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The Palmolive Beauty Box Theater

"A Soap Operetta" old time radio show, with classically trained opera singers but a lighter tone than classical opera.

Palmolive Beauty Box Theater

18 old time radio show recordings
(total playtime 9 hours, 4 min)
available in the following formats:

1 MP3 CD
or
9 Audio CDs


Choose your CD format
or order disks individually: Add to Cart
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Play a sample episode from April 14, 1937:

"Chocolate Soldier"



... or click here to save the Mp3 file to your computer
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Text on OTRCAT.com ©2001-2024 OTRCAT INC All Rights Reserved. Reproduction is prohibited.

PalmoliveBefore Soap Opera became the biggest money maker on radio, one soap company tried to get their message across with operetta. A Soap Operetta? No, it just doesn't quite ring. However, it was a rather entertaining program.

Back in 1898, the B.J. Johnson Company of Milwaukee discovered a method of making soap using all palm oil and olive oil. The cleaning concoction was so effective and popular that Johnson renamed his company after the soap, Palmolive. In the early years of the twentieth century,  Palmolive was the best selling soap in the world.

Not wanting to rest on its laurels, the company began using radio advertising in 1927 with the Palmolive Hour. The show featured a pleasant mix of jazz, show tunes and opera selections showcased by the "Palmolive Musical Stock Company", aka the Palmolivers. The program usually opened with a duet by Frank Munn and soprano Virginia Rea, who performed under the names Paul Oliver and Olive Palmer (the sponsor was getting their money's worth!)

Palmolive took an extended hiatus from the airwaves in 1931. The players who made up the Palmolive Hour did not go hungry. The Hummert's were waiting to put them to work on The American Album Of Familiar Music, where Munn kept singing until his retirement in 1945. When the soap company was ready to come back to the air in 1934, they adapted operettas to their weekly hour on Palmolive Beauty Box Theater.

If there is a hierarchy to the musical stage, then opera is the stodgy aunt for whom Mom spends days cleaning the house. American Music Theater, the shows that made Broadway famous, are the hooligan kids who want to rush away from the table before the meal is finished. Operetta has the exuberance of youth, but takes itself seriously enough to maintain some decorum.

If there is a difference between operetta and musicals, it is in the players. In a musical,  we see actors who are called upon to sing and dance. An operetta company is usually filled with voices trained for opera.

It was not always simple to condense a full operetta into an hour long program, but Beauty Box did a pretty good job from 1934 through 1936 under the musical direction of Nathaniel Shilkret. Productions included "The Mikado", "Hit The Deck", and "The Chocolate Soldier". In the 1937 season,  the show moved to CBS and reduced to a half hour spot, which hurt the operetta feel of the program. However, the music remained top notch; Jessica Dragonette, the "Princess of Song", left a seven year stint as soloist on the Cities Services Concerts to join Palmolive Beauty Box Theater.

Text on OTRCAT.com ©2001-2024 OTRCAT INC All Rights Reserved. Reproduction is prohibited.

These classic recordings are available in the following formats:

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    COMMENTS

    Great collection! The 1937 rehearsal recordings have come as a great surprise, probably issued for the first time. Many Thanks and Good Luck finding early recordings.

    Ruediger Verified Purchase

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  • MP3 CDs are delivered by mail. These archival quality MP3 CDs are playable in your computer and many MP3 player devices.



    18 recordings on 1 MP3 CD for just $5.00. Total playtime 9 hours, 4 min
    18 recordings on 1 MP3 CD for just $5.00
    total playtime 9 hours, 4 min
    Add MP3 CD Collection to Cart

    1. 18 shows – total playtime 9 hours
    2. Palmolive Beauty Box Theater 370120.mp3
    3. Palmolive Beauty Box Theater 370127 099 Student Prince.mp3
    4. Palmolive Beauty Box Theater 370203 Rio Rita.mp3
    5. Palmolive Beauty Box Theater 370210 101 Countess Maritza.mp3
    6. Palmolive Beauty Box Theater 370414 110 Chocolate Soldier.mp3
    7. Palmolive Beauty Box Theater 370421.mp3
    8. Palmolive Beauty Box Theater 370428 112 Lady In Ermine.mp3
    9. Palmolive Beauty Box Theater 370512 114 Eileen.mp3
    10. Palmolive Beauty Box Theater 370526 Rogue Song.mp3
    11. Palmolive Beauty Box Theater 370602 117 Only Girl.mp3
    12. Palmolive Beauty Box Theater 370630 Pink Lady.mp3
    13. Palmolive Beauty Box Theater 370707 Sweethearts.mp3
    14. Palmolive Beauty Box Theater 370714 Bittersweet.mp3
    15. Palmolive Beauty Box Theater 370721 PrincessPat.mp3
    16. Palmolive Beauty Box Theater 370728 Madame Pomp.mp3
    17. Palmolive Beauty Box Theater 370811 Prince of P.mp3
    18. Palmolive Beauty Box Theater 370901 Robin Hood.mp3
    19. Palmolive Beauty Box Theater 370908 Blue Paradise.mp3
  • MP3 downloads are available instantly after purchase!



    18 recordings on 1 MP3 Collection Download for just $5.00. Total playtime 9 hours, 4 min
    18 recordings on 1 MP3 Collection Download for just $5.00
    247 MB – total playtime 9 hours
    Add Instant Download Collection to Cart

    1. 18 shows – 247 MB – total playtime 9 hours
    2. Palmolive Beauty Box Theater 370120.mp3
    3. Palmolive Beauty Box Theater 370127 099 Student Prince.mp3
    4. Palmolive Beauty Box Theater 370203 Rio Rita.mp3
    5. Palmolive Beauty Box Theater 370210 101 Countess Maritza.mp3
    6. Palmolive Beauty Box Theater 370414 110 Chocolate Soldier.mp3
    7. Palmolive Beauty Box Theater 370421.mp3
    8. Palmolive Beauty Box Theater 370428 112 Lady In Ermine.mp3
    9. Palmolive Beauty Box Theater 370512 114 Eileen.mp3
    10. Palmolive Beauty Box Theater 370526 Rogue Song.mp3
    11. Palmolive Beauty Box Theater 370602 117 Only Girl.mp3
    12. Palmolive Beauty Box Theater 370630 Pink Lady.mp3
    13. Palmolive Beauty Box Theater 370707 Sweethearts.mp3
    14. Palmolive Beauty Box Theater 370714 Bittersweet.mp3
    15. Palmolive Beauty Box Theater 370721 PrincessPat.mp3
    16. Palmolive Beauty Box Theater 370728 Madame Pomp.mp3
    17. Palmolive Beauty Box Theater 370811 Prince of P.mp3
    18. Palmolive Beauty Box Theater 370901 Robin Hood.mp3
    19. Palmolive Beauty Box Theater 370908 Blue Paradise.mp3
  • Standard Audio CDs are delivered by mail on archival quality media with up to 60 minutes on each CD and play in all CD players



    18 recordings on 9 Audio CDs. Total playtime 9 hours, 0 min
    18 recordings on 9 Audio CDs
    total playtime 9 hours, 0 min

    Palmolive Beauty Box Theater Disc A001

    1. Palmolive Beauty Box Theater 370120
    2. Palmolive Beauty Box Theater 370127 099 Student Prince

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Palmolive Beauty Box Theater Disc A002

    1. Palmolive Beauty Box Theater 370203 Rio Rita
    2. Palmolive Beauty Box Theater 370210 101 Countess Maritza

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Palmolive Beauty Box Theater Disc A003

    1. Palmolive Beauty Box Theater 370414 110 Chocolate Soldier
    2. Palmolive Beauty Box Theater 370421

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Palmolive Beauty Box Theater Disc A004

    1. Palmolive Beauty Box Theater 370428 112 Lady In Ermine
    2. Palmolive Beauty Box Theater 370512 114 Eileen

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Palmolive Beauty Box Theater Disc A005

    1. Palmolive Beauty Box Theater 370526 Rogue Song
    2. Palmolive Beauty Box Theater 370602 117 Only Girl

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Palmolive Beauty Box Theater Disc A006

    1. Palmolive Beauty Box Theater 370630 Pink Lady
    2. Palmolive Beauty Box Theater 370707 Sweethearts

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Palmolive Beauty Box Theater Disc A007

    1. Palmolive Beauty Box Theater 370714 Bittersweet
    2. Palmolive Beauty Box Theater 370721 PrincessPat

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Palmolive Beauty Box Theater Disc A008

    1. Palmolive Beauty Box Theater 370728 Madame Pomp
    2. Palmolive Beauty Box Theater 370811 Prince of P

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Palmolive Beauty Box Theater Disc A009

    1. Palmolive Beauty Box Theater 370901 Robin Hood
    2. Palmolive Beauty Box Theater 370908 Blue Paradise

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00

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