Musical Variety (1948-54)
"Here comes the star-studded show train... [honk honk!]"
 Called The Railroad Hour as it was sponsored
by The Association Of American Railroads, this was a relatively
late variety show that hearkened back to the classic days
of American popular song entertainment.
 The stellar cast is led by star of Broadway and Hollywood,
Mr. Gordon MacRae. Many of the major singing talents who
guest stars and sings with Gordon are Jane Powell, Dorothy
Kirsten, Lucille Norman, Ginny Simms, and Dorothy Warenskjold.
Each week a different well-known operetta, Broadway show
or Hollywood musical is featured. Sometimes a famous theme
is adapted, such as "Robin Hood," or a period
in musical history, such as "The Songs of 1915-1920."
Text on OTRCAT.com ©2001-2011 OTRCAT INC All Rights Reserved-Reproduction is prohibited. Jerome Lawrence or Robert E. Lee co-produced the later
segments. Together, they created enduring works of the
American theatre, including Inherit the Wind; The Night
Thoreau Spent in Jail, which has been called "the
most widely produced play of our time"; and Auntie
Mame. On The Railroad Hour, they were able to offer
highlights of many of the shows of giants including Kern,
Porter and Hammerstein, plus beloved classics of Operetta
and Gilbert & Sullivan. The Carmen Dragon Orchestra
provides the fine musical accompaniment, together with
the Norman Luboff Choir. Marvin Miller is the announcer.
Text on OTRCAT.com ©2001-2011 OTRCAT INC All Rights Reserved-Reproduction is prohibited. Any listener who loves fine music or great old time radio
entertainment will find The Railroad Hour one of
the very best of its kind. The beautiful show melodies
are well sung and enacted, and the first-class productions
leave one wishing there were a show just like this now
on television. Perhaps "Everybody Loves Raymond",
but one has the feeling they just don't know what they're
missing!
Text on OTRCAT.com ©2001-2011 OTRCAT INC All Rights Reserved-Reproduction is prohibited.  For more music, you'll want to click on Glenn
Miller, Bing Crosby,
Command Performance,
Your Hit Parade, The
Sealtest Hour, and the Dinah
Shore Collection. Some shows have great music
in some of their segments, such as Phil
Harris and Alice Faye Show (two tunes per show),
Burns and Allen, and
Dennis Day Show. If
your tastes run to great western swing, you'll want to
check out All Star
Western Theater.
For other railroad themed old time radio shows, see also: Railroad Collection, Empire Builders & Grand Central Station, Green Valley Line, and Mysterious Traveler. For more Gordon MacRae see also: The Gulf Spray Program and The Gordon MacRae Show (Texaco Star Theater).
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