Fitch Bandwagon, The

The Fitch Bandwagon is an American radio show that aired on NBC from 1938 to 1948. It was a popular and long-running radio program that evolved over the years, transitioning from a music-focused show to a successful comedy series starring the real-life husband and wife team of Phil Harris and Alice Faye. Its unique features, such as the live remote broadcasts and the annual circus specials, helped make it a beloved part of old-time radio for millions of listeners.

Sponsored by the F.W. Fitch Shampoo Company, an Iowa-based manufacturer of hair care products. The show aired on Sunday evenings at 7:30 p.m.

The Fitch Bandwagon had three different incarnations over its decade on the radio. Beginning with its premiere in fall 1938 through spring 1945, it was a bandstand-style show featuring popular bandleaders and musicians of the day, such as Cab Calloway, Ozzie Nelson, Harry James, and Tommy Dorsey.

From fall 1945 through spring 1946, it was a musical variety show starring Cass Daley and co-starring Francis “Dink” Trout and Henry Russell, with popular bands performing between comedy skits.

The Fitch Bandwagon is best remembered for its final two seasons, from fall 1946 through spring 1948, as a situation comedy show starring real-life husband and wife Phil Harris and Alice Faye of the Jack Benny program.

The Stars

During the bandstand era, The Fitch Bandwagon featured a rotating cast of popular big band leaders and musicians. When the show transitioned to a musical variety format in 1945, comedian Cass Daley took over as the main star, with Francis “Dink” Trout and Henry Russell in supporting roles.

For the final two seasons as a situation comedy, the show was centered around the real-life husband and wife team of Phil Harris and Alice Faye. Harris played a fictionalized version of himself, a bandleader and entertainer, while Faye portrayed his wife.

The supporting cast included Elliott Lewis, Robert North, Jeanine Roos, and Sheldon Leonard as their family and associates. This evolved into The Phil Harris-Alice Faye Show, which premiered in fall 1948, sponsored by Rexall.

Key Dates

• The Fitch Bandwagon debuted on NBC on September 4th,1938 and ran for a decade.
• Its final episode airing on May 23, 1948.
• The show went through several format changes over the years, transitioning from a bandstand program to a musical variety show and finally to a situation comedy.

Other Information

One of the unique features of The Fitch Bandwagon during its bandstand era was that each broadcast originated from the city where the guest band was performing. This allowed the show to feature top bands from across the country.

The Fitch Company also used the program to promote the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, inviting a large audience of children to attend the broadcast and then remain for the circus performance that followed. These annual circus broadcasts, featuring Merle Evans and the Ringling band, were among the most anticipated and best-remembered episodes of the series.

F.W. Fitch, the founder of the Fitch Shampoo Company, sometimes attended these circus broadcasts in person and would even sit in with the band, faking trombone playing.

The Fitch Bandwagon stands as a testament to the creativity and adaptability of radio programming during its golden age. With its engaging mix of music and comedy, it captured the hearts of listeners and left an indelible mark on the landscape of American entertainment.