Title:

The Frank Sinatra Show

Type:

Musical variety

Length:

15 minutes from Oct. 1942 through Dec. 1943

30 minutes from Jan. 1944 through June 1947

15 minutes from Sept. 1949 through June 1950

45 and 60 minutes from Oct. 1950 through July 1951

15 minutes from Nov. 1953 through July 1955

Broadcast history:

Oct. 27, 1942 - Dec. 26, 1943 CBS. Various timeslots.

Aired as "Songs by Sinatra"

Jan. 5, 1944 - May 16, 1945 CBS. Usually Wednesdays at 9:00 PM.

Sponsored by Lever Brothers until Jan., 1945

then by Max Factor. "Songs by Sinatra"

Sept. 12, 1945 - June 4, 1947 CBS. Wednesdays at 9:00 PM. Old Gold

cigarettes sponsor. "Songs by Sinatra"

Sept. 5, 1949 - June 2, 1950 NBC. Weekdays at 7:00 PM. Sponsored by

Lucky Strike cigarettes. Aired as "Light-Up Time"

Oct. 29, 1950 - July 22, 1951 CBS. Sundays at 5:00 PM. Aired as

"Meet Frank Sinatra"

Nov. 10, 1053 - July 15, 1955 NBC. Twice weekly on various days at 8:15 PM.

Cast:

Bert Wheeler as comic during the period 10/42 - 5/45

Truman Bradley as announcer during same period as above

The Pied Pipers as vocal group from 9/45 - 6/47

Marvin Miller as announcer during same period as above

Met. Opera Star Dorothy Kirsten as co-star from 9/49 - 6/50

Sinatra began appearing on radio early. By 1939 (Sinatra was 22 years old) it was estimated that he was

singing on 18 regular radio shows in New York City. His first appearance on radio was as part of a singing quartet, "the Hoboken Four," which won an amateur contest on the Major Bowes Amateur Hour.

The group became part of Bowe's traveling show. Harry James hired Sinatra as his new bands singer in mid-1939. Six months later Tommy Dorsey stole Sinatra away from James. Dorsey had one of the best known and popular big-bands in the country and Sinatras future was assured. Franks radio career began in 1942 when he broke away from Dorsey and ventured out on his own. His radio shows were a mix of

live songs, records, and talk. The Lever Bros. shows (10/42 - 1/45) were often highlighted by "serious"

talks by Sinatra, usually on some patriotic or worthwhile cause. His guest stars included such people as

Gene Kelly, Jane Powell, Lawrence Tibbett, Fred Allen, and even Tommy Dorsey.

When Sinatra had no radio show of his own, it was often because he was a regular cast member of

"Your Hit Parade." Such was the case for almost two years beginning in Feb., 1943 and again from

Sept., 1947 until May, 1949.

Source:

On the Air - John Dunning