Amateur Hour Collection
Catalog Record: http://lccn.loc.gov/2010563506
General International Standard for Archival Description
Music Division Library of Congress Washington, D.C.
Finding Aid encoded by Library of Congress Music Division, 2005
Encoded Archival Description
Encoded Archival Description (EAD) Version 2002
collection
Amateur Hour Collection1934-1948
Bowes, Edward, Major, 1874-1946
Biographical History for: Amateur Hour Collection1934-1948
Agency Sketch Date Event April 1934 First radio broadcast of Major Bowes' Original Amateur Hour on WHN, New York 1935 William Edward Maguiness (stage name Ted Mack) joins Bowes as emcee and talent scout March 24, 1935 Coast to coast broadcast on NBC radio with Chase & Sanborn as sponsor June 1935 Major Bowes' Original Amateur Hour is named the most listened to radio program in the United States Sept. 8, 1935 The Hoboken Four, featuring Frank Sinatra, performs on the Original Amateur Hour program Sept. 17, 1936 Original Amateur Hour moves to CBS radio, with Chrysler Corporation as sponsor 1944 Major Bowes retires for health reasons 1945 Radio broadcast of Original Amateur Hour is suspended June 13, 1946 Major Bowes dies Jan. 14, 1948 Original Amateur Hour is revived on television by Dumont Studios, with Ted Mack as emcee Oct. 29, 1948 P. Lorillard Company becomes a sponsor Oct. 4, 1949 First national television broadcast of Original Amateur Hour, on NBC 1952 Final radio broadcast April 25, 1953 Pet Milk becomes a sponsor Oct. 30, 1955 Television program broadcasts on ABC Jan. 19, 1957 La Hora Internacional del Aficionado, Mexican version of program, broadcasts July 1, 1957 Program returns to NBC television May 1, 1959 Program broadcasts on CBS March 7, 1960 Program returns to ABC Oct. 2, 1960 Programs returns to CBS Sept. 20, 1970 Final broadcast
Scope and Content Note The records of the Amateur Hour Collection consist primarily of over 7,000 applications from contestants who appeared on the Major Bowes' Original Amateur Hour radio program between 1934 and 1948. The remainder of the materials in the collection are administrative papers dating from the late 1940s and 1950s. Although these materials are only a small percentage of the admistrative papers of the organization, they are worthy of note in that they provide some insight into the way in which the Original Amateur Hour program was run. Materials relating to the Mexican version of the program, La Hora Internacional del Aficionado, are also included. The Amateur Hour collection is represented by twelve series. The first series is CONTESTANTS consists primarily of over 7,000 applications from contestants who appeared on the Major Bowes' Original Amateur Hour radio program between 1934 and 1948. This series is divided into three subseries: Contestant applications; Contestant biographical sketches; Lists of performers. Filed with the contestant applications are letters of introduction, reference letters, and other documents sent by prospective contestants. Both the "type of entertainment" and "details of interest" responses on the applications provide an overview of the broad range of amateur performance genres of the period. Applications from conventional performers such as musicians, dancers, singers, and impersonators are the most numerous, but also included are applications from novelty acts such as a human piccolo, a group of hand-standing singers, and a group who played harmonicas with fire extinguishers. Of particular interest are applications from various performers, now well-known, who "got their break" on the show, including Teresa Brewer, Stubby Kaye, Robert Merrill, Beverly Sills, and Frank Sinatra. The second series is PHOTOGRAPHS consisting of photo prints (B&W) of various sizes and arranged by subject. An interesting collection of photographs from the 1940s and 1950s provides a visual record of the show. The third series is CORRESPONDENCE consists of correspondence to and from program staff members Lou Goldberg, Daniel Manjarrez, and Harry McWilliams recounts some of the program's business transactions and is arranged by subject. The other nine series consist of administration and operations materials. The general program information, advertising packages, and ratings information are included with Advertising/Sponsor papers. Scripts are housed with the Production materials.
series
Contestants
Applications and other related materials of contestants for the Amateur Hour. The majority of which pretain specifically to the Major Bowes' Original Amateur Hour radio program between 1934 and 1948.
subseries
Contestant applications, related correspondence and documents
Applications from contestants who appeared on the Major Bowes' Original Amateur Hour radio program between 1934 and 1948.
file
Aalrud to Alvi
Amato to Astroff
Atanasoff to Banks
Barad to Beloff
Benak to Bishop
Bjornie to Bombara
Bon Bons to Bauner
Breen to Brydof
Buchannan to Capwell
Cardonna to Caye
Clancy to Connie
Connors to Cross
Crowell to Davis
Davy to Dexter
Diamond to Dottie and Bobbie
Dougherty to Dynamic Harmonica Four
Eagle to Ely
Emerick to Farrow
Fasany to Fiore
Five Aces to Flatbush Floogies
Fleer to Foster
Four Amateur Rogues to Fourtan
Fox to Fyfe
Gaderick to Gaynor
Geankoplis to Giusti
Goerger to Grazzini
Great Lakes Swing Sextet to Gypsy Quartet
Hackman to Harmony Four
Harold to Hechl
Hedling to Hjerpe
Hoag to Hopkinson
Horlbogen to Hylselop
Idaho Ranch Boys to Jive'n Five
Joan and Ernie to Juvinall
Kaaren to Keenan
Keister to Kiwanis Quartette of Yonkers
Klaff to Kwan
Laborde to Lazzesi
Leah to Leslie
Leuname to Logue
Lohr to Lyric Male Quartet
Maas to M[a]cVeigh
Macchiaverna to Mansan
Maranville to Maryella
Mäsch to Melodie
Melodious Harmonica Trio to Mike and Bill
Miki to Mistichelli
Mitchel to Morris, D.
Morris, M. to Myers
Nadel to Nogueira
Nona to O'Neil, R.
Ooms to Pagin
Pagliarini to Payne
Peace and Pizzuto
Plantation Four to Puzelli
Quantico Marine Quartet to Rezits
Rhodes to Robbins, R.
Robbins, S. to Rondeau
Roosa to Rozman
Rubenstein, L. to Sanders
Sandherr to Scott
Seabee Quartet to Shiff
Shilton to Six Janitors
Six Jars of Jam to Southwick
Spadafora to Stewart
Stock to Swing Sisters Trio
Swingers of Harmony to Texas Wanderers
Thatcher to Three Coxswains
Three Davis Brothers to Three Mouth Organ Kings
Three Niblicks to Towle
Tracy to Tyler
Watcher and Freeman to Weal
Wetherson to Westward Ho!
Uccellini to Vuylsteke
Whalen to Williams, L.
Williams, M. to Wittig
Wobnick to Wyoming Range Buddies
Yaffe to Zyne
Contestants' biographical sketches
Brief biographical sketches of contestants who appeared on the Major Bowes' Original Amateur Hour radio program between 1934 and 1948.
All Girl Swing Band to One Man Band
Kathleen Ray to Frances White
Lists of performers
Typescript lists of performers from the Amateur Hour.
American
Irish
Mexican
Photographs
Photo prints (B&W) of various sizes.
Cowboy Acts
Dancers: Adult, male
Dancers: Adult, female
Dancers: Child, female
Partners, Adult
Partners, Child
Impersonators
Accordion players
Bands
Bellringers
Guitar players
Harmonica players
Piano players
Trumpet players
Xylophone players
Rollerskaters
Singers: Adult, male
Singers: Adult, female
Singers: Child, male
Singers: Child, female
Novelty acts
Performing Groups
Major Bowes
Ted Mack
Game shows
Stage Set
Promotional banners and billboard
Others, identified and unidentified
Correspondence
Correspondence, drafts, letters received variously related to the operation and performers of the Amateur Hour.
Drafts and copies of letters of Lou Goldberg, June 26, 1936 to February 11, 1957
Drafts and copies of letters of Daniel Manjarrez, March 27, 1957 to June 25, 1957
Drafts and copies of letters sent by Harry McWilliams, June 1, 1936 to December 2, 1957
Letters received, filed alphabetically by correspondent
Collage of commendatory letters received by Ted Mack (photocopies)
Undated and unidentified
Advertising/Sponsor Materials
Various types of materials created or generated by the Amateur Hour intended to advertise the unique entertainment value for potential investors or broadcasters.
General program information
Program ratings sheets
Station listings sheets
Program listings
Other TV & Radio program listings
Miscellaneous
Promotional Materials
Various publications, brochures, and packages created by the Amateur Hour in order to promote its unique entertainment value to potential investors or broadcasters.
Press release drafts
Program fact sheets and announcements
In-house publications
Original Amateur Hour magazine
Flyers and proofs
Newspaper materials
Posters
Production Materials
Various materials created by the Amateur Hour intended and used for show production.
Scripts
Commercials scripts (English and Spanish)
Program order and sequence, La Hora Stage directions
Stage directions
Financial Papers
Finacial papers concerning the operation and expenses of the Amateur Hour.
Balance sheets
Bank deposits lists
Bills (facturas)
Payroll sheets
Program budgets
Time/rate tables
Travel expenses
Legal Papers
Contracts and other legal writ concerning the operation and rights acquired by the Amateur Hour.
Contract for La Hora Internacional
Servicio Postal Mexicano registration form
Printed Programs of Performances, 1934-1954, undated
Amateur Hour programs from various productions throughout its history.
Printed programs of performances of the Amateur Hour contestants, 1934-1954, undated
Clippings, 1935-1957
Clippings from various periodicals related to the Amateur Hour.
January 1935 to November 29, 1935
January 28, 1936 to December 4, 1936
March 11, 1937 to April 20, 1937
January 6, 1939 to October 2, 1941
August 6, 1947 to May 15, 1953
April 19, 1956 to December 5, 1956
January 25, 1957 to March 16, 1957
April 7, 1957 to June 19, 1957
July 1, 1957 to November 6, 1957
Collage of clippings (photocopy)
Undated
Awards
Honorary certificate given to Ted Mack and the Amateur Hour.
Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States presented to Ted Mack and The Original Amateur Hour, 2 May 1953. [photocopy]
Miscellaneous materials related to the Amateur Hour.
Notebook of Lloyd Marx
Catalogues of films
Harry McWilliams: Notes from Amateur Hour tours and miscellaneous notes
Articles
Samples of stationery and forms
Travel brochures, postcards and maps