Old Time Radio Downloads > Musical > The Railroad Hour

The Railroad Hour was a 45-minute musical variety show that aired on ABC (and later on NBC) from October 4, 1948 to June 21, 1954. The main sponsor was the Association of American Railroads, a trade group based on Washington D.C.

 

The star-studded cast included Gordon McRae, along with guest singers Dorothy Kirsten, Norman Ginny Simms, Jane Powell, and Dorothy Warenskjold. Every week, at Monday evenings, the show featured famous Broadway show, Hollywood musical, or operetta. 

The-Railroad-Hour

Please enjoy these old time radio shows:

Air Date Title Synopsis
 1948-10-04  001 Goodnews

ABC net. "Good News". Sponsored by: The Association Of American Railroads. The first show of the series. The president of The Association Of American Railroads speaks from St. Louis. Gordon MacRae (host, performer), Carmen Dragon (conductor), Norman Luboff (choir director), Jane Powell, Dinah Shore, Jim Backus, Marylee Robb, Lou Merrill, Rye Billsbury, Marvin Miller (announcer), Ed Gardner (adaptor). 
 1949-01-17  016 Naughty Mareitte

+ ABC net. "Naughty Marietta". Sponsored by: The Association Of American Railroads. The musical was subsequently heard on "The Railroad Hour" on October 20, 1952 (see cat. #90163). Gordon MacRae (host, performer), Carmen Dragon (conductor), Norman Luboff (choir director), Marvin Miller (announcer), Jeanette MacDonald, Earle Ross, Alan Reed, Paul Frees, Parley Baer, Sheila Stevens, Bill Demling, Jean Holloway (adaptor). 
 1949-01-24  017 Blossum Time

+ ABC net. "Blossom Time". Sponsored by: The Association Of American Railroads. The musical was subsequently heard on "The Railroad Hour" on January 7, 1952 (see cat. #80931). Gordon MacRae (host, performer), Carmen Dragon (conductor), Norman Luboff (choir director), Marvin Miller (announcer), Patrice Munsel, Kenny Baker, Gwen Delano, Betty Lou Gerson, John McIntire, Sam Hearn, Jean Holloway (adaptor).
 1949-02-21  021 Lady Be Good

+ ABC net. "Lady, Be Good!". Sponsored by: The Association Of American Railroads. Groucho soon has the cast in hysterics. Parts of the commercials have been deleted. Groucho Marx, Gordon MacRae (host, performer), Marvin Miller (announcer), Norman Luboff (choir director), Carmen Dragon (conductor), Alan Reed, Barbara Eiler, Eddie Fields, Hope Emerson, Marion Colby, Ken Harvey, Guy Bolton (playwright), Fred Thompson (playwright), George Gershwin (composer), Ira Gershwin (composer), Ed Tyler (adaptor), Don Ettinger (adaptor), John Beal.
 1949-10-10  054 The New Moon

+ NBC net. "The New Moon". Sponsored by: The Association Of American Railroads. The musical was heard previously on "The Railroad Hour" on November 29, 1948 (see cat. #86816) and subsequently on January 21, 1951 (see cat. #94469). Gordon MacRae (host, performer), Ilona Massey, Norman Luboff (choir director), Carmen Dragon (arranger, conductor), Thaya Roberts (Leah Roberts ?), Paul Frees, Jean Holloway (adaptor). 
 1949-10-24  056 Music In The Air

+ NBC net. "Music In The Air". Sponsored by: The Association Of American Railroads. In old Germany, a small-town couple journey to the big city to sell a song. They nearly fall out of love. The musical was subsequently heard on "The Railroad Hour" on April 30, 1951 and on January 25, 1954 (see cat. #90187). This is a network, sponsored version of cat. #7193. Carmen Dragon (conductor), Gordon MacRae (host, performer), Jane Powell, Jerome Lawrence (adaptor, producer), Robert E. Lee (adaptor, producer), Norman Luboff (choir director), Betty Lou Gerson, Herb Butterfield, Jerome Cowan, GeGe Pearson.

+ NBC net origination, AFRS rebroadcast. "Music In The Air". In old Germany, a small-town couple journey to the big city to sell a song. They nearly fall out of love. The musical was subsequently heard on "The Railroad Hour" on April 30, 1951 and on January 25, 1954 (see cat. #90187). AFRS program name: "Showtime." See cat. #94459 for a network, sponsored version of this broadcast. Carmen Dragon (conductor), Gordon MacRae (host, performer), Jane Powell, Jerome Kern (author), Jerome Lawrence (adaptor, producer), Oscar Hammerstein (book and lyrics), Robert E. Lee (adaptor, producer), Norman Luboff (choir director), Betty Lou Gerson, Herb Butterfield, Jerome Cowan, GeGe Pearson. 
 1949-11-21  060 No, No Nanette

+ NBC net. "No, No, Nanette". Sponsored by: The Association Of American Railroads. Gordon MacRae (host, performer), Doris Day, Norman Luboff (choir director), Carmen Dragon (arranger, composer), Marvin Miller (announcer), Alan Reed, Verna Felton, Robert E. Lee (adaptor). 
 1949-12-05  062 The Mikado

+ NBC net. "The Mikado". Sponsored by: The Association Of American Railroads. Gordon MacRae (host, performer), Carmen Dragon (conductor), Marvin Miller (announcer), Evelyn Case, Kenny Baker, Arthur Q. Bryan, Verna Felton, Lou Merrill, Jerome Lawrence (adaptor), Robert E. Lee (adaptor), Norman Luboff (choir director). 
 1950-01-02  The Red Mill

+ NBC net. "The Red Mill". Sponsored by: The Association Of American Railroads. The musical was previously heard on January 10, 1949 (see cat. #86821) and subsequently on December 10, 1951 (see cat. #90157). Gordon MacRae (host, performer), Carmen Dragon (conductor), Marvin Miller (announcer), Jack Smith, Lucille Norman, Jack Kirkwood, Jerome Lawrence (adaptor), Robert E. Lee (adaptor), Norman Luboff (choir director). 
 1950-01-23  069 The Merry Widow

+ NBC net. "The Merry Widow". Sponsored by: The Association Of American Railroads. The musical was previously heard on "The Railroad Hour" on March 7, 1949 (see cat. #86825) and subsequently on June 25, 1951 (see cat. #80921), January 26, 1953 (see cat. #90181) and on November 16, 1953 (see cat. #90183). Gordon MacRae (host, performer), Carmen Dragon (conductor), Marvin Miller (announcer), Dorothy Kirsten, Jack Kirkwood, Jerome Lawrence (adaptor), Robert E. Lee (adaptor), Norman Luboff (choir director).
 1950-01-30  070 Brigadoon

+ NBC net. "Brigadoon". Sponsored by: The Association Of American Railroads. Gordon MacRae (host, performer), Jane Powell, Clark Dennis, Norman Luboff (choir director), Carmen Dragon (arranger, conductor), Marvin Miller (announcer), Ted Osborne, Peter Leeds, Cheryl Crawford (adaptor). 
 1950-04-03  079 Song Of Norway

+ NBC net. "The Song Of Norway". Sponsored by: The Association Of American Railroads. The musical was previously performed on "The Railroad Hour" on February 28, 1949 (see cat. #86824) and subsequently on February 19, 1951. Irra Petina has a problem pronouncing the word "railroad" during the after-show interview. Gordon MacRae mispronounces it the same way (and gets a laugh). Dorothy Coulter, Gordon MacRae (host, performer), Irra Petina, Gilbert Russell, Carmen Dragon (conductor), Norman Luboff (choir director), Milton Lazarus (author, adaptor), Marvin Miller (announcer).
 1950-04-10  080 Naughty Mariette
 1950-04-17  081 Madam Sherry

+ NBC net. "Madame Sherry". Sponsored by: The Association Of American Railroads. The musical was subsequently used on "The Railroad Hour" on October 8, 1951 (see cat. #90156). Gordon MacRae (host, performer), Carmen Dragon (conductor), Marion Bell, Norman Luboff (choir director), Marvin Miller (announcer), Isabel Jewell, Ted Osborne, Jean Holloway (adaptor).
 1950-10-09  Roberta(

+ NBC net. "Roberta". Sponsored by: The Association Of American Railroads. The musical was previously heard on "The Railroad Hour" on November 1, 1948 (see cat. #86813) and subsequently on November 9, 1953 (see cat. #50352). Gordon MacRae (host, performer), Carmen Dragon (conductor), Marvin Miller (announcer), Ginny Simms, Edna Best, Jerome Lawrence (adaptor), Robert E. Lee (adaptor), Norman Luboff (choir director). 
 1950-10-23  Revenge With Music

+ NBC net. "Revenge With Music". Sponsored by: The Association Of American Railroads. Gordon MacRae (host, performer), Carmen Dragon (conductor), Marvin Miller (announcer, performer), Nadine Conner, Jeanette Nolan, Joe Vitale, Jerome Lawrence (adaptor), Robert E. Lee (adaptor), Norman Luboff (choir director).
 1950-10-30  109 Showboat

+ NBC net. "Show Boat". Sponsored by: The Association Of American Railroads. The musical was previously heard on The Railroad Hour on May 2, 1949, on October 3, 1949 (see cat. #94458) and subsequently heard on "The Railroad Hour" on January 19, 1953 (see cat. #90139). Gordon MacRae (host, performer), Carmen Dragon (conductor), Marvin Miller (announcer), Dorothy Kirsten, Lucille Norman, Earle Ross, Norma Varden, Edna Ferber (author), Jean Holloway (adaptor), Norman Luboff (choir director). 
 1950-11-06  110 Irene

+ NBC net. "Irene". Sponsored by: The Association Of American Railroads. The musical was subsequently heard on "The Railroad Hour" on May 25, 1953 (see cat. #97247) and on March 22, 1954 (see cat. #50351). Gordon MacRae (host, performer), Carmen Dragon (conductor), Marvin Miller (announcer), Eileen Wilson, Verna Felton, Lamont Johnson, Bruce Payne, Jerome Lawrence (adaptor), Robert E. Lee (adaptor), Norman Luboff (choir director). 
 1950-11-27  113 Connecticut Yankee

+ NBC net. "A Connecticut Yankee". Sponsored by: The Association Of American Railroads. The first tune is, "My Heart Stood Still." Carmen Dragon (conductor), Ed Begley, Ginny Simms, Gordon MacRae (host, performer), Herbert Fields (author of the "book"), Jerome Lawrence (adaptor, producer), Joseph Kearns, Katie Lee, Lorenz Hart (author), Marvin Miller, Richard Rodgers, Robert E. Lee (adaptor, producer), Norman Luboff (choir director). 
 1950-12-25  Christmas Songs

+ NBC net. "The Railroad Hour Christmas Party". Sponsored by: The Association Of American Railroads. A Christmas program. The first selection is, "Noel." Gordon MacRae sings, "The Nutcracker Suite!" Carmen Dragon (conductor), Marvin Miller (announcer), Gordon MacRae (host, performer), Lucille Norman, Norman Luboff (choir director), Jerome Lawrence (writer), Robert E. Lee (writer), William T. Faricy (President of The American Association Of Railroads), Anne Whitfield.

 1951-01-08  119 Carousel

+ NBC net. "Carousel". Sponsored by: The Association Of American Railroads. The musical was subsequently heard on "The Railroad Hour" on Februar 2, 1953 (see cat. #80949). Gordon MacRae (host, performer), Katie Lee, Patricia Morrison, Ted Osborne, Barbara Whiting, Jerome Lawrence (adaptor), Robert E. Lee (adaptor), Carmen Dragon (conductor), Norman Luboff (choir director), Marvin Miller (announcer). 
 1951-01-15  120 The Student Prince

+ NBC net. "The Student Prince". Sponsored by: The Association Of American Railroads. The musical was previously heard on "The Railroad Hour" on October 26, 1948 (see cat. #86812) and subsequently on October 5, 1953 (see cat. #90178). Gordon MacRae (host, performer), Carmen Dragon (conductor), Marvin Miller (announcer), Evelyn Case, John Frank, Betty Lou Gerson, Lamont Johnson, Jerome Lawrence (adaptor), Robert E. Lee (adaptor), Norman Luboff (choir director), Jean Holloway (writer). 
 1951-01-29  122 New Moon

+ NBC net. "The New Moon". Sponsored by: The Association Of American Railroads. The musical was previously heard on "The Railroad Hour" on November 29, 1948 (see cat. #86816) and on October 10, 1949 (see cat. #90129). Gordon MacRae (host, performer), Nadine Conner, Dorothy Kirsten, Gerald Mohr, Charles Vitali, Carmen Dragon (conductor), Norman Luboff (choir director), Marvin Miller (announcer).
 1951-02-26  126 Two Hearts In 3x4 Time

+ NBC net. "Two Hearts In Three-Quarter Time". Sponsored by: The Association Of American Railroads. The musical was subsequently heard on "The Railroad Hour" on January 12, 1953 (see cat. #90161). Gordon MacRae (host, performer), Carmen Dragon (conductor), Marion Bell, Norman Luboff (choir director), Marvin Miller (announcer), Luis Van Rooten, Robert Stoltz (musical score), Dailey Pasqueman (lyrics), William Drake (playwrite), Jerome Lawrence (adaptor), Robert E. Lee (adaptor). 

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The buzz-term for Old Time Radio is "OTR". OTR usually means radio broadcasting from the golden age of radio, mostly before 1964.These shows from the pre-television age include adventure, comedies, mystery shows, western dramas and shows from World War II. These programs feature the best talent of the day and were broadcast nearly as widely as cable programs today. And just like TV today, families would gather around their crystal radio sets to enjoy the entertainment together.