THE PALMOLIVE BEAUTY BOX THEATER

Broadway History:

NBC April 8, 1934-July 30, 1935 60m.

Musical Cast: Gladys Swarthout and John Barclay.

Dramatic Cast: Georgia Backus, Peggy Allenby.

Announcer: Tiny Ruffner

Orchestra: Nat Shilkret

Blue Network Aug.9-Dec. 27, 1935 60m

Commentator: Otto Harbach

Orchestra: Al Goodman

CBS Jan. 11-Feb 15, 1936 60m.

CBS Jan. 13-Oct. 6, 1937 30 min

Cast: Jessica Dragonette with Charles Kullman.

Announcer: Jean Paul King

Orchestra: Al Goodman

Series Description: Operetta, Broadway, film musicals.

The Palmolive Beauty Box Theatre was a series of light operettas, first heard on NBC in 1934. John Barclay starred in the early shows, with support from Jane Froman and other leading singers of the era. The series presented some of the most celebrated "serious" singers on the American scene and spotlighted the best work of Franz Lehar, Sigmund Romberg, Oscar Straus, Georges Bizet, Victor Herbert, Rudolf Friml, and Noel Coward. It had a decidedly popular sound, making it more palatable to the masses say than the Metropolitan Opera Broadcasts. But despite its talented cast, Beauty Box Theatre was in trouble, ratings dropped consistently.

Jessica Dragonette was radio's premiere performer, a superstar even by today's standards. She opened in the new Beauty Box in 1937 lured to CBS with a promise of a new format that would allow her to chance to act. However the timeslot was cut in half and the fare consisted of distillations from the old shows. The result was a disappointment to Dragonette's many fans and to the star herself, who was heard infrequently thereafter.

Reference:

On the Air; John Dunning

Tune in Yesterday, John Dunning