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Category Archives: radio history
Penning the Punchlines: Carroll Carroll and the Making of Kraft Music Hall
While Kraft Music Hall (KMH) earned its reputation through unforgettable music performances, as explored in “Take it Away, John Scott,” the show’s enduring charm also rested on its clever comedy. Producing a live, weekly variety show featuring music, comedy, and … Continue reading
Posted in 20th Century Broadcasting, Entertainment history, Golden Age of Radio, radio history, Uncategorized
Tagged 1930s Radio, 1940s Radio, Advertising History, American Heritage Center, Bing Crosby, Bob Burns, Carroll Carroll, Comedy Writing, J. Walter Thompson, John Scott Trotter, Ken Carpenter, Kraft Foods, Kraft Music Hall, Mary Martin, Radio Comedy, Radio Sponsorship, Radio Variety Shows, Scriptwriters, World War II Broadcasting
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“Take it away, John Scott”: John Scott Trotter and the Kraft Music Hall
Aside from being an effective tool for advertising, as explored in On the Air and in the Aisles, Kraft Music Hall (KMH) owed much of its enduring appeal to the caliber of musical performances and the talent behind them. The … Continue reading
Posted in Entertainment history, Music History, Performing Arts, radio history, Uncategorized
Tagged 1930s Music, American Music History, Big Band Era, Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra, Golden Age of Radio, Hollywood Entertainment, John Scott Trotter, Kraft Music Hall, Music Direction, Musical Arrangement, Radio Broadcasts, Vintage Radio
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On the Air and in the Aisles: How Kraft Music Hall Sold a Show and a Brand
A standard of the Golden Age of Radio, musical-variety radio programs surged in popularity in the early 1930s as consumers gained access to affordable radio units. These shows, often blending comedy with music, remained beloved throughout the Great Depression. Typically … Continue reading
Posted in Advertising, Entertainment history, Golden Age of Radio, Hollywood history, radio history, television history, Uncategorized
Tagged 1930s, 1940s, American Heritage Center, Bing Crosby, Brand Integration, Carroll Carroll, Hollywood, J. Walter Thompson, John Scott Trotter, Ken Carpenter, Kraft Foods, Kraft Music Hall, Miracle Whip, Musical Variety, NBC radio, Paul Whiteman, Radio Advertising, Radio Networks, Radio Sponsorship
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Thanksgiving with Ozzie and Harriet Nelson
Thanksgiving is one of the quintessentially American holidays, so it is fitting that the all-American radio and television show The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet would include scenes related to the holiday. The Ozzie and Harriet Nelson papers at the … Continue reading
Posted in Entertainment history, Holidays, Hollywood history, radio history, television history, Uncategorized
Tagged American Holidays, David Nelson, Family Sitcoms, Harriet Nelson, Ozzie Nelson, Radio Broadcasts, Ricky Nelson, Television Actors, television history, Thanksgiving, The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet
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Jack Benny: Accidental Radio Extraordinaire
On March 29th, 1932, Ed Sullivan invited Jack Benny to his radio program, launching a prolific radio and entertainment career. Benny went from a small-time vaudeville performer to a radio host, USO performer, movie man and more. Today, we honor … Continue reading
Posted in Entertainment history, Hollywood history, Motion picture actors and actresses, radio history, television history, Uncategorized
Tagged Broadcasting Hall of Fame, Entertainment History, Hollywood, Jack Benny, Joan Benny, Mary Livingstone, Radio Hall of Fame, Radio Shows, Shower of Stars, Stand-up Comedy, Television Hall of Fame, The Jack Benny Program, USO Performers, USO shows, Vaudeville
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The Adeline M. Leitzbach Papers: Part II of a Two-Part Series
Adeline Leitzbach once mused: “[In] the old days in pictures… we used to go out on a lot with a couple of actors, a horse, a camera man and an author. We used to shoot scenes, and mould them into … Continue reading Continue reading
Posted in Authors and literature, Hollywood history, Interns' projects, motion picture history, newly cataloged collections, popular culture, radio history, Uncategorized, women's history, writers and poets
Tagged Adeline M. Leitzbach, movie history, Screenplay Writing, Women Writers
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Phillips H. Lord – The Man Behind the Mic and the Schooner
Phillips Haynes Lord (1902-1975) was a radio star from the 1920s through the 1950s. He was only in his twenties when he achieved nationwide fame for his radio programs, the most famous among them being “Gangbusters” and several having to … Continue reading
Harmonic Echoes – Exploring Larry Adler’s Musical Impact
Lawrence Cecil “Larry” Adler was born in Baltimore on February 10, 1914 to parents Louis and Sadie. A self-taught harmonica player, he gained worldwide recognition as the musician who brought the instrument to the ‘serious music’ stage. He began playing … Continue reading