Arthur Godfrey

Arthur Godfrey was an American radio and television broadcaster and entertainer who was sometimes introduced by his nickname “The Old Redhead”. At the peak of his success in the early to mid 1950s, Godfrey was heard on radio and seen on television up to six days a week, sometimes for as many as nine separate broadcasts for CBS. His programs included Arthur Godfrey Time (Monday-Friday mornings on radio and television), Arthur Godfrey’s Talent Scouts (Monday evenings on radio and television), Arthur Godfrey and His Friends (Wednesday evenings on television), The Arthur Godfrey Digest (Friday evenings on radio) and King Arthur Godfrey and His Round Table (Sunday afternoons on radio).

The Stars

Godfrey was the main star of his shows, serving as host, announcer, and occasional performer. He was known for his relaxed, conversational style and his ability to connect with his audience on a personal level. Godfrey also featured a number of regular performers on his shows, including vocalists, musicians, and comedians. Some of the notable “Little Godfreys” who gained fame through their appearances on his programs included the Chordettes, Julius La Rosa, and Patti Clayton.

Key Dates

Arthur Godfrey Time began airing on CBS Radio in 1945 and later expanded to television in 1948. The show remained a staple of the CBS lineup until 1972, when Godfrey and the network agreed to end the program. Godfrey’s other shows, such as Arthur Godfrey’s Talent Scouts and Arthur Godfrey and His Friends, also had long runs on both radio and television during the 1940s and 1950s.

The infamous on-air firing of cast member Julius La Rosa in 1953 tainted Godfrey’s down-to-earth, family-man image and resulted in a marked decline in his popularity which he was never able to overcome. Over the following two years, Godfrey fired over twenty additional cast and crew members, under similar circumstances, for which he was heavily attacked by the press and public alike.

Other Information

Godfrey was known for his skills as a commercial pitchman, which brought him a large number of loyal sponsors, including Lipton Tea, Frigidaire, Pillsbury cake mixes, and Chesterfield cigarettes. By 1959, total advertising billings from Godfrey’s TV shows were estimated at an industry-high $150 million, almost double those of second-place Ed Sullivan.

Godfrey was also known for his unconventional approach to commercials, often extemporizing and poking fun at the sponsors and their advertising agencies. He preferred his performers not to use personal managers or agents, but often had his staff represent the artists if they were doing personal appearances, which allowed him considerable control over their careers and incomes.

Godfrey’s father was described as a “free thinker” who encouraged his children to explore all faiths before deciding which to embrace. This upbringing likely contributed to Godfrey’s own progressive views on race and religion, which were sometimes at odds with the more conservative attitudes of the time.

Despite his success and popularity, Godfrey was a controversial figure, known for his controlling and sometimes abrasive behavior towards his staff and the network executives. He was also the target of numerous parodies and satirical portrayals, with comedians like Art Carney, Bob and Ray, and Stan Freberg lampooning his distinctive style and mannerisms.

In later years, Godfrey became a major supporter of public broadcasting and left his large personal archive of papers and programs to public station WNET/Thirteen in New York. The collection, which is now housed at the Broadcasting Archives at the University of Maryland, contains hundreds of kinescopes, audiotapes, and other materials documenting Godfrey’s long and influential career in the entertainment industry