May 18, 1934 (1934-05-18) – May 2, 1948 (1948-05-02)
Opening theme
The American Hymn of Liberty
Ending theme
We Must Be Vigilant
Sponsored by
Cheramy (Summer 1934) Linit Bath Oil Zotos Machineless Permanent Wave General Electric Combined electric cooperatives
The Hour of Charm is an American old-time radio music program. It debuted on CBS on May 18, 1934, and had its final broadcast on CBS on May 2, 1948.[1] The program also was broadcast on Armed Forces Radio,[2] and after its network broadcasts ended, a new version was syndicated via transcriptions.
Schedules
The table below shows the program's varied schedules and sponsors during its time on network radio.
Beginning Date
Ending Date
Network
Day
Time (Eastern)
Sponsor
May 18, 1934
June 1, 1934
CBS
Friday
10:30-10:45
Cheramy
June 6, 1934
September 26, 1934
CBS
Wednesday
8 - 8:15
Cheramy
January 3, 1935
June 25, 1935
CBS
Thursday
8 - 8:30 (later 9:30-10)
Linit Bath Oil
February 23, 1936
June 21, 1936
CBS
Sunday
6:30 - 7
Zotos Machineless Permanent Wave
November 2, 1936
September 1, 1946
NBC
various
various
General Electric
September 29, 1946
May 2, 1948
CBS
Sunday
afternoon
Combined electric cooperatives
Source:On the Air: The Encyclopedia of Old-Time Radio[1]
Personnel
Evelyn Kaye plays with the Hour of Charm Orchestra in this screen capture from Army-Navy Screen Magazine Number 22.
The musical group featured in the program was originally called Phil Spitalny's All-Girl Orchestra.[3] Spitalny directed the group that, as the name implies, was composed only of females. In time, however, the group became so associated with the program that it became known as the Hour of Charm Orchestra.
Violinist Evelyn Kaye was the concertmistress and featured player. On the air, she was identified only by her first name —as was Spitalny's policy with all of his musicians[4] — billed as "Evelyn and Her Magic Violin". She was with the group from its inception until its disbanding, and she married Spitalny in 1946.[5]
Rosalind Green was the initial on-air hostess, a role that Arlene Francis filled later. Announcers were Ken Roberts, Ron Rawson, and Richard Stark. The director was Joseph Ripley.[1]
Critical reception
The trade publication Billboard published two reviews of The Hour of Charm. The March 7, 1936, review called the program "a tuneful affair, revealing several excellent arrangements, the better ones being of the South American tang ..."[6]
A brief review in the December 31, 1938, issue pointed out several shortcomings of a remote broadcast from the Hotel Biltmore in New York. Daniel Richman described the broadcast as "so laden with arrangements, production trappings, descriptions of the girls' clothes and talents, and so much general excess baggage that it sounded more like the Ford Sunday Evening Symphony than a dance remote."[7]
The August 1, 1942, issue of Billboard reported that Arturo Toscanini considered The Hour of Charm to be his favorite radio program.[8]