American radio children's Western adventure series (1945–1947)
Tennessee Jed is an American children's Western adventure radio program that was broadcast from May 14, 1945, through November 7, 1947.[1] It debuted on Mutual but for most of its time on the air it was on ABC.[2]
Premise
Jed Sloan, known as Tennessee Jed,[3] moved from the Civil War in the Old South to make a fresh start on the American frontier. Jed's marksmanship with his squirrel gun was highlighted in the opening of each episode. A voice said, "There he goes, Tennessee! Get Him!"[1] Then the sound effect of a gunshot was followed by, "Got him! Deeeeeeeeeaaaaaaad center!"[1] Jed also carried a pair of sixguns as he rode his horse, Smoky. Jed eventually began to capture outlaws on direct assignments from President Grant [1] Jed's Tennessee-hills background and his "native love for folk music and a natural musical ability" led to inclusion of music in the program as he accompanied himself on a guitar while singing familiar Western songs and sometimes "put dialogue to music".[4]
Supporting actors included John McGovern, George Petrie, and Barton Yarborough. Announcers included Benson, Layman Cameron, and Larry Elliott.[2]
Schedule
Tennessee Jed was a late-afternoon program intended for a juvenile audience. It was on the Mutual network from May 14, 1945, through August 17, 1945. A longer run began on ABC on September 3, 1945. The show stayed on ABC until it ended on November 7, 1947.[2]
Production
Paul DeFur was the producer, and Bill Hamilton was the director. Elton Britt sang the theme.[1] The writers were Ashley Buck, Howard Carraway, and Tom Taggert.[3] The program was initially broadcast via transcription, with live performances beginning in September 1945.[4]
Ward Baking Company was the primary sponsor of Tennessee Jed, promoting its Tip Top Bread.[1] Other companies sponsored the program in areas (such as the West Coast) in which Ward's products were not distributed.[5]Safeway was a major sponsor in the non-Ward areas.[4] An initial report about the cancellation of Tennessee Jed said that Ward was cutting its budget because of a shortage of grain.[6] The trade publication Sponsor noted an additional factor as it reported, "... also because there is a growing feeling among sponsors that unless a children's program reaches the mothers at the same time as the youngsters, advertising doesn't pay off. Jed hasn't been reaching them."[7]
Promotion
In the fall of 1946, Ward and the sponsors of the other three programs in ABC's 5 to 6 p.m. Eastern Time slot joined in a promotional contest that the trade publication Billboard reported was "believed to be the first of its kind in radio".[8] The other programs and their sponsors were Terry and the Pirates (Quaker Oats Company), Sky King (Derby Foods, Incorporated), and Jack Armstrong (General Mills, Incorporated).[8] ABC contributed $15,000 for the promotion, and the sponsors combined to provide $30,000 for it.[9] In addition to promoting the contest on the air, ABC ran a one-third page ad about it in two syndicated newspaper comics sections.[10]
Each participant in the contest, which was limited to age 16 or younger, had to submit a letter completing (in 50 or fewer words) the sentence "I prefer (name of program) because ..."[10] Prizes were
Listeners submitted 298,694 entries in the contest. Winners were announced the week of January 13, 1947.[11] While the contest was in progress, the number of listeners for the four programs increased, but after it ended audiences for the shows returned to their previous numbers.[12]