The Electric Hour
GenrePopular music
Running time30 minutes
Country of originUnited States
Language(s)English
SyndicatesCBS
StarringNelson Eddy
AnnouncerFrank Graham
Produced byCharles Herbert
Original releaseSeptember 20, 1944 (1944-09-20) –
June 9, 1946 (1946-06-09)

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

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

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

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]

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

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:

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 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 2019-10-31.
  2. 1 2 3 Lulay, Gail (2000). Nelson Eddy, America's Favorite Baritone: An Authorized Biographical Tribute. iUniverse. pp. 130–131. ISBN 9780595138791. Retrieved 10 October 2017.
  3. ↑ "'Electric Hour' To Resume From Disney Studio Sans Mob" (PDF). Billboard. September 15, 1945. p. 12. Retrieved 10 October 2017.
  4. ↑ Sher, Aubrey J. (2013). Those Great Old-Time Radio Years. Xlibris Corporation. pp. 97–98. ISBN 9781483679099. Retrieved 10 October 2017.
  5. 1 2 3 Bird, Harry Lewis (2008). This Fascinating Advertising Business. Wildside Press LLC. pp. 157–158. ISBN 9781434475541. Retrieved 10 October 2017.
  6. ↑ 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.

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