Friday, April 6, 2012

Your Hit Parade: NBC in 1947

The Merry Macs on Your Hit Parade
This program of popular music in which the seven top tunes of the nation were played each broadcast, began as Your Hit Parade in April of 1935, sponsored by the American Tobacco Company, hocking Lucky Strike cigarettes in between musical numbers. In May of 1936, the series moved from NBC to CBS, though it remained on NBC and the Blue Network on different time slots throughout 1936. In April of 1947, the series jumped back to NBC, departing from the CBS airwaves after eleven years of broadcasting. The time length of the series also changed from 30 minutes to 45 minutes and back to 30 minutes again.

Today we’re going to focus on the 1947 broadcasts because only nine of the NBC 1947 broadcasts are known to exist in recorded form. It is my hope that the following broadcast log fills in the gap where sound recordings cannot. Each week, seven selections, billed as “the country’s leading tunes in popularity” for the week just passed, were presented. This ranking was reported according to a national poll taken each week. Additional selections (usually 3) were “extras” and were played partly because they were hit tunes of the past. The weekly “rank” of each number was announced just before the number was played -- no special order played except 3, 2 and 1, which were played respectively with the number 1 tune last on the program. The “Lucky Strike extras” were interspersed through the 30-minute show.

Andy Russell was the emcee and vocal star. Different female singers were used during the series, usually using the same girl-vocalist as “guest vocalist” for three successive broadcasts. Mark Warnow and his Orchestra supplied the music, with Lyn Murray’s Hit Paraders as the vocal chorus.

The commercial announcers were Basil Ruysdael and Del Sharbutt. The Tobacco Auctioneers heard on the program were the famous Speed (L.A.) Riggs and F.E. Boone.

Male Vocalist 
April 26, 1947 to July 12, 1947 -- Andy Russell
July 19, 1947 to August 9, 1947 -- Dick Haymes filled in for a vacationing Russell
August 16, 1947 to August 30, 1947 -- Andy Russell
Beginning with the broadcast of September 6, 1947, Frank Sinatra took Russell’s place.

Orchestra 
April 26, 1947 to August 30, 1947 -- Mark Warnow and his Orchestra
August 30, 1947 to May 28, 1949 -- Axel Stordahl and his Orchestra
August 7, 1948 to September 11, 1948 It should be notes that Lyn Murray and the Lucky Strike Orchestra filled in for a vacationing Axel Stordahl.

Helen O'Connell
Guest Female Vocalist
April 26, 1947 to May 10, 1947 -- Ginny Simms
May 17, 1947 to August 30, 1947 -- Martha Tilton
September 6, 1947 to November 29, 1947 -- Doris Day
December 6, 1947 to July 31, 1948 -- Beryl Davis

Girl Vocalists 
August 7, 1948 -- Marjorie Hughes
August 14, 1948 -- Bonnie Lou Williams
August 21, 1948 -- Carol Richards
August 28, 1948 to September 11, 1948 -- Eileen Wilson
Note: Wilson became a regular series vocalist beginning December 4, 1948.

Announcer/Commercial Spokesman Change 
Effective November 22, 1947, John Laing permanently replaced Del Sharbutt as the announcer.

Broadcast of April 26, 1947 
7) “It’s a Good Day” (Ginny Simms and Group)
4) “Mam’selle” (Andy Russell)
a) “Everything I’ve Got Belongs to You” (Orchestra)
6) “Managua Nicaragua” (Hit Paraders)
b) “The Continental” (Orchestra)
5) “How Are Things in Glocca Morra?” (Andy Russell)
c) “Just One of Those Things” (Ginny Simms)
3) “Linda” (Hit Paraders)
2) “Anniversary Song” (Andy Russell and Group)
1) “Heartaches” (Ginny Simms)

Broadcast May 3, 1947 
5) “Heartaches” (Andy Russell)
7) “In My Adobe Hacienda” (Ginny Simms)
a) “Shake Hands with an Old Friend” (Orchestra)
4) “Managua Nicaragua” (Hit Paraders)
b) “This Can’t Be Love” (Ginny Simms and Group)
6) “How Are Things in Glocca Morra?” (Andy Russell)
c) “Puttin’ on the Ritz” (Orchestra)
3) “Mam’selle” (Hit Paraders)
2) “Anniversary Song” (Ginny Sims)
1) “Linda” (Andy Russell)

The first “Lucky Strike Extra” was originally intended to be “Fine and Dandy,” performed by the orchestra. That song was replaced at the last minute, however, with “Shake Hands with an Old Friend.”

Broadcast May 10, 1947 
5) “My Adobe Hacienda” (Ginny Simms)
6) “April Showers” (Andy Russell)
a) “Keep Your Sunny Side Up” (Orchestra)
7) “How Are Things in Glocca Morra?” (Hit Paraders)
b) “Blue Skies” (Ginny Simms and Group)
4) “Mam’selle” (Andy Russell)
c) “Limehouse Blues” (Orchestra)
3) “Anniversary Song” (Hit Paraders)
2) “Heartaches” (Ginny Sims)
1) “Linda” (Andy Russell)

Broadcast May 17, 1947 
6) “How Are Things in Glocca Morra?” (Martha Tilton)
5) “My Adobe Hacienda” (Andy Russell)
a) “Twelfth Street Rag” (Orchestra)
7) “Time After Time” (Martha Tilton)
b) “Oklahoma” (Orchestra and the Hit Paraders)
4) “Anniversary Song” (Andy Russell and Group)
c) “New Sun in the Sky” (Orchestra)
3) “Heartaches” (Martha Tilton)
2) “Linda” (Hit Paraders)
1) “Mam’selle” (Andy Russell) 

Broadcast May 24, 1947 
5) “April Showers” (Andy Russell)
7) “Time After Time” (Martha Tilton)
a) “Good News” (Orchestra)
b) “Blow, Gabriel, Blow” (Hit Paraders)
6) “Anniversary Song” (Martha Tilton and Group)
4) “Mam’selle” (Andy Russell)
c) “Jersey Bounce” (Orchestra)
3) “Heartaches” (Hit Paraders)
2) “My Adobe Hacienda” (Martha Tilton)
1) “Linda” (Andy Russell)

Broadcast May 31, 1947 
4) “Heartaches” (Andy Russell)
6) “Time After Time” (Martha Tilton)
a) “June Is Bustin’ Out All Over” (Orchestra)
b) “You’re the Top” (Hit Paraders)
5) “Anniversary Song” (Martha Tilton and Group)
7) “Peg O’ My Heart” (Andy Russell)
c) “ ‘S Wonderful” (Orchestra)
3) “Linda” (Hit Paraders)
2) “My Adobe Hacienda” (Martha Tilton)
1) “Mam’selle” (Andy Russell)

Broadcast 
June 7, 1947 
5) “Heartaches” (Andy Russell)
4) “I Wonder, I Wonder, I Wonder” (Martha Tilton)
a) “Rise and Shine” (Orchestra)
7) “Time After Time” (Pied Pipers)
b) “I Can’t Give You Anything but Love” (Martha Tilton)
6) “Anniversary Song” (Andy Russell)
c) “Way Down Yonder in New Orleans” (Orchestra)
3) “My Adobe Hacienda” (Martha Tilton)
2) “Linda” (Pied Pipers)
1) “Mam’selle” (Andy Russell)

Broadcast June 14, 1947 
5) “Heartaches” (Andy Russell)
7) “Chi-Baba, Chi-Baba” (Pied Pipers)
a) “Jericho” (Orchestra)
6) “Midnight Masquerade” (Martha Tilton)
b) “Somebody Loves Me” (Pied Pipers)
4) “I Wonder, I Wonder, I Wonder” (Andy Russell)
c) “Anything Goes” (Orchestra)
3) “Mam’selle” (Pied Pipers)
2) “My Adobe Hacienda” (Martha Tilton)
1) “Linda” (Andy Russell)

Broadcast June 21, 1947 
6) “My Adobe Hacienda” (Andy Russell)
4) “I Wonder, I Wonder, I Wonder” (Martha Tilton)
a) “Dinah” (Orchestra)
5) “Chi-Baba, Chi-Baba” (Pied Pipers)
b) “Nice Work If You Can Get It” (Martha Tilton)
7) “Heartaches” (Andy Russell)
c) “The Dipsy Doodle” (Orchestra)
3) “Linda” (Andy Russell)
2) “Mam’selle” (Pied Pipers)
1) “Peg O’ My Heart” (Andy Russell)

Beginning with the broadcast of June 21, Your Hit Parade stopped featuring “Lucky Strike Extras” temporarily for the summer.

Broadcast June 28, 1947 
4) “My Adobe Hacienda” (Andy Russell)
6) “Linda” (Pied Pipers)
a) “Nobody’s Sweetheart” (Orchestra)
5) “Chi-Baba, Chi-Baba” (Martha Tilton)
b) “Three Little Words” (Pied Pipers)
7) “That’s My Desire” (Andy Russell)
c) “Brazil” (Orchestra)
3) “Mam’selle” (Pied Pipers)
2) “Peg O’ My Heart” (Andy Russell)
1) “I Wonder, I Wonder, I Wonder” (Martha Tilton)

Trivia, etc. This episode circulates among collectors with the incorrect date of June 24, 1947. Knowing that the series was never broadcast on that date, I figured the June 24 date was incorrect. Thanks to Dan Hughes, who was kind enough to send me a copy for verification, it turns out the correct date is June 28. If anyone has a recording dated June 24, 1947, you should correct that.

Broadcast July 5, 1947 
7) “That’s My Desire”
6) “Linda”
5) “My Adobe Hacienda”
4) “Chi-Baba, Chi-Baba”
3) “Mam’selle”
2) “I Wonder, I Wonder, I Wonder”
1) “Peg O’ My Heart”

Broadcast July 12, 1947 
7) “Linda”
6) “Across the Alley from the Alamo”
5) “Mam’selle”
4) “That’s My Desire”
3) “Chi-Baba, Chi-Baba”
2) “I Wonder, I Wonder, I Wonder”
1) “Peg O’ My Heart”

Broadcast July 19, 1947 
7) “Linda”
6) “Mam’selle”
5) “That’s My Desire”
4) “Across the Alley from the Alamo”
3) “Chi Baba, Chi Baba”
2) “I Wonder, I Wonder, I Wonder”
1) “Peg O’ My Heart”

Broadcast July 26, 1947 
7) “Almost Like Being in Love”
6) “That’s My Desire”
5) “Mam’selle”
4) “Across the Alley from the Alamo”
3) “Chi-Baba, Chi-Baba”
2) “That’s My Desire”
1) “Peg O’ My Heart”

Broadcast August 2, 1947 
7) “Ask Anyone Who Knows”
6) “Ivy”
5) “Chi-Baba, Chi-Baba”
4) “Across the Alley from the Alamo”
3) “I Wonder, I Wonder, I Wonder”
2) “That’s My Desire”
1) “Peg O’ My Heart”

Broadcast August 9, 1947 
7) “I Wonder Who’s Kissing Her Now?”
6) “Across the Alley from the Alamo”
5) “Ask Anyone Who Knows”
4) “That’s My Desire”
3) “Chi-Baba, Chi-Baba”
2) “I Wonder, I Wonder, I Wonder”
1) “Peg O’ My Heart”

Broadcast August 16, 1947 
7) “I Wonder Who’s Kissing Her Now?”
6) “Across the Alley from the Alamo”
5) “Chi-Baba, Chi-Baba”
4) “Ask Anyone Who Knows”
3) “That’s My Desire”
2) “I Wonder, I Wonder, I Wonder”
1) “Peg O’ My Heart”

Broadcast August 23, 1947 
7) “I Wonder Who’s Kissing Her Now?”
6) “Tallahassee”
5) “Ask Anyone Who Knows”
4) “Chi-Baba, Chi-Baba”
3) “I Wonder, I Wonder, I Wonder”
2) “Peg O’ My Heart”
1) “That’s My Desire”

Broadcast August 30, 1947 
7) “Almost Like Being in Love”
6) “I Wonder, I Wonder, I Wonder”
5) “Tallahassee”
4) “Ask Anyone Who Knows”
3) “I Wonder Who’s Kissing Her Now?”
2) “That’s My Desire”
1) “Peg O’ My Heart”

Broadcast September 6, 1947 
7) “An Apple Blossom Wedding”
6) “I Wonder, I Wonder, I Wonder”
5) “That’s My Desire”
4) “Feudin’ and Fightin’ ”
3) “Ask Anyone Who Knows”
2) “Peg O’ My Heart”
1) “I Wonder Who’s Kissing Her Now?”

Beginning with the broadcast of September 6, 1947, Your Hit Parade began featuring the “Lucky Strike Extras” again. I don’t have any records verifying what the songs were, so I will continue to list just the top seven.

Broadcast September 13, 1947 
7) “Ask Anyone Who Knows”
6) “When You Were Sweet Sixteen”
5) “Feudin’ and Fightin’ ”
4) “I Wish I Didn’t Love You So”
3) “I Wonder Who’s Kissing Her Now?”
2) “Peg O’ My Heart”
1) “That’s My Desire”

Broadcast September 20, 1947 
7) “Almost Like Being in Love”
6) “I Wish I Didn’t Love You So”
5) “Ask Anyone Who Knows”
4) “Feudin’ and Fightin’ ”
3) “I Wonder Who’s Kissing Her Now?”
2) “That’s My Desire”
1) “Peg O’ My Heart”

Broadcast September 27, 1947 
7) “An Apple Blossom Wedding”
6) “Ask Anyone Who Knows”
5) “That’s My Desire”
4) “Peg O’ My Heart”
3) “I Wonder Who’s Kissing Her Now?”
2) “I Wish I Didn’t Love You So”
1) “Feudin’ and Fightin’ ”

Broadcast October 4, 1947 
7) “Peg O’ My Heart”
6) “Lady from 29 Palms”
5) “That’s My Desire”
4) “I Wonder Who’s Kissing Her Now?”
3) “Feudin’ and Fightin’ ”
2) “That’s My Desire”
1) “I Wish I Didn’t Live You So”

Beginning with the broadcast of October 4, 1947, the program originated from New York, instead of Hollywood. The cast and music originates from New York, with Andre Baruch now as the announcer. The commercials originate from Hollywood with announcers Del Sharbutt and Basil Ruysdael. Baruch announced the hit tunes and the running continuity.

A page from a Your Hit Parade script.
Broadcast October 11, 1947 
7) “I Wonder Who’s Kissing Her Now?”
6) “Almost Like Being in Love”
5) “You Do”
4) “Peg O’ My Heart”
3) “Near You”
2) “Feudin’ and Fightin’ ”
1) “I Wish I Didn’t Love You So”

Broadcast October 18, 1947 
7) “Peg O’ My Heart”
6) “The Lady from 29 Palms”
5) “I Wonder Who’s Kissing Her Now?”
4) “You Do”
3) “Feudin’ and Fightin’ ”
2) “I Wish I Didn’t Love You So”
1) “Near You”

Broadcast October 25, 1947 
7) “Peg O’ My Heart”
6) “The Lady from 29 Palms”
5) “Feudin’ and Fightin’ ”
4) “You Do”
3) “I Wonder Who’s Kissing Her Now?”
2) “I Wish I Didn’t Love You So”
1) “Near You”

Broadcast November 1, 1947 
7) “When You Were Sweet Sixteen”
6) “The Lady from 29 Palms”
5) “I Wonder Who’s Kissing Her Now”
4) “You Do”
3) “I Wish I Didn’t Love You So”
2) “Feudin’ and Fightin’ ”
1) “Near You”

Broadcast November 8, 1947 
7) “Apple Blossom Wedding”
6) “And Mimi”
5) “The Lady from 29 Palms”
4) “I Wish I Didn’t Love You So”
3) “Feudin’ and Fightin’ ”
2) “You Do”
1) “Near You”

Broadcast November 15, 1947 
7) “Civilization”
6) “An Apple Blossom Wedding”
5) “And Mimi”
4) “Feudin’ and Fightin’ ”
3) “You Do”
2) “Near You”
1) “I Wish I Didn’t Love You So”

Regarding the broadcast of November 15, 1947: One of the Lucky Strike Extras tonight is dedicated to the “Bride-to-be, Princess Elizabeth of Britain -- the selection is “Night and Day.” Vic Damone substitutes for Frank Sinatra, who took ill Sinatra returned the next week. Jay Sims substituted for announcer Andre Baruch, who suffered a leg injury and was unable to appear on the broadcast. Sims would also sub for Baruch for the broadcasts of November 22 and 29.

Broadcast November 22, 1947 
7) “Civilization”
6) “Whiffenpoof Song”
5) “And Mimi”
4) “Feudin’ and Fightin’ ”
3) “Near You”
2) “I Wish I Didn’t Love You So”
1) “You Do”

Broadcast November 29, 1947 
7) “So Far”
6) “Civilization”
5) “How Soon?”
4) “And Mimi”
3) “I Wish I Didn’t Love You So”
2) “You Do”
1) “Near You”

Broadcast December 6, 1947 
7) “Ballerina”
6) “How Soon?”
5) “I Wish I Didn’t Love You So”
4) “Civilization”
3) “And Mimi”
2) “You Do”
1) “Near You”

Andre Baruch returned to his announcer job for the broadcast of December 6, 1947, Regrettably, it was his last appearance on the program. Beginning with the next broadcast, December 13, the series returned to Hollywood.

Broadcast December 13, 1947 
7) “I Wish I Didn’t Love You So”
6) “Ballerina”
5) “Near You”
4) “And Mimi”
3) “You Do”
2) “How Soon?”
1) “Civilization”

Beginning with the December 13 broadcast, Ken Lane and the Hit Paraders begin their first of many consecutive appearances. Hy Averback begins doing the continuity announcements and introducing and signing off the program.

Broadcast December 20, 1947 
7) “Near You”
6) “Serenade of the Belle”
5) “You Do”
4) “Ballerina”
3) “And Mimi”
2) “Civilization”
1) “How Soon?”

Broadcast December 27, 1947 
7) “White Christmas”
6) “Serenade of the Bells”
5) “And Mimi”
4) “You Do”
3) “Near You”
2) “How Soon?”
1) “Ballerina”

Circulating Recordings 
June 28, 1947 (circulating with the incorrect date of June 24, 1947.)
July 19, 1947 (survives courtesy of an AFRS rebroadcast.)
September 6, 1947
October 25, 1947
November 8, 1947 (survives courtesy of an R.A.I. (Italy) rebroadcast.)
November 22, 1947
November 29, 1947
December 6, 1947
December 13, 1947 (circulating with the incorrect date of December 18, 1947 and survives courtesy of an R.A.I. (Italy) rebroadcast.)