Evening edition — Tuesday, 3 November 2026 · Vol. XXVIII, No. 307
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Variety & Music

Judy Canova Show, The

1901–1952 · 51 episodes · 17 listens

The Judy Canova Show was an American old-time radio comedy-variety program whose premise was that the fictional version of Judy Canova moved from a rural area to California in hopes that her Aunt Aggie could help her to become more sophisticated.

Episodes included situation-comedy segments related to Canova’s interactions with family and friends, one of whom was Benchley Botsford, her love interest. Canova usually sang three songs in each episode, including one just after the show came on and one just before it went off.

The Stars

Besides Judy Canova, the show featured a talented cast of supporting characters and actors.

Aunt Aggie was portrayed by Ruth Perrott and Verna Felton.

Benchley Botsford was played by George Dietz, Gordon Mansfield, and Joseph Kearns.

Other notable characters included Geranium (Ruby Dandridge), Pedro (Mel Blanc), Mr. Simpson (Gale Gordon and Joseph Kearns), Monroe Simpson (Tommy Bernard), and Baby Bubakins (Jerry Hausner). Elvia Allman, Hans Conried, and the Sportsmen Quartet were also heard regularly in various roles.

Key Dates

  • The Judy Canova Show began as a summer replacement program called Rancho Canova on CBS CBS from July 6, 1943, to June 27, 1944. It was initially sponsored by Colgate-Palmolive-Peet.
  • The program then moved to NBC from January 13, 1945, to June 30, 1951, and again from December 29, 1951, to May 28, 1953.

Other Information

The show was created by J. Donald Wilson and produced initially by Diana Bourbon, who was succeeded by Carlton Alsop and Joe Rines. In April 1954, there were reports that CBS planned to have a 90-minute program featuring Canova and stars of both films and recordings, but this plan apparently never came to fruition.

Overall, The Judy Canova Show was a long-running and popular old-time radio comedy-variety program that showcased the talents of its star, Judy Canova, and her supporting cast. The program is notable for being the medium in which Judy Canova found her greatest success.

The show’s mix of situation comedy, music, and Canova’s signature rural-tinged humor made it a favorite with listeners throughout its decade-long run on both CBS and NBC.

Cast & Crew

BBud DantGGale GordonActorHHoward PetrieAnnouncerJJudy CanovaActorMMel BlancActorVVerna FeltonActorSSharon DouglasActorHHans ConriedActorSSheldon LeonardActorGGerald MohrActorJJoseph KearnsActorGGeorge NeiseActorEEmerson Drug CompanyFFred FoyWriterGGeneral MotorsGGordon JenkinsMusicJJoe RinesDirector · ProducerSSportsmen QuartetCColgateHHenry HoopleWriterKKen NilesAnnouncerOOpie CatesMusicCCharles Bud DantMusicVVerne SmithAnnouncerSSmith BrothersRRuby DandridgeActorRRuth PerrottActorJJoe KearnsActorEElvia AllmanActor

Ratings & reviews

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Episodes

Apr 10, 1948 · 30:02
From Hollywood the Judy Canova Show brought to you each week by Colgate Palmolive stars Mel Blanc, Ruby Dandridge, Joe…
Apr 12, 1947 · 27:23
From Hollywood the Judy Canova Show brought to you each week by Colgate Palmolive stars Mel Blanc, Ruby Dandridge,…
Apr 13, 1946 · 29:19
From Hollywood the Judy Canova Show brought to you each week by Colgate Palmolive stars Mel Blanc, Ruby Dandridge, Joe…
Apr 19, 1947 · 27:39
From Hollywood the Judy Canova Show brought to you each week by Colgate Palmolive stars Mel Blanc, Ruby Dandridge, Joe…
Apr 24, 1948 · 30:05
Judy Canova opens the show by singing Don't We Have Fun supported by The Sportsman. Judy is still looking for ideas…
Apr 26, 1947 · 27:56
From Hollywood the Judy Canova Show brought to you each week by Colgate Palmolive stars Mel Blanc, Ruby Dandridge, Joe…
Apr 3, 1948 · 29:34
Judy Canova opens the show by singing Lucky in Love supported by The Sportsmen. The famous public relations counsellor…
Aug 24, 1943 · 23:32
Comedy in hillbilly style with Judy Canova and her pigtails. As usual the show starts with Judy doing a monologue,…
Aug 31, 1946 · 28:48
From Hollywood the Judy Canova Show brought to you each week by Colgate Palmolive stars Mel Blanc, Ruby Dandridge, Joe…
Dec 1, 1945 · 29:21
From Hollywood the Judy Canova Show brought to you each week by Colgate Palmolive stars Mel Blanc, Ruby Dandridge, Joe…
Dec 13, 1947
Judy’s bid for rodeo royalty makes for a neat half-hour of nimble gags, western whimsy and tuneful detours. She glides…
Dec 14, 1946
Judy Canova is in easy, winning form here, turning a simple ambition into a string of gentle gags, unhurried tunes, and…
Dec 21, 1946 · 28:00
Judy Canova opens the show with the song Santa Claus Is Coming To Town. Judy and aunt Aggie are planning to have a…
Dec 22, 1945
A cozy Christmas holiday get-together turns delightfully sideways as social niceties, late arrivals and a few mixed…
Dec 27, 1947 · 30:24
Judy opens the show with a song, performing I'll Dance At Your Wedding, before she tells us about a diary she's been…
Dec 28, 1946 · 28:00
From Hollywood the Judy Canova Show brought to you each week by Colgate Palmolive stars Mel Blanc, Ruby Dandridge, Joe…
Dec 4, 1948 · 25:22
A dinner invitation sets the table for an evening of gentle misadventure as an eager hostess scrambles to impress a…
Dec 6, 1947 · 30:17
This light, tuneful half-hour finds Judy in easy, playful form, tilting from starstruck daydreams to a visit with a…
Feb 1, 1947 · 27:56
From Hollywood the Judy Canova Show brought to you each week by Colgate Palmolive stars Mel Blanc, Ruby Dandridge, Mel…
Feb 22, 1947 · 27:47
From Hollywood the Judy Canova Show brought to you each week by Colgate Palmolive stars Mel Blanc, Ruby Dandridge, Mel…
Feb 28, 1948 · 30:21
From Hollywood the Judy Canova Show brought to you each week by Colgate Palmolive stars Mel Blanc, Ruby Dandridge, Joe…
Feb 5, 1952 · 19:39
The show opens with an introduction of all the guests today, before Judy raises the musical curtain with "Take a Look…
Feb 7, 1948 · 29:04
From Hollywood the Judy Canova Show brought to you each week by Colgate Palmolive stars Mel Blanc, Ruby Dandridge, Joe…
Jan 1, 1901 · 30:18
Last week, Humphrey Cooper turned down Judy's leap year proposal, and now Judy has developed quite an inferiority…
Jan 1, 1948 · 30:11
From Hollywood the Judy Canova Show brought to you each week by Colgate Palmolive stars Mel Blanc, Ruby Dandridge, Joe…
Jan 10, 1948 · 29:02
From Hollywood the Judy Canova Show brought to you each week by Colgate Palmolive stars Mel Blanc, Ruby Dandridge, Joe…
Jan 17, 1948 · 28:49
Eddie Cantor is going to run for President and Judy Canova has made a deal with him to get votes. Eddie has promised…
Jan 24, 1948 · 29:11
Despite the fact that this leap year, Judy still hasn’t made much progress romantically. Men just haven’t paid much…
Jan 3, 1948 · 30:31
From Hollywood the Judy Canova Show brought to you each week by Colgate Palmolive stars Mel Blanc, Ruby Dandridge, Joe…
Jan 31, 1948 · 30:17
The Judy Canova Show stars Mel Blanc, Ruby Dandridge, Joe Kearns, Ruth Perrot, Gerald Mohr, The Sportsmen quartet,…
Jul 27, 1943 · 18:10
NOTE: FIRST SIX MINUTES HAS SOME HICCUPS LIKE A SCRATCHED RECORD AND KEEPS JUMPING. (If you have a better copy please…
Jul 6, 1943 · 24:40
The show commences with stand-up comedy anecdotes from pig-tailed ranch girl Judy Canova followed by a fun song and…
Jun 15, 1946 · 29:06
From Hollywood the Judy Canova Show brought to you each week by Colgate Palmolive stars Mel Blanc, Ruby Dandridge, Joe…
Jun 19, 1948 · 27:52
From Hollywood the Judy Canova Show brought to you each week by Colgate Palmolive stars Mel Blanc, Ruby Dandridge,…
Jun 26, 1948 · 27:54
From Hollywood the Judy Canova Show brought to you each week by Colgate Palmolive stars Mel Blanc, Ruby Dandridge,…
Jun 8, 1946 · 27:59
From Hollywood the Judy Canova Show brought to you each week by Colgate Palmolive stars Mel Blanc, Ruby Dandridge, Joe…
Mar 20, 1948 · 29:21
Judy Canova opens the show by singing Beg Your Pardon with support from The Sportsmen. Judy's new public relations…
Mar 21, 1944 · 24:01
Comedy in hillbilly style with Judy Canova and her pigtails. As usual the show starts with Judy doing a monologue,…
Mar 27, 1948 · 29:08
Judy Canova opens the show by singing, I Get The Blues When it Rains, supported by The sportsmen. For the past few…
May 1, 1948 · 27:32
Judy Canova opens the show by singing I Think You're Wonderful, but I May Be Wrong supported by The Sportsmen. Anything…
May 29, 1948 · 28:49
Judy has an appointment at Tarragon Studios with two movie directors who have signed her for a screen test. As the show…
Nov 10, 1945 · 30:23
From Hollywood the Judy Canova Show brought to you each week by Colgate Palmolive stars Mel Blanc, Ruby Dandridge,…
Nov 3, 1945 · 28:53
From Hollywood the Judy Canova Show brought to you each week by Colgate Palmolive stars Mel Blanc, Ruby Dandridge,…
Nov 9, 1946 · 31:06
Judy Canova opens the show by singing I Haven't Got A Worry. For many months now, Judy and handsome Benji Bletcley have…
Oct 12, 1946 · 29:28
From Hollywood the Judy Canova Show brought to you each week by Colgate Palmolive stars Mel Blanc, Ruby Dandridge, Joe…
Oct 18, 1947 · 27:50
From Hollywood the Judy Canova Show brought to you each week by Colgate Palmolive stars Mel Blanc, Ruby Dandridge, Joe…
Oct 19, 1943 · 23:48
In this show Judy is recollecting her memories of "dropping in" on the 13th Army division at Camp Beale, Sacramento,…
Oct 19, 1946 · 29:16
From Hollywood the Judy Canova Show brought to you each week by Colgate Palmolive stars Mel Blanc, Ruby Dandridge, Joe…
Oct 4, 1947 · 27:43
From Hollywood the Judy Canova Show brought to you each week by Colgate Palmolive stars Mel Blanc, Ruby Dandridge, Joe…
Sep 15, 1945 · 31:00
From Hollywood the Judy Canova Show brought to you each week by Colgate Palmolive stars Mel Blanc, Ruby Dandridge,…
Sep 20, 1947 · 28:18
From Hollywood the Judy Canova Show brought to you each week by Colgate Palmolive stars Mel Blanc, Ruby Dandridge, Joe…
Ned, your old-time-radio guide
Ned · your guide to the archive

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