The Voice of Firestone

One of the earliest old time radio music shows, The Voice of Firestone began airing in 1928. A pioneer in early old time radio shows, The Voice of Firestone was the firstcommercially sponsored music radio program.Naturally the voice of Firestone advertised Firestone Tires and Rubber, but the show also promoted the 4-H Club, highway safety and the United Nations.

The show was a high-culture offering featured classical, operatic, and semi-classical music. In it's zenith, The Voice of Firestone featured a forty-six piece orchestra. The orchestra leaders were Hugo Mariani (1928-31), William Daly (1931-36), Alfred Wallenstein (1936-43) and Howard Barlow (1943 until show's cancelation).

In 1949, The Voice of Firestone moved to television version of the show which aired simultaneously with the radio series. Eventually the show entertained an audience of over three million people per broadcast.

This rare collection includes June 1951 broadcast and The Voice of Firestone's 25th anniversary program was broadcast November 30, 1953.

For additional classical and opera radio shows, see also:

• Andre Kostelanetz Show
• Bell Telephone Hour Encores
• Chicago Theater of the Air
  
• Enchanted Hour
• Enchantment of Music
• Hour of Charm
• The Magic Key
• Metropolitan Opera
• Telephone Hour (Music From America)
• Symphony in Blue
• Lauritz Melchoir Collection
• Voice of Firestone
• Your Symphony Scrapbook
• WPA Concerts