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+ Philco Radio Time was an historic marker in the history of Broadcast Radio. Premiering on October 16th 1946 to great fanfare, Philco launched an all-out campaign to promote the new series. Bing Crosby had ended a ten-year association with Kraft Foods in 1945, the better to provide him more independence in producing any further Radio programs. The sweetener that sealed the deal with Philco was their agreement to allow Crosby to pre-record his programs; initially via E.T. and later via magnetic tape transcription. Philco was of course no novice in Radio promotion by any measure. Philco's extensive campaign throughout the run of Philco Radio Time not only built on Philco's previous prestige production, Radio Hall of Fame, but also promoted all of Philco's newest developments in both Radio and early affordable Television. The Billboard trade magazine reported that Philco's production budget for Philco RadioTime was $2,000,000, with another $500,000 devoted to Print promotion of the series and Philco's product line. Put in context, the same budget in today's dollars would be in excess of $25 million; a very generous budget to be sure. And indeed, a glance at the the Print ads Philco commisioned to promote Philco Radio Time (sidebar left) underscores the extraordinary good taste and exceptional quality of the campaign. Even more ironic, Philco Radio Time not only promoted Philco's Radio and Television lines but--from October 1947 forward--was also implicitly promoting Bing Crosby Enterprises' Ampex line of broadcast quality magnetic tape recorders and equipment. Clearly none of the parties to the various promotions had any reason to complain. On the talent side of the production ABC, Philco and Crosby pulled out all the stops for the era. Philco Radio Time's music directors were Skitch Henderson and John Scott Trotter. Bill Morrow and Murdo McKenzie handled production of both the initial electrical transcription (E.T.) disc recordings as well as the later Ampex tape-transcribed recordings. Regular cast members throughout the series were songstress Lina Romay, The Charioteers, The Rhythmaires, and Gail Robbins. From about the tape-transcribed programs forward, songbirds Dinah Shore and Peggy Lee and jazz violinist Joe Venuti became series regulars as well. Bing and Philco's announcer of choice, Ken Carpenter, also complimented every broadcast as both a comedic foil for Crosby and Philco's spokesman. All told, a solid supporting ensemble to Bing Crosby throughout the series. Click here to read more about Philco Radio Time


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Please enjoy these 87 old time radio episodes:

Air Date Title Synopsis Rating
 06.01.1949 philco radio time(46 49) (108) top 15 songs of the year (last episode)

+ABC net, KGO, San Francisco aircheck. Sponsored by: Philco, Burgermeister Beer (local), Rainier Bee...
 05.25.1949 philco radio time(46 49) (107) dorothy kirsten

+ABC net, KGO, San Francisco aircheck. Sponsored by: Philco, Burgermeister Beer (local), Rainier Bee...
 05.18.1949 philco radio time(46 49) (106) johnny mercer and rhonda fleming

+ABC net, KGO, San Francisco aircheck. Sponsored by: Philco, Burgermeister Beer (local), Rainier Bee...
 05.11.1949 philco radio time(46 49) (105) alec templeton and peggy lee

+ABC net, KGO, San Francisco aircheck. Sponsored by: Philco, Burgermeister Beer (local), Rainier Bee...
 05.04.1949 philco radio time(46 49) (104) carole richards and alec templeton

+ABC net, KGO, San Francisco aircheck. Sponsored by: Philco, Burgermeister Beer (local), Rainier (lo...
 04.20.1949 philco radio time(46 49) (102) rudy vallee and walter o'keefe

+ABC net, KGO, San Francisco aircheck. Sponsored by: Philco, Burgermeister Beer (local), Rainier Bee...
 04.13.1949 philco radio time(46 49) (101) peggy lee and gonzaga glee club

+ABC net, KGO, San Francisco aircheck. Sponsored by: Philco, Rainier Beer (local). The first tune is...
 04.06.1949 philco radio time(46 49) (100) jimmy stewart and kay starr

+ABC net, KGO, San Francisco aircheck. Sponsored by: Philco, Burgermeister Beer (local), Rainier Bee...
 03.30.1949 philco radio time(46 49) (099) dennis day

+ABC net, KGO, San Francisco aircheck. Sponsored by: Philco, Burgermeister Beer (local), Rainier Bee...
 03.23.1949 philco radio time(46 49) (098) ethel merman

+ABC net, KGO, San Francisco aircheck. Sponsored by: Philco, Burgermeister Beer (local), Rainier Bee...
 03.16.1949 philco radio time(46 49) (097) louis armstrong

+ABC net, KGO, San Francisco aircheck. Sponsored by: Philco, Burgermeister Beer (local), Rainier Bee...
 03.09.1949 philco radio time(46 49) (096) phil harris

+ABC net, KGO, San Francisco aircheck. Sponsored by: Philco. Burgermeister Beer (local), Rainier Bee...
 03.02.1949 philco radio time(46 49) (095) burl ives and dinah shore

+ ABC net, KGO, San Francisco aircheck. Sponsored by: Philco, Burgermeister Beer (local), Rainier Be...
 02.23.1949 philco radio time(46 49) (094) peggy lee and abe burrows

+ ABC net, KGO, San Francisco aircheck. Sponsored by: Philco, Burgermeister Beer (local), Rainier Be...
 02.16.1949 philco radio time(46 49) (093) bob burns and kay starr

+ABC net, KGO, San Francisco aircheck. Sponsored by: Philco, Burgermeister Beer (local), Rainier Bee...
 02.09.1949 philco radio time(46 49) (092) groucho marx and connie haines

+ABC net, KGO, San Francisco aircheck. Sponsored by: Philco, Burgermeister Beer (local), Rainier Bee...
 02.02.1949 philco radio time(46 49) (091) jimmy durante and gertrude nielson

+ABC net, KGO, San Francisco aircheck. Sponsored by: Philco, Burgermeister Beer (local), Rainier Bee...
 01.26.1949 philco radio time(46 49) (090) abe burrows and peggy lee

+ABC net, KGO, San Francisco aircheck. Sponsored by: Philco, Burgermeister Beer (local), Rainier Bee...
 01.19.1949 philco radio time(46 49) (089) hattie mcdaniel and cast of beulah

+ABC net, KGO, San Francisco aircheck. Sponsored by: Philco, Burgermeister Beer (local). The first t...
 01.12.1949 philco radio time(46 49) (088) johnny mercer

+ABC net, KGO, San Francisco aircheck. Sponsored by: Philco, Burgermeister Beer (local), Rainier Bee...
 01.05.1949 philco radio time(46 49) (087) harry james and betty grable

+ABC net, KGO, San Francisco aircheck. Sponsored by: Philco, (local: Burgermeister Beer, Rainier Bee...
 12.29.1948 philco radio time(46 49) (086) mills bros, peggy lee and joe venuti

+ Sponsored by: Philco. The first tune is, "Cuanta La Gusta." Bing runs out of air while harmonizin...
 12.22.1948 philco radio time(46 49) (085) bob mitchell boys choir

+ Sponsored by: Philco. The first tune is, "Adeste Fideles." A Christmas show with Bing singing the...
 12.15.1948 philco radio time(46 49) (084) bob hope

+ Sponsored by: Philco. The first tune is, "A Little Bird Told Me." Bing and guest Bob Hope are at ...
 12.08.1948 philco radio time(46 49) (083) morton downey and kay starr

+ Sponsored by: Philco. The first tune is, "Cuanta La Gusta."

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Philco

Mike

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Bing is my favorite. His music, his movies, his TV specials when I was a kid.

Pete

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PHILCO RADIO TIME
PHILCO RADIO TIME
PHILCO RADIO TIME
PHILCO RADIO TIME
PHILCO RADIO TIME
This is what all the hoopla was about in 1937-38. Philco's Model 38-116XX radio console, the
Full page LIFE magazine ad promoting the premiere of Philco Radio Time with Bing Crosby from October 14th 1946
In 1947 Bing Crosby served as the Vice President of the Board of Directors of The Pittsburgh Pirates Professional Baseball Club
Full page LIFE magazine ad promoting the premiere of Philco Radio Time with Bing Crosby from October 14th 1946
Full page LIFE magazine ad promoting Philco Radio Time with Bing Crosby from November 25th 1946
Full page LIFE magazine ad promoting 'Wednesday is Bingsday' from January 20th 1947
Transcription label from Philco Radio Time premiere E.T. disc
Bing Crosby and a bank of his Ampex tape recorders
The recorder that revolutionized broadcast Radio--the Ampex 200a studio recorder
Full page LIFE magazine ad promoting the Fall 1947 season premiere of Philco Radio Time from September 29th 1947
Long time collaborator withBing Crosby, John Scott Trotter served as the music director for the latter episodes of Philco Radio Time
Rainier Beer and Ale sponsored Philco Radio Time over Pacific Northwest stations
Krebs Furniture spot ad promoting their sponsorship of Philco Radio Time (February 12th 1947)
The Billboard review of the October 16th 1946 premiere of Philco Radio Time, one of the most extensive and laudatory reviews we've ever read in The Billboard.
Ken Carpenter circa 1938
Ken Carpenter circa 1943
Carpenter was a member of Phi Delta Theta while attending Lombard College
Ken Carpenter (far right) emcees the Kraft Music Hall with Bing Crosby, Marilyn Maxwell and John Scott Trotter
Ozzie and Harriet Nelson with their sons David and Ricky on CBS Radio in 1950.
Dan dailey
Philco radio
Philco radio
Philco radio
PHILCO
Philco Radio ad
Ozzie Nelson
Philco
Philco Radio Time
Philco
2_Detector_Tubes_are_better_than_1_2
2_speakers_10_Tubes
Actress Betty Grable
Actor Jimmy Stewart
Jimmy Stewart!
Jack Benny and Sadye Marks (aka Mary Livingstone)
Philco Radio Time Jack Benny And Mary Livingston
Mary Livingstone
Philco Radio Time Jack Benny And Mary Livingston
Guests Peter Lorre And Kay Thompson
Bing's show with guest star Brace Beemer.
Marilyn Maxwell
PHILCO
Philco Radio Time
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