Moon River (radio program)
Moon River was a long-running late-night American radio program which originated from WLW in Cincinnati, Ohio. A combination of soft, "dreamy" music and romantic poetry set to organ accompaniment, the program aired from 1930 to 1970.
| Running time | 15–30 minutes |
|---|---|
| Country of origin | United States |
| Language(s) | English |
| Home station | WLW, Cincinnati, Ohio |
| Created by | Ed Byron |
| Recording studio | Cincinnati |
| Original release | 1930 – 1970 |
| Audio format | Mono |
| Opening theme | "Caprice Viennois" by Fritz Kreisler |
History edit
Described as "one of the few programs designed to put people to sleep" by onetime announcer Bill Myers,[1] Moon River was created by writer Ed Byron at the behest of WLW station owner Powel Crosley, Jr., who ordered the writer to come up with a poetry show which could accommodate the station's new organ. Retreating to a speakeasy with violinist Virginio Marucci, Byron sketched out some notes, including his original poem that opened the show. At one point, Marucci began playing Fritz Kreisler's "Caprice Viennois," a piece which Byron's poem brought to mind. Both the poem and the musical piece would open the program for its entire forty-year history.[1][2]
A show with a loyal following over the years, Moon River was canceled by WLW in 1953 in an effort to modernize the schedule, but revived the next summer due to continued listener outcry. [3] In the decade after the program's final broadcast in 1970, a series of Moon River concerts were held in Cincinnati which recreated the program in front of a live audience.[1]
In 1969, the show was cut back to Saturday nights only, due to conflicts with the Cincinnati Royals and the fact that Jim LaBarbara's contemporary music show aired from 7 pm to midnight. A Cincinnati Enquirer article from 1970 said that the show had ended shortly thereafter.
In 1995, WMKV revived it, with Myers as narrator, for a four-year run.
Personnel edit
Many performers passed through Moon River over the years. The following is only a partial list.
Announcers edit
- Arthur R. Ainsworth [4]
- Bob Brown (the first narrator, c. 1930)
- Don Dowd
- Cecil Hale
- Harry Holcombe
- Jay Jostyn
- Jimmy Leonard
- Ken Linn
- Bill Myers
- Peter Grant
- Palmer Ward
- Charles Woods
- Steve Ziegler
Vocalists edit
- Phil Brito
- Barbara Cameron
- Janette Davis
- Allison Lerer
- Doris Day
- The DeVore Sisters (Marjorie, Billie, and Ruth)
- Rosemary and Betty Clooney
- Anita Ellis
- Lucille Norman
- Juanita Vastine aka Sweet Georgia Brown
- Ruby Wright
Organists edit
- Charles M. "Pat" Gillick (the first organist, c. 1930)[5]
- Fats Waller (c. 1932–1934)
- Lee Erwin (1933–1944)
- Herschel Luecke (1950's)
References edit
- ^ a b c McCarty, Mary (April 1985), "The Dreamy Sounds of Moon River", Cincinnati Magazine, 18 (7): 13–14
- ^ Dunning, John (1998), On The Air: The Encyclopedia of Old-Time Radio (Revised ed.), New York: Oxford University Press, pp. 467–468, ISBN 0-19-507678-8, retrieved 2019-10-28
- ^ , Time Magazine, 21 June 1954, archived from the original on November 16, 2010
- ^ Cincinnati Enquirer September 18, 1953 - Obituary
- ^ Sachs, Bill (November 10, 1962), "Talent Topics", Billboard, 74 (45): 64
External links edit
- 1940s-era Moon River at the Internet Archive.
- The Moon River Organ
- Article about Moon River revival at KSVY, Sonoma, CA