Edward Bowes (June 14, 1874 – June 13, 1946), professionally known as Major Edward Bowes, was an American radio personality of the 1930s and 1940s whose Major Bowes Amateur Hour was the best-known amateur talent show on radio during its 18-year run (1935–1952) on NBC Radio and CBS Radio.[1]
Edward Bowes
Major Bowes as his Amateur Hour became a national radio program in 1935
Bowes’ father died when he was six years old, and young Edward worked as he could to augment the family income. After leaving grammar school he worked as an office boy, and then went into the real estate business, until the cataclysmic 1906 San Francisco earthquake wiped out his fortune. He then moved to New York City in search of other opportunities, soon realizing that the theatrical world was lucrative, and he worked busily in New York as a musical conductor, composer, and arranger. He also produced Broadway shows such as Kindling in 1911–12 and The Bridal Path in 1913. He was married to Kindling star Margaret Illington from 1910 until her death in 1934; her portrait by Adolfo Müller-Ury had been painted in 1906 for her first husband, theater manager Daniel Frohman.
He became managing director of New York's Capitol Theatre, which he ran with military efficiency. He insisted on being addressed as "Major Bowes," a nickname that sprang from his earlier military rank, though historians are divided on whether he was an active-duty officer in World War I or held the rank as a member of the Officer Reserve Corps.[citation needed]
Bowes brought his best-known creation to New York radio station WHN in 1934. He had actually hosted scattered amateur nights on smaller stations while manager of the Capitol. Within a year of its WHN premiere, The Original Amateur Hour—its original name, according to historian Gerald Nachman, was Major Bowes and His Capitol Family—began earning its creator and host as much as $1 million a year, according to Variety.[citation needed]
The show consistently ranked among radio's top ten programs throughout its run. Bowes' familiar catchphrase "Round and round she goes, and where she stops nobody knows," was spoken in the familiar avuncular tones for which he was renowned, whenever it was time to spin the "wheel of fortune," the device by which some contestants were called to perform. In the early days of the show, whenever a performer was simply too terrible to continue, Bowes would stop the act by striking a gong (a device that would be revived in the 1970s by Chuck Barris's infamous The Gong Show). Bowes heard from thousands of listeners who objected to his terminating these acts prematurely, so he abandoned the gong in 1936. Nachman recorded that Bowes, "a businesslike fellow with a mirthless chuckle who, unlike most emcees, had a gift for nongab," went out of his way to make contestants feel at ease, often taking them to dinner before their appearances. Nachman credits Bowes for featuring more black entertainers than many network shows of the time.[citation needed]
Major Bowes died on the eve of his 72nd birthday at his home in the New Jersey suburb of Rumson, New Jersey.[4] The following week, his talent coordinator Ted Mack took over hosting duties. Nineteen months after Bowes' death, on January 18, 1948, the program, with Mack as host, debuted on the DuMont Television Network. As a measure of the affection attached to Bowes' name, the show continued to be called Major Bowes' Original Amateur Hour until the 1950-51 season, when it became simply The Original Amateur Hour, and in 1955 became Ted Mack and the Original Amateur Hour. Mack continued to host the show throughout the remainder of its run, during which it ran on all four major networks, until 1970. The radio version, also with Mack, ran until 1952.
Bowes was referred to in Cab Calloway's "I Love to Singa" from the movie The Singing Kid (1936), and in the Dorothy Fields lyrics for "Never Gonna Dance," from the Astaire-Rogers film Swing Time (1936). He is also referenced in the song I'm Still Here from Sondheim's 1971 musical Follies.
Major Bowes is referenced in The Twilight Zone episode, "Static" (1961), as his show is heard on a mysterious radio that tunes into channels that no longer exist; his famous catch phrase "round and round she goes, where she stops nobody knows," is mentioned.
Bowes was a benefactor of the Catholic Church. Our Lady of Victory Church in Lower Manhattan is built on land donated by Bowes. Also, the auditorium at Archbishop Stepinac High School in White Plains is named in his honor. He donated some of the rare books at St. Joseph's Seminary, Yonkers.
In 1939, Major Bowes donated his multi-acre Ossining estate,[5] known as "Laurel Hill," to the Lutheran Church, where it is still being enjoyed as an ecumenical retreat center. Run by a board of Lutheran lay persons and clergy, it is known as Major Edward Bowes Memorial Retreat, and operates year-round for students, church, and community groups in the greater New York metro area.[6]
Old Time Radio Researchers Database of People and Programs
October 23, 2023
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This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Major Bowes news newspapers books scholar JSTOR April 2012 Learn how and when to remove this template message Edward Bowes June 14 1874 June 13 1946 professionally known as Major Edward Bowes was an American radio personality of the 1930s and 1940s whose Major Bowes Amateur Hour was the best known amateur talent show on radio during its 18 year run 1935 1952 on NBC Radio and CBS Radio 1 Edward BowesMajor Bowes as his Amateur Hour became a national radio program in 1935BornJune 14 1874San Francisco California U SDiedJune 13 1946 1946 06 13 aged 71 Rumson New Jersey U SPen nameMajor BowesOccupationRadio personalitySpouseMargaret Illington m 1910 died 1934 wbr Contents 1 Early life and radio career 2 Death and legacy 3 References 4 Further reading 5 External linksEarly life and radio career EditBowes father died when he was six years old and young Edward worked as he could to augment the family income After leaving grammar school he worked as an office boy and then went into the real estate business until the cataclysmic 1906 San Francisco earthquake wiped out his fortune He then moved to New York City in search of other opportunities soon realizing that the theatrical world was lucrative and he worked busily in New York as a musical conductor composer and arranger He also produced Broadway shows such as Kindling in 1911 12 and The Bridal Path in 1913 He was married to Kindling star Margaret Illington from 1910 until her death in 1934 her portrait by Adolfo Muller Ury had been painted in 1906 for her first husband theater manager Daniel Frohman He became managing director of New York s Capitol Theatre which he ran with military efficiency He insisted on being addressed as Major Bowes a nickname that sprang from his earlier military rank though historians are divided on whether he was an active duty officer in World War I or held the rank as a member of the Officer Reserve Corps citation needed Bowes brought his best known creation to New York radio station WHN in 1934 He had actually hosted scattered amateur nights on smaller stations while manager of the Capitol Within a year of its WHN premiere The Original Amateur Hour its original name according to historian Gerald Nachman was Major Bowes and His Capitol Family began earning its creator and host as much as 1 million a year according to Variety citation needed The rapid popularity of The Original Amateur Hour made him better known than most of the talent he featured Some of his discoveries became stars including opera stars Lily Pons Robert Merrill and Beverly Sills comedian Jack Carter pop singer Teresa Brewer and Frank Sinatra fronting a quartet known as the Hoboken Four when they appeared on the show in 1935 2 3 The show consistently ranked among radio s top ten programs throughout its run Bowes familiar catchphrase Round and round she goes and where she stops nobody knows was spoken in the familiar avuncular tones for which he was renowned whenever it was time to spin the wheel of fortune the device by which some contestants were called to perform In the early days of the show whenever a performer was simply too terrible to continue Bowes would stop the act by striking a gong a device that would be revived in the 1970s by Chuck Barris s infamous The Gong Show Bowes heard from thousands of listeners who objected to his terminating these acts prematurely so he abandoned the gong in 1936 Nachman recorded that Bowes a businesslike fellow with a mirthless chuckle who unlike most emcees had a gift for nongab went out of his way to make contestants feel at ease often taking them to dinner before their appearances Nachman credits Bowes for featuring more black entertainers than many network shows of the time citation needed Death and legacy Edit nbsp The grave of Major Edward Bowes and wife Margaret Illington in Sleepy Hollow CemeteryMajor Bowes died on the eve of his 72nd birthday at his home in the New Jersey suburb of Rumson New Jersey 4 The following week his talent coordinator Ted Mack took over hosting duties Nineteen months after Bowes death on January 18 1948 the program with Mack as host debuted on the DuMont Television Network As a measure of the affection attached to Bowes name the show continued to be called Major Bowes Original Amateur Hour until the 1950 51 season when it became simply The Original Amateur Hour and in 1955 became Ted Mack and the Original Amateur Hour Mack continued to host the show throughout the remainder of its run during which it ran on all four major networks until 1970 The radio version also with Mack ran until 1952 Bowes was referred to in Cab Calloway s I Love to Singa from the movie The Singing Kid 1936 and in the Dorothy Fields lyrics for Never Gonna Dance from the Astaire Rogers film Swing Time 1936 He is also referenced in the song I m Still Here from Sondheim s 1971 musical Follies Major Bowes is referenced in The Twilight Zone episode Static 1961 as his show is heard on a mysterious radio that tunes into channels that no longer exist his famous catch phrase round and round she goes where she stops nobody knows is mentioned Bowes was a benefactor of the Catholic Church Our Lady of Victory Church in Lower Manhattan is built on land donated by Bowes Also the auditorium at Archbishop Stepinac High School in White Plains is named in his honor He donated some of the rare books at St Joseph s Seminary Yonkers In 1939 Major Bowes donated his multi acre Ossining estate 5 known as Laurel Hill to the Lutheran Church where it is still being enjoyed as an ecumenical retreat center Run by a board of Lutheran lay persons and clergy it is known as Major Edward Bowes Memorial Retreat and operates year round for students church and community groups in the greater New York metro area 6 References Edit www britannica com advertisement November 28 1935 Maj Bowes Amateurs in Person The Salt Lake Tribune p 4 Amateur Hour Goes into Its 21st Year Pharos Tribune Logansport Indiana UPI April 7 1954 p 24 Major Bowes Dies at Home in New Jersey Pittsburgh Post Gazette June 14 1946 p 1 Major Edward Bowes Memorial Retreat 9 Allapartus Rd Ossining NY 2020 www localgymsandfitness com Retrieved June 11 2020 Major Bowes Memorial Retreat Archived from the original on February 21 2019 Retrieved July 13 2022 Further reading EditGerald Nachman Raised on Radio New York Pantheon Books 1998 External links EditEdward Bowes at IMDb Encyclopaedia Britannica article on Edward Bowes Old Time Radio Researchers Database of People and Programs Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Major Bowes amp oldid 1181155106, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
