THE PACKARD HOUR

Broadcast History

First Show: Blue Network (The Packard Show) CBS (The Packard Show)
Sept. 18 1934-March 19, 1935 Oct.1,1935-March 17, 1936
30 m.-concert program 30 m. concert program

Showcase for baritone Lawrence Tibbett continuation of Tibbett series.
Orchestra: Wilfred Pelletier Orchestra: Don Voorhees
NBC (The Packard Hour)
Sept. 8, 1936-July 20, 1937
60 m. Variety Show
Fred Astaire w/song and dance
Charlie Butterworth comedian
Cliff Arquette joining later as Grandpa Sneed
Vocalists: Trudy Wood, Jimmy Blair; later
Francia White, also Conrad Thibault.
Orchestra: Johnny Green

NBC sponsored by Packard as Mardi Gras

Sept. 7,1937-March 1, 1938
60m. Variety Show
Lanny Ross, singing star, costarring Walter O'Keefe.
Rhodes, Butterworth, and Arquette.
Orchestra: Raymond Paige

Series Description: Musical Variety

The Packard Show was a concert program, later a variety hour. It was first heard on the Blue Network in 1934 in a 30 minute format. In 1935 the show moved to CBS, with Lawrence Tibbett as regular soloist. The variety hour premiered September 8, 1936 moving into a 60 minute time slot. Fred Astaire, then at the height of his fame as a dancer was signed as singing star, Charlie Butterworth was comical co-star. From the beginning the show never ran smoothly. Rumors spread along Radio Row that Astaire and Butterworth were incompatible. Astaire even missed the first broadcast, leaving Jack Benny and Ginger Rogers to host the show.

Trudy Wood a clear voiced soprano was pulled out of the chorus by Astaire for an on the air duet in her second week with the show, and went on to become the Packard Hour headliner when Astaire and Butterworth broke for summer vacations.

The trouble was, Astaire never came back. The sponsor did a quick shuffle and Lanny Ross, erstwhile Show Boat star, was cofeatured with Walter O'Keefe when

The Packard Hour opened for 1937 with a new name Mardi Gras.

References: Tune in Yesterday by John Dunning

On the Air by John Dunning