Amateur Hour Collection 1934-1948

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Amateur Hour Collection 1934-1948

http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.music/eadmus.mu004002

Primarily over 7000 applications from contestants who appeared on the Major Bowes' Original Amateur Hour radio program between 1934 and 1948. A small percentage of the administrative papers dating from the late 1940s and 1950s, as well as materials relating to the Mexican version of the program, La hora internacional del aficionado, are also included. Filed with the contestant applications are letters of introduction, reference letters, and other documents sent by prospective contestants. 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, including Teresa Brewer, Stubby Kaye, Robert Merrill, Beverly Sills, and Frank Sinatra. Photographs from the 1940s and 1950s provide a visual record of the show, while correspondence to and from program staff members recount some of the program's business transactions. Scripts, promotional material, and advertising and sponsor documents also are part of the collection.

circa 8500 items; 20 boxes; 9 linear feet

eng,

Library of Congress. Music Division

Information

SNAC Resource ID: 6357826

Library of Congress. Music Division

Related Entities

There are 7 Entities related to this resource.

Sills, Beverly

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6wj3fd9 (person)

American soprano. From the description of Signature, dated : [n.p., 1975?], 1975?. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 270967653 From the description of Interview conducted by Oliver Daniel, Sept. 9, 1978 [sound recording]. (University of Pennsylvania Library). WorldCat record id: 155862081 American singer. From the description of Autograph card signed : [New York], to Edward Wagenknecht, [1976 Jan. 12]. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 270867185 Epith...

Mack, Ted

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6rk6mnr (person)

Bowes, Edward, Major, 1874-1946

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w63b859b (person)

Agency Sketch 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 &...

Merrill, Robert, 1917-2004

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6bk19nd (person)

Sinatra, Frank

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6nm444w (person)

The son of italian immigrants, Frank Sinatra began singing and doing impersonations in school which led to his future career as singer with the Hoboken Four in 1935. The quartet broke up in 1936 and Frank started working his way through the music industry until he finally got his big break in 1940. He would become one of Hollywood's leading men for the next two decades and a constant music hall draw after that until very close to the day he died in 1998. (Adapted from the Official Sinatra Family...

Kaye, Stubby

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6nt2wrc (person)

Brewer, Teresa

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w61593h7 (person)