carroll Carroll, David Gregory,[3] Ben Freedman and John Murray.[7]

Versions

The Bob Crosby Show was broadcast as shown in the table below.

Began Ended Network Sponsor
October 25, 1935[4] January 17, 1936[4] NBC Roger & Gallet perfumes
1940 1940 Mutual sustaining
1940 1940 NBC sustaining
July 18, 1943[4] June 25, 1944[4] NBC P. Lorillard tobacco products
1944 1945 NBC sustaining
January 1, 1946[4] July 17, 1946[4] CBS Ford Motor Company

Source: Musicmakers of Network Radio: 24 Entertainers, 1926-1962,[1] except as noted.

See also

References

  1. ^ a b Cox, Jim (2012). Musicmakers of Network Radio: 24 Entertainers, 1926-1962. McFarland. pp. 67–79. ISBN 9780786489626. Retrieved 12 December 2016.
  2. ^ a b Terrace, Vincent (1999). Radio Programs, 1924-1984: A Catalog of More Than 1800 Shows. McFarland & Company, Inc. ISBN 978-0-7864-4513-4. P. 47.
  3. ^ a b c Buxton, Frank; Owen, Bill (1972). The Big Broadcast: 1920-1950. The Viking Press. p. 36. ISBN 9780670162406.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g Dunning, John (1998). On the Air: The Encyclopedia of Old-Time Radio (Revised ed.). New York, NY: Oxford University Press. pp. 103–104. ISBN 978-0-19-507678-3. Retrieved 2019-08-21.
  5. ^ Terrace, Vincent (1981). Radio's golden years : the encyclopedia of radio programs, 1930-1960. A.S. Barnes. p. 36. ISBN 0-498-02393-1.
  6. ^ "Vacation-Minded" (PDF). Radio Life. June 9, 1946. p. 9. Retrieved 13 December 2016.
  7. ^ "Cartoon Dialogue" (PDF). Radio Life. July 14, 1946. p. 11. Retrieved 13 December 2016.