The show is said to have originated on WCAU, Philadelphia, the sponsor's home city, in 1927. Its arrival in New York in 1931 kicked off an unusual commercial identity-a children's song-dance-and-story hour sponsored by one of the strongest symbols of New York city life, the automat {where nickel coffee and a piece of pie was a Broadway tradition}. With its first New York broadcast, Horn and Hardart admitted it had nothing to sell to kids but reasoned that a strong appeal to children would reach adults as well. A sample of its fare was the show of Dec. 7, 1941, a few hours before Pearl Harbor. The entire hour was a tribute to ailing George M. Cohan, with the kids singing such favorites as Give My Regards to Broadway, Yankee Doodle Dandy, and Harrigan.
( John Dunning )
[ On the Air: The Encyclopedia ]
www.QuoteSweet.com