Al Pearce

Albert Pearce was an American comedian, singer, and banjo player who was a popular personality on several radio networks from 1928 to 1947. Pearce began his career in the 1920s, first as an insurance salesman and then as a real estate agent. In 1928, he and his brother Cal sang on the air as part of the San Francisco Real Estate Glee Club. Pearce soon transitioned to comedy, creating the character of Elmer Blurt, a nervous door-to-door salesman whose catchphrase “Nobody home, I hope, I hope, I hope” became a national sensation.

Pearce’s radio show, The Happy Go Lucky Hour (sometimes titled Al Pearce and His Gang), debuted on KFRC in San Francisco in 1928 and was a musical-variety program that enjoyed great success in the city until 1932. The show then moved to the Blue Network, where it aired on Saturdays at 6 pm until September 1934, when it was split into two 15-minute programs heard on Mondays and Fridays at 5 pm. It continued in those time slots until March 1935.

The Stars

Pearce’s radio “gang” over the years included his brother Cal, Abe Bloom, Charles Carter, Jean Clarimoux, Edna Fisher, Harry K. McClintock, Tommy Harris, Norman Nielsen, Monroe Upton (as Lord Bilgewater), Hazel Warner, and Cecil Wright. In the mid-1930s, his cast expanded to include the comic Morey Amsterdam, “human chatterbox” Arlene Harris, vocalist Mabel Todd, singing comic Andy Andrews, and the nutty cooking and health expert “Tizzie Lish,” portrayed by Bill Comstock.

In 1937, Arthur “Artie” Auberbach joined the show as the Yiddish-accented “Mr. Kitzel,” a character he would later take to Jack Benny’s program.

Key Dates

The Happy Go Lucky Hour debuted on KFRC in San Francisco in 1928 and was a local success until 1932, when it moved to the Blue Network. The show aired on Saturdays at 6 pm until September 1934, when it was split into two 15-minute programs heard on Mondays and Fridays at 5 pm. It continued in those time slots until March 1935.

Pearce had a sponsor with Pepsodent Toothpaste for Friday afternoon shows on both the Blue Network and NBC from May 1935 to April 1936.

He moved to CBS in January 1937 for the Ford Motor-sponsored series Watch the Fun Go By, which aired on Tuesdays at 9 pm until June 1938.

Pearce returned to NBC in October 1938, sponsored by Grape Nuts, and aired on Mondays at 8 pm until July 1939.

He then went back to CBS, sponsored by Dole Pineapple, and broadcast on Wednesdays at 8 pm from October 1939 to April 1940. Camel Cigarettes sponsored Pearce’s CBS series on Fridays at 7:30 pm from May 1940 to January 1942.

In 1944, his sponsor was Dr Pepper, and when he was replaced on the Blue Network by the audience participation show Darts for Dough, Pearce continued elsewhere while Dr Pepper stayed on as the sponsor of Darts for Dough.

Other Information

Pearce was a frequent guest on popular Armed Forces Radio Service shows during World War II, such as Mail Call and Command Performance.

He also starred as himself in several films for Republic Pictures, including The Hit Parade (1937), Here Comes Elmer (1943), Hitchhike to Happiness (1945), One Exciting Week (1946), and The Main Street Kid (1948).

In 1952, Pearce had two television programs, both called The Al Pearce Show - a daily daytime show and a weekly nighttime show. For his work in radio, Pearce received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, located at 6328 Hollywood Boulevard. It was dedicated on February 8, 1960.