Philco Radio Time

Philco Radio Time was an old-time radio series that aired from 1946 to 1949 on the ABC radio network. The show was a musical variety program starring the legendary entertainer Bing Crosby. The series featured a mix of musical performances, comedy sketches, and guest appearances from other popular stars of the era.

Philco Radio Time was sponsored by the Philco Corporation, a major manufacturer of radios and other electronics at the time.

The Stars

Bing Crosby was the undisputed star of Philco Radio Time. As one of the most popular entertainers of the 20th century, Crosby’s smooth baritone voice and easygoing persona made him the perfect host for the show.

Crosby was joined each week by the John Scott Trotter Orchestra, which provided the musical accompaniment.

Other regular performers included vocalist Peggy Lee, who often appeared as a guest artist, and the show’s announcer, Ken Carpenter.

Key Dates

• Philco Radio Time debuted on October 16, 1946 and ran for three seasons.
• The final episode airing on June 1, 1949.

Other Information

The show was initially recorded on lacquer-coated aluminum discs, but beginning in the second season, the program started using the new Ampex tape recorders, which provided better sound quality and made editing the shows easier. The series was also syndicated for a time over the Armed Forces Radio Network.

In addition to being the first pre-recorded radio program to air on the major U.S. networks, Philco Radio Time was also notable for several other “firsts.” During the third season, the show introduced the first 33rpm long-playing record changer to the public, as well as the first television advertisements for Philco’s new line of television sets. The program also pioneered the use of “canned laughter” in radio, with the Ampex tape recorders allowing the producers to insert pre-recorded audience reactions into the broadcasts.

Despite its popularity, Philco Radio Time struggled with some technical issues during its early seasons, particularly with the quality of the lacquer disc recordings.

However, the switch to tape recording in the second season helped to improve the sound, and the show remained one of the top-rated programs on the ABC network throughout its run.

When Philco Radio Time ended in 1949, Bing Crosby went on to star in the similarly-formatted The Bing Crosby - Chesterfield Show.