Original Cresta Blanca Carnival header art

The Cresta Blanca Carnival Radio Program

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1940s promotional tile for Cresta Blanca Wines

Entrance to the original Cresta Blanca Winery in Napa Valley circa 1950

December 20th 1943 LIFE magazine spot ad for 'Schenley's Cresta Blanca Carnival of Music'

Background

The Cresta Blanca Winery had a five-year association with the Golden Age of Radio once it was acquired by Schenley Industries in 1941. During the mid-1940s, Schenley's newly acquired Cresta Blanca Wines, Ltd., sponsored several successful variety and drama anthologies, several of them starring or hosted by Orson Welles. Cresta Blanca's first sponsored program was the former Jack Pearl Show, rebranded Cresta Blanca Carnival of Music for its 1942-1943 runs over the Mutual Network and its 1943-1944 runs over CBS. Cresta Blanca's This is My Best aired over CBS from 1944 through 1946. Hosted by Orson Welles from Episode 27 to Episode 33, he dropped out of This Is My Best after two months in an effort to launch his own production with Cresta Blanca entitled The Orson Welles Theatre. The Cresta Blanca Orson Welles Theatre aired for only two months. Cresta Blanca launched another derivative of This Is My Best in 1946, entitled The Cresta Blanca Hollywood Players and running for some twenty-six programs.

From the March 6th 1943 issue of The Billboard:

NEW YORK, Feb.27.--CBS's long-time policy of turning down alcoholic beverage accounts was broken this week with the signing of half-hour programs in behalf of Roma Wine Company, Pabst Brewing Company and P. Ballantine & Sons. A fourth account, the Schenley Corporation, is reported to be considering shifting the Cresta Blanca Carnival, now on Mutual, to the Columbia network shortly.

Altho this is the first time that CBS has accepted wine and beer advertising, both NBC and CBS showed that they were amenable to this kind of business last summer, when both nets were dickering for the Pabst program from the West Coast. Deni fell thru at that time, but way was left open for other beer accounts to step in.

Ballantine, whose major distribution is on this coast, will have an Eastern hookup of 45 CBS stations for its Monday night show, 10:30 to 11 p.m., with Guy Lombardo and Ogden Nash. Handled thru J. Walter Thompson Agency, show bows in March 8. Program will buck NBC's opposition Information Please, theory being to catch large Screen Guild Players audience which immediately precedes on Columbia.

Lombardo outfit will be supplemented vocally by the Lombardo trio, Rose Marie Lombardo and Billy Leach. Program, which will feature Nash reading some of his best-known verse, marks humorist's first regular radio series.

Tied in with the current CBS trend toward vaude, the Roma show, Fiesta Rancho, will be in that style, with Ransom Sherman heading the bill. Show starts March 4 with Leo Carillo, Carlos Ramirez and Lud Gluskin's ork as regulars. Mary Astor is first guest. Will originate from California, 8 to 8:30 p.m. (EWT), with McCann-Erickson handling the account.

Pabst, whose show will originate from Hollywood on Coast-to-Coast web, dropped its program plans last summer due to shortage of material and difficulties in transportation and nationwide distribution. Known as Blue Ribbon Town, it will debut March 27 or April 3, 10:15 to 10:45 p.m., starring Groucho Marx, assisted by Virginia O'Brien, a cast of supporting comedians, Robert Armbruster's ork and Donald Rickson, vocalist. Deal was set by Warwich & Legler, with Dick Mack producing.

Change of network for Cresta Blanca, which was originally slated to go to CBS is being negotiated thru Weintraub agency. CBS is figured to be dangling Norman Corwin before Schenley as an added attraction. Corwin, who is signed exclusively with CBS, was set to do a series of plays for Cresta, but after the first week he was pulled off. He was announced in ads and advance releases for the program, but was not credited on first show because of contract with Columbia.

Blue Network, which in its one year as a chain has never prohibited wine and beer advertisers, recently garnered its first account of this type, with the Dubonnet Corporation setting the deal for a five-minute spot Monday, Wednesday and Friday, 10:30-10:35 p.m., featuring blind pianist Alex Templeton starting March 1. Blue's New York outlet, WJZ, has been sporting a beer account, the R. & H. Company program with Diane Courtney and the Jesters for the past 26 weeks.

Altho NBC has no network hard beverage show, Schaefer's Beer has been sponsoring the Schaefer Revue locally on WEAF since October 1, 1940.

Series Derivatives:

Jack Pearl's Carnival; Cresta Blanca Wine Carnival; Cresta Blanca Wine Carnival of Music; Schenley's Cresta Blanca Wine Carnival of Music; Morton Gould's Carnival; Carnival; AFRS 'Carnival of Music';

Genre:

Anthology of Golden Age Radio Variety-Drama

Network(s):

Mutual; CBS

Audition Date(s) and Title(s):

Unknown

Premiere Date(s) and Title(s):

42-10-14 01 Alias the Baron

43-01-13 01 Guest Benny Goodman

43-04-14 01 Guest Connie Boswell

Run Dates(s)/ Time(s):

42-10-14 to 43-01-06; Mutual [WOR]; Thirteen, 45-minute programs;

43-01-13 to 43-04-07; Mutual [WOR]; Thirteen, 45-minute programs;

43-04-14 to 44-05-30; CBS [KNX]; Sixty, 30-minute programs;

Syndication:

Mutual Broadcasting System; Columbia Broadcasting System;

Sponsors:

Schenley Distiller's Corp. (Cresta Blanca Wines)

Director(s):

Arch Oboler
Irving Hopkins [Script supervisor]

Principal Performers:

Regular Cast:

Jack Pearl, Oscar Levant, George S. Kaufman, Frank Gallop, Brad Reynolds, Dorothy Shay, Alec Templeton

Guest Performers:

Sharlie Hall, Jean Merrill, Hendrik Willem Van Loon, Benny Goodman, Olga Coelho, Monty Woolley, Jarmila Novotna, Ilka Chase, Madeleine Carroll, Golden Gate Quartet, Eileen Farrell, Raymond Edward Johnson, Dorothy Maynor, Constance Bennett, Russel Crouse, Kathryn Grayson, Jimmy Durante, Nadine Connor, Larry Adler, Marion Hutton, Modernaires, Igor Gorin, Connie Boswell, Mischa Elman, W.C. Handy, Vivian della Chiesa, Duke Ellington, Joseph Szigeti, Mary Martin, Rise Stevens, Mary Martin, Vincente Gomez, Thomas L. Thomas, Ethel Waters, Igor Gorin, Lyn Murray Singers, Mary Jane Walsh, Deep River Boys, Joe Venuti, Andrews Sisters, Pierre Luboshutz, Genia Nemenoff, Jose Iturbi, Joan Brooks, Dorothy Maynor, Adrian Rollini Trio, Victoria Cordova, Jeri Sullavan, Maurice Rocco, Monica Lewis, Chochu Martinez

Recurring Character(s):

Protagonist(s):

Author(s):

None

Writer(s)

Norman Corwin, Arch Oboler

Music Direction:

Morton Gould with the 50-piece Cresta Blanca Orchestra amd the Cresta Blanca String Choir

Musical Theme(s):

Announcer(s):

Jack Pearl, George S. Kaufman, Oscar Levant [Masters of Ceremonies]
Frank Gallop [Host]

Estimated Scripts or
Broadcasts:

Episodes in Circulation:

Total Episodes in Collection:

Provenances:

Billboard review of the second thirteen weeks of Cresta Blanca Carnival over Mutual, following the departure of Jack Pearl.

RadioGOLDINdex, Hickerson Guide.

Notes on Provenances:

The most helpful provenances were newspaper listings.

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Cresta Blanca Carnival Radio Program Log
Date	Episode	Title	Avail.	Notes
42-10-07	--		--	42-10-07 Wisconsin State Journal 8:30 Gabriel Heatter--WGN
42-10-14	1	Alias the Baron	N	42-10-14 Wisconsin State Journal 8:30 p.m.--Jack Pearl (WGN): returns to air as "Alias the Baron." 42-10-14 Chicago Daily Tribune 8:30 p. m.--W-G-N--Jack Pearl's Carnival, with Cliff [Sharlie] Hall, Jean Merrill, Brad Reynolds, and Morton Gould's music. [Premiere.]
42-10-21	2	A Jerome Kern Medley	N	42-10-21 Wisconsin State Journal 8:30 p.m.--Jack Pearl (WGN): medley of Kern tunes.
42-10-28	3	Guests Sharlie Hall, Jean Merrill	N	42-10-28 Wisconsin State Journal 8:30 p.m.--Jack Pearl (WGN): with "Sharlie" Hall, Jean Merrill, Brad Reynolds, others.
42-11-04	4	Title Unknown	N	42-11-04 Wisconsin State Journal 8:30 Jack Pearl--WGN 42-11-04 Chicago Daily Tribune 8:30 p. m.--W-G-N--Jack Pearl's Carnival, with Cliff Hall, Jean Merrill, soprano; Brad Reynolds, and Morton Gould's orchestra.
42-11-11	5	Title Unknown	N	42-11-11 Wisconsin State Journal 8:30 Jack Pearl--WGN 42-11-11 Chicago Daily Tribune 8:30 p. m.--W-G-N--Jack Pearl's Carnival, with Cliff Hall, Jean Merrill, Brad Reynolds, and Morton Gould's orchestra.
42-11-18	6	Guest Hendrik Willem Van Loon	N	42-11-18 Wisconsin State Journal 8:30 p.m.--Jack Pearl (WGN): tribute to the Dutch government; Hendrick Willem Van Loon, author, as guestar.
42-11-25	7	Title Unknown	N	42-11-25 Wisconsin State Journal 8:30 Jack Pearl--WGN 42-11-25 Chicago Daily Tribune 8:30 p. m.--W-G-N--Jack Pearl's Carnival, with Cliff Hall, Jean Merrill, Brad Reynolds, and Morton Gould's orchestra.
42-12-02	8	Title Unknown	N	42-12-02 Wisconsin State Journal 8:30 Jack Pearl--WGN
42-12-09	9	Title Unknown	N	42-12-09 Wisconsin State Journal 8:30 Jack Pearl--WGN
42-12-16	10	Title Unknown	N	42-12-16 Wisconsin State Journal 8:30 Jack Pearl--WGN
42-12-23	11	Title Unknown	N	42-12-23 Wisconsin State Journal 8:30 p.m.--Jack Pearl (WGN): plus Morton Gould's Christmas music.
42-12-30	12	Title Unknown	N	42-12-30 Wisconsin State Journal 8:30 Jack Pearl--WGN
43-01-06	13	Title Unknown	N	43-01-06 Wisconsin State Journal 8:30 Jack Pearl--WGN

43-01-13	1	Guest Benny Goodman	N	43-01-13 Wisconsin State Journal 8:30 p.m.--The Carnival (WGN): new series; George S. Kaufman and Oscar Levant, master of ceremonies; Morton Gould's orchestra; drama by Norman Corwin; Benny Goodman, guest, with Levant in "Rhapsody in Blue."
43-01-20	2	Guest Monte Woolley	N	43-01-20 Wisconsin State Journal 8:15 p.m.--Carnival (WIBU): Monte Woolley, George S. Kaufman, Morton Gould, Oscar Levant.
43-01-27	3	Guest Madeleine Carroll	N	43-01-27 Wisconsin State Journal 8:30 p.m.--Carnival (WGN): Madeline Carroll, George S. Kaufman, Ilka Chase, Golden Gate quartet, Morton Gould's orchestra, Brad Reynolds.
43-02-03	4	Guest Stuart Erwin	N	43-02-03 Wisconsin State Journal 8:30 p.m.--Carnival (WGN): Eileen Farrell, sings "Let My Song Fill Your Heart" and D'Hardelot's "Because;" George S. Kaufman, Oscar Levant and Morton Gould's orchestra; Stuart Erwin, guest.
43-02-10	5	Guest Raymond Edward Johnson	N	43-02-10 Wisconsin State Journal 8:30 p.m.--Carnival (WGN): Raymond Edward Johnson, portrays Abraham Lincoln in "Bright World;" Dorothy Maynor, soprano, sings Bach's "Ave Maria" and "Nobody Knows the Trouble I've Seen;" Oscar Levant, pianist, plays Percy Grainger's "Spoon River."
43-02-17	6	Guest Constance Bennett	N	43-02-17 Wisconsin State Journal 8:30 p.m.--Carnival (WGN): Constance Bennett, guest.
43-02-24	7	Guest Alec Templeton	N	43-02-24 Wisconsin State Journal 8:30 p.m.--Carnival (WGN): Ilka Chase, actress and author, mistress of ceremonies; Brad Reynolds, baritone; Alec Templeton, guest pianist.
43-03-03	8	Guests Russel Crouse, Kathryn Grayson	N	43-03-03 Wisconsin State Journal 8:30 p.m.--Carnival (WGN): Russel Crouse, playwright and producer, and Kathryn Grayson, singing star, guests.
43-03-10	9	Guests Richard Hadyn, Olka Coelho	N	43-03-10 Wisconsin State Journal 8:30 The Carnival--WGN 43-03-13 Fitchburg Sentinel The Morton Gould program "Carnival" shifts from Mutual to CBS on April 14. Gould the only personality retained the wine-sponsored program. Other artists have not yet been announced. 43-03-13 San Mateo Times 9:15 KFRC—Richard Haydn guests with Ilka Chase, Russel Crouse & Morton Gould on "Carnival" 43-03-10 Chicago Daily Tribune 8:30--W-G-N--The Carnival, with Ilka Chase, M.C.; Brad Reynolds and Morton Gould's orchestra. Guests: Richard Haydn, movie comedian, and Olka Coelho.
43-03-17	10	Guest Jimmy Durante	N	43-03-17 Wisconsin State Journal 8:30 p.m.--Carnival (WGN): Jimmy Durante visits the Carnival-on-the-Green St. Patrick's Day program.
43-03-24	11	Title Unknown	N	43-03-24 Wisconsin State Journal 8:30 The Carnival--WGN 43-03-24 Chicago Daily Tribune 8:30--W-G-N--The Carnival, with Ilka Chase, M.C.; Morton Gould orchestra, the Don Cossack choir, and Georgia Gibbs.
43-03-31	12	Guests Nadine Connor, Larry Adler	N	43-03-30 Sheboygan Press Nadine Connor, lyric soprano of the Metropolitan Opera company and Larry Adler, exponent extraordinaire of the harmonica techniques, will join their talents in a unique musical as guests of the Cresta Blanca Carnival to be heard over WHBL-Mutual tomorrow night at 8:15 o'clock. Miss Connor and Mr. Adler, veterans of the concert stage make their first joint appearance as the Carnival goes completely musical. Morton Gould, directing the 50-piece orchestra will introduce the newest in a series of marches he has composed. Brad Reynolds, tenor, and Frank Gallop, announcer, complete the cast. 43-03-31 Wisconsin State Journal 8:30 p.m.--Carnival (WGN): Nadine Connor, soprano, and Larry Adler, harmonica player, guests.
43-04-07	13	Title Unknown	N	43-04-07 Wisconsin State Journal 8:30 p.m.--The Carnival (WGN): Marion Hutton, Modernaires, Igor Gorin.
43-04-14	--		--	43-04-14 Wisconsin State Journal 8:30 Soldiers With Wings--WGN

43-04-07	--		--	43-04-07 Wisconsin State Journal 9:30 p.m.--108 Theater (WBBM): "Bataan Clipper."
43-04-14	1	Guest Connie Boswell	N	43-04-14 Wisconsin State Journal 9:30 p.m.--Carnival (WBBM): change of schedule; Morton Gould's orchestra, Mischa Elman, Connie Boswell, W.C. Handy.
43-04-21	2	Guests Duke Ellington, Vivian della Chiesa	N	43-04-21 Wisconsin State Journal 9:30 p.m.--Carnival (WBBM): Vivian della Chiesa, Duke Ellington, Morton Gould. 43-04-21 Tucson Daily Citizen Vivian dclla Chiesa. -soprano, and Duke Ellington, composer- conductlor, are guests on Morton Gould's "Cresta Blanca Carnival" tonight. Miss dclla Chicsa interprets "Voi lo sapete" from "Cavalleria Rusticana" by Mascagni. Ellington, assisted by some of his own musicians, plays a medley of his compositions. Morton Gould directs his 50-piece orchestra in "Say, Si, Si" by Lecuona; "April in Paris" by Vernon Duke: "Dance of the Buffoons" by Rimsky-Korsakoff, and a group of songs bv Jerome Kern. KTUC, 8:30.
43-04-28	3	Guests Lauritz Melchior and Georgia Gibbs	N	43-04-28 Wisconsin State Journal 9:30 Carnival--WBBM WCCO KMOX 43-04-28 San Antonio Express Lauritz Melchior, Metropolitan opera tenor, and singer Georgia Gibbs are guests with Morton Gould and his fifty-piece orchestra on the "Carnival." (KTSA, 9:30 p. m.)
43-05-05	4	Guests Joseph Szigeti, Mary Martin	N	43-05-05 Wisconsin State Journal 9:30 p.m.--Carnival (WBBM): Joseph Szigeti, Mary Martin.
43-05-12	5	Guest Rise Stevens	N	43-05-12 Wisconsin State Journal 9:30 p.m.--Carnival (WBBM): Rise Stevens, Brad Reynolds, Morton Gould's orchestra; "Lover Come Back to Me," "As Time Goes By," Cohan Medley.
43-05-19	6	Guests Mary Martin, Vincente Gomez	N	43-05-19 Wisconsin State Journal 9:30 p.m.--Carnival (WBBM): Mary Martin and Vincente Gomez, guests; "That Old Black Magic," "Stardust."
43-05-26	7	Guests Thomas L. Thomas, Ethel Waters	N	43-05-26 Wisconsin State Journal 9:30 p.m.--Carnival (WBBM): Thomas L. Thomas, Ethel Waters, Morton Gould's orchestra; "Little Girl," "In an 18th Century Drawing Room," "El Rancho Grande," "Dary Eyes."
43-06-02	8	Guest Igor Gorin	N	43-06-02 Wisconsin State Journal 9:30 p.m.--Carnival (WBBM): Igor Gorin, Lyn Murray singers; "Casey Jones," "Oklahoma" medley, "Songs of the Vagabonds," Ravel's "Bolero."
43-06-09	9	Guests Igor Gorin, Mary Jane Walsh	N	43-06-09 Wisconsin State Journal 9:30 p.m.--Carnival (WBBM): with Igor Gorin and Mary Jane Walsh.
43-06-16	10	Guest Rise Stevens	N	43-06-16 Wisconsin State Journal 9:30 p.m.--Carnival (WBBM): Rise Stevens and Deep River Boys. Morton Gould orchestra in arrangement of Walt Disney tunes.
43-06-23	11	Guests Rise Stevens, Joe Venuti	N	43-06-23 Wisconsin State Journal 9:30 p.m.--Carnival (WBBM): Rise Stevens, mezzo-soprano, and Joe Venuti, violinist, with Morton Gould's orchestra.
43-06-30	12	Guests Andrews Sisters	N	43-06-30 Wisconsin State Journal 9:30 p.m.--Carnival (WBBM): Andrews Sisters, Pierre Luboshutz and Genia Nemenoff, duo-pianists; "Time on My Hands," "Marine Hymn," "Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child."
43-07-07	13	Guests Jose Iturbi, Joan Brooks	Y	43-07-07 Wisconsin State Journal 9:30 p.m.--Carnival (WBBM): Jose Iturbi, Joan Brooks, Morton Gould's orchestra. Announces Dorothy Maynor and the Adrian Rollini Trio as next
43-07-14	14	Guest Dorothy Maynor	N	43-07-14 Wisconsin State Journal 9:30 p.m.--Carnival (WBBM): Dorothy Maynor, Adrian Rollini trio, Morton Gould's orchestra; "Dardanella," "Malaguena," "Minuet in Jazz," "Song of India."
43-07-21	15	Guest Thomas L. Thomas	N	43-07-21 Wisconsin State Journal 9:30 p.m.--Carnival (WBBM): Thomas L. Thomas, Lyn Murray singers, Morton Gould's orchestra; "I've Got Plenty o' Nothin'," "Toreador Song," "Who," "Mardi Gras."
43-07-28	16	Guest Vivian della Chiesa	N	43-07-28 Wisconsin State Journal 9:30 p.m.--Carnival (WBBM): Vivian della Chiesa, Lynn Murray, Morton Gould orchestra; "Liebestraum," "Only a Rose," "When Day is Done," "Alexander's Ragtime Band."
43-08-04	17	Guests Jose Iturbi, Victoria Cordova	N	43-08-04 Wisconsin State Journal 9:30 p.m.--Carnival (WBBM): Jose Iturbi, Victoria Cordova, Morton Gould's Orchestra; "Boogie Woogie Etude," "Prisoner of the Sea," "Avalon," "Deep River," "Why."
43-08-11	18	Guests Jeri Sullavan, Thomas L. Thomas	N	43-08-11 Wisconsin State Journal 9:30 p.m.--Carnival (WBBM): Jeri Sullavan, Thomas L. Thomas, Morton Gould's orchestra; "Shadrach," "Beautiful Dreamer," "A Perfect Day," "Holiday," "Holiday for Strings."
43-08-18	19	Guests Mary Martin, Maurice Rocco	N	43-08-18 Wisconsin State Journal 9:30 p.m.--Carnival (WBBM): Mary Martin, Maurice Rocco, Morton Gould; "In the Blue of the Evening," "The Maids of Cadiz," "Begin the Beguine."
43-08-25	20	Guests Chochu Martinez, Jose Iturbi	N	43-08-25 Wisconsin State Journal 9:30 p.m.--Carnival (WBBM): first performance of Morton Gould's composition, "American Concertette No. 1," played by Jose Iturbi, piano soloist, and orchestra. South American singer, Chochu Martinez, "People Will Say We're in Love." Orchestra, "Whispering," "Star Dust," "Little Brown Jub."
43-09-01	21	Guests 1,000 Marines	N	43-09-01 Wisconsin State Journal 9:30 p.m.--Carnival (WBBM): Alec Templeton, pianist-composer, joins Morton Gould's program as regular member, playing own compositions. "Heop, Hep, Bourree," "Variations on The Marines Hymn." Orchestra, "Riff Song," Victor Herbert waltzes, "The Man I Love," "March of the Leathernecks," special tribute to 1,000 marine guests at broadcast.
43-09-08	22	Title Unknown	N	43-09-08 Wisconsin State Journal 9:30 p.m.--Carnival (WBBM): Alec Templeton playing Shostakovitch's Polka from "Age of Gold," Cole Porter's "Night and Day," and original novelties. Gould orchestra, "The Shadow Waltz," "Begin the Beguine," sea medley, and Dvorak's Slavonic dances.
43-09-15	23	Title Unknown	N	43-09-15 Wisconsin State Journal 9:30 p.m.--Carnival (WBBM): Alec Templeton playing own composition, "Corelli in the Old Corral;" "Dancing Tambourine," Polla; "La Golondrina," "Perpetual Morion," Strauss; "St. Louis Blues."
43-09-22	24	Title Unknown	N	43-09-22 Wisconsin State Journal 9:30 p.m.--Carnival (WBBM): Morton Gould conducts premiere performance of his "American Salute," "Piccolino," "End of a Perfect Day," "Trail of the Lonesome Pine," "Glow Worm," "Smiles," "Two Guitars," improvisations by Alec Templeton.
43-09-29	25	Title Unknown	N	43-09-29 Wisconsin State Journal 9:30 p.m.--Carnival (WBBM): Arrangements from "Oklahoma," "Dance of the Comedians" from "The Bartered Bride," "Temptation," "Brazil"; Alec Templeton, piano novelties.
43-10-06	26	Opens with This Is the Army	N	43-10-06 Wisconsin State Journal 9:30 p.m.--Carnival (WBBM): Alec Templeton plays Gershwin's Piano Concerto, "Marie," and improvisations; orchestra, "This Is the Army," "Diga Diga Do," "All or Nothing at All," "Dark Eyes."
43-10-13	27	Title Unknown	N	43-10-13 Wisconsin State Journal 9:30 p.m.--Carnival (WBBM): Morton Gould orchestra, Gay Nineties medley, "People Will Say We're In Love," "Night and Day;" Alec Templeton, "The Way You Look Tonight," "As Time Goes By," and improvisations.
43-10-20	28	Title Unknown	N	43-10-20 Wisconsin State Journal 9:30 p.m.--Carnival (WBBM): Alec Templeton, "Pistol Packin' Mama," and original composition, "Have a Few With Dinicu;" orchestra, "Donkey Serenade," "Londonderry Air," "Carioca," "Oh What A Beautiful Morning."
43-10-27	29	Guests Coast Guard Glee Club	N	43-10-27 Wisconsin State Journal 9:30 p.m.--Carnival (WBBM): Coast Guard glee club, Gould orchestra, Alec Templeton; "Sailors of the Air," "Hallelujah," sea medley, "Anchors Aweigh," "Beyond the Blue Horizon," selections from "H.M.S. Pinafore."
43-11-03	30	Title Unknown	N	43-11-03 Wisconsin State Journal 9:30 p.m.--Carnival (WBBM): Alec Templeton, "Blue Skies," and "Mozart a-la-Mode"; orchestra, "Oh What a Beautiful Morning," "El Relicario."
43-11-10	31	Title Unknown	N	43-11-10 Wisconsin State Journal 9:30 p.m.--Carnival (WBBM): Gould orchestra, medley of old favorites, "She'll Be Coming 'Round the Mountain," "In the Gloaming," "Flow Gently, Sweet Afton;" Alec Templeton satire, "All or Much Ado About Nothing at All," and "Zing Went the Strings of My Heart."
43-11-17	32	Title Unknown	N	43-11-17 Wisconsin State Journal 9:30 p.m.--Carnival (WBBM): Alec Templeton plays his new composition, "Pavanne Meets Pavanne," a blending of Morton Gould's "Pavanne" and Maurice Ravel's "Pavanne for a Dead Princess;" "Red Cxavalry March," "Smoke Gets In Your Eyes," "Dinah," "They're Either Too Young or Too Old."
43-11-24	33	Opens with Alexander's Ragtime Band	N	43-11-24 Wisconsin State Journal 9:30 p.m.--Carnival (WBBM): Alec Templeton plays "Swingphony," and own version of "Largo Al Factotum;" orchestra, "Alexander's Ragtime Band, "Twilight in Turkey," "All or Nothing at All," and Stephen Foster fantasy.
43-12-01	34	Opera a la Rudy Vallee	N	43-12-01 Chicago Daily Tribune 9:30--WBBM--The Carnival [C]. 43-12-01 Findlay Republican Morton Gould does a musical scenario and Alec Templeton an opera in the style of Rudv vallee on "Carnival" over CBS Wedesday at 9:30 p. m.
43-12-08	35	Swingphony	N	43-12-08 Chicago Daily Tribune 9:30--WBBM--The Carnival [C]. 43-12-08 Long Beach Independent Alex Templeton, ingenious pianist-improviser and outstanding creator of musical novelties, plays "If You Please" as one of his 'Swingphony" productions when he and Morton Gould present their program tonight at 7:30 over KNX
43-12-15	36	Rhapsody In Blue	N	43-12-15 Chicago Daily Tribune 9:30--WBBM--Carnival. Alec Templeton plays Gershwin's "Rhapsody in Blue." 43-12-15 San Mateo Times 7:30 KQW-Templeton does "Rhapsody In Blue" on "Carnival"
43-12-22	37	Title Unknown	N	43-12-22 Chicago Daily Tribune 9:30--WBBM--Carnival, with Alec Templeton and Morton Gould's music.
43-12-29	38	Title Unknown	N	43-12-29 Chicago Daily Tribune 9:30--WBBM--Carnival, with Alec Templeton and Morton Gould's orchestra.
44-01-05	39	Guest Monica Lewis	N	44-01-05 Wisconsin State Journal 9:30 p.m.--Carnival (WBBM): Alec Templeton plays his own "Ghost Rhapsody," and "Studio Broadcast Impressions;" Monica Lewis sings "For the First Time;" orchestra, "New Sun in the Sky," "Clavelitos," "In the Blue of Evening."
44-01-12	40	Pavanne Meets Pavanne	N	44-01-12 Wisconsin State Journal 9:30 p.m.--Carnival (WBBM): Alec Templeton blends "Pavannes" of Gould and Ravel in "Pavanne Meets Pavanne," and satirizes hillbilly music of "Hoosier Hot Shots," orchestra, "The Night Was Made for Love," "She Didn't Say Yes," "Hang Your Heart on Weeping Willow Tree," "Besame Mucho."
44-01-19	41	Title Unknown	N	44-01-19 Wisconsin State Journal 9:30 p.m.--Carnival (WBBM): Walt Disney medley, including "Give a Little Whistle," "Whistle While You Work," "When You Wish Upon a Star," "Someday My Prince Will Come," "Heigh Ho." Alec Templeton, "Way Down Yonder in New Orlesans," and "Bach Tours Radio City."
44-01-26	42	Title Unknown	N	44-01-26 Wisconsin State Journal 9:30 p.m.--Carnival (WBBM): Templeton plays "They're Either Too Young or Too Old;" orchestra, Gallani's "La Sorella," Gould's own composition, "Cresta Caprice Waltz," "Speak Low," and "Old Man River."
44-02-02	43	Opens with Aurora	N	44-02-02 Wisconsin State Journal 9:30 p.m.--Carnival (WBBM): Alec Templeton transforms Handel's "Concerto Gross" into pianistic satire, "Haldel With Care;" orchestra, "Gypsy Love Song," "Romany Life," "Always Do as People Say," "Surrey With the Fringe on Top."
44-02-09	44	Opens with Mimi	N	44-02-09 Wisconsin State Journal 9:30 p.m.--Carnival (WBBM): Morton Gould features own composition, "American Salute;" Alec Templeton, "Largo al Factotum--a la Cab Calloway," and "Where or When Swingphony."
44-02-16	45	Title Unknown	N	44-02-16 Wisconsin State Journal 9:30 p.m.--Carnival (WBBM): Alec Templeton's arrangement of "Mairzy Doates;" orchestra, "Barnyard Medley," "Mimi," "In My Solitlude," "Gypsy Aires," "A Lovely Way to Spend an Evening."
44-02-23	46	Title Unknown	N	44-02-23 Wisconsin State Journal 9:30 p.m.--Carnival (WBBM): "All the Things You Are," "Guaracho," "I Couldn't Sleep a Wink Last Night," "Summertime," "Drums In My Heart;" "Russian Basso" and "Swingphony of Humming Blues" by Alec Templeton.
44-03-01	47	Title Unknown	N	44-03-01 Wisconsin State Journal 9:30 p.m.--Carnival (WBBM): Alex Templeton, "Haydn Goes a Ridin," and "I Surrender, Dear;" Dorothy Shay, "Don't Sweetheart Me;" orchestra, "My Heart Tells Me," "Oklahoma," "La Golondrina," "Cielito Lindo," "La Cucaracha."
44-03-08	48	Opens with A Traditional Irish Jig	N	44-03-08 Wisconsin State Journal 9:30 p.m.--Carnival (WBBM): Templeton, "Gershwin Swingphony;" orchestra, "Hillbilly," from Morton Gould's "Americana Suite," "Avalon," "Sophisticated Lady," "Vagabond King" medley.
44-03-15	49	Title Unknown	N	44-03-15 Wisconsin State Journal 9:30 p.m.--Carnival (WBBM): Alec Templeton plays "Phil the Fluter's Ball," and his four in one feature; Dorothy Shay, "Besame Mucho;" orchestra, "The Continental," "Londonderry Air," "Tia Juane," "Irish Washerwoman."
44-03-22	50	Title Unknown	N	44-03-22 Wisconsin State Journal 9:30 p.m.--Carnival (WBBM): Alec Templeton does a piano arrangement of Mendelssohn's "Spring Song," and "Have a Few With Dinicu;" Dorothy Shay sings "Besame Mucho;" orchestra, "Voices of Spring," "Suddenly it's Spring," "Get Happy," "I Got Rhythm."
44-03-29	51	Title Unknown	N	44-03-29 Wisconsin State Journal 9:30 p.m.--Carnival (WBBM): "Shine On Your Shoes," "Andalucia," "Besame Mucho," "Poinciana," "Shine On Harvest Moon," "Dance of the Russian Soldiers."
44-04-05	52	Title Unknown	N	44-04-05 Wisconsin State Journal 9:30 p.m.--Carnival (WBBM): Morton Gould conducts own composition, "Buck Private"; "Zing Went the Strings of My Heart," "Say Si Si," "To Wild Rose," "Where or When."
44-04-12	53	Opens with April Showers	Y	44-04-12 Wisconsin State Journal 9:30 p.m.--Carnival (WBBM): "April Showers," "Blue Room," "Sixth Hungarian Dance," Brahams; "Begin the Beguine," "Long Ago."
44-04-19	54	Opens with Singing In the Rain	Y	44-04-19 Wisconsin State Journal 8:30 p.m.--Carnival (WBBM): Alec Templeton gives impression of how "Beethoven Visits Tin Pan Alley;" "Honeysuckle Rose," "Singing in the Rain," "April in Paris," "Yankee Doodle."
44-04-26	55	Title Unknown	N	44-04-26 Wisconsin State Journal 8:30 p.m.--Carnival (WBBM): Alec Templeton plays "Debussy in Dubuque" and "Swannee River in Modern Manner;" orchestra, "Make Way for Tomorrow," "Mexican Hat Dance," "Star Dust."
44-05-02	56	Title Unknown	N	44-05-02 Wisconsin State Journal 8:30 p.m.--Carnival (WBBM): program at new hour and new day; orchestra, Walt Disney medley, "Alexander's Ragtime Band," "Surrey With the Fringe on Top," "Birth of the Blues;" Alec Templeton, "Way Down Yonder in New Orleans," and "four-in-one" improvisations.
44-05-09	57	Title Unknown	N	44-05-09 Wisconsin State Journal 8:30 p.m.--Carnival (WBBM):: "My Uncle Chihuahua"; "Mozart ala Mode" and "Give a Man a Horse He Can Ride" by Alec Templeton; "Army Air Corps Song," "Speak Low," "Runnin' Wild."
44-05-16	58	Opens with Blow, Gabriel, Blow	N	44-05-16 Wisconsin State Journal 8:30 p.m.--Carnival (WBBM): Morton Gould orchestra and Alec Templeton in special arrangement of Gershwin's "Rhapsody In Blue"; Berlin's "Marie," "Blow, Gabriel Blow," "Oh What a Beautiful Morning," "Dinah."
44-05-23	59	Opens with Hallelujah	Y	44-05-23 Wisconsin State Journal 8:30 p.m.--Carnival (WBBM): Alec Templeton, "Night and Day a la Sinatra," and "Zing Went the Strings of My Heart;" Dorothy Shay, "Summertime;" orchestra, "Hallelujah," "Tiger Rag," "St. Louis Blues." Frank Gallop announces the last program the following Tuesday, May 30th.
44-05-30	60	Memorial Day Audience Favorites	Y	44-05-30 Wisconsin State Journal 8:30 p.m.--Carnival (WBBM): listeners' favorites featured on last program of season: "American Salute," "I Got Rhythm," "Holiday for Strings," medley of Victor Herbert tunes. Announces "The Doctor Fights" the following Tuesday, sponsored by Schenley's.
44-06-06	--		--	44-06-06 Wisconsin State Journal 8:30 p.m.--The Doctor Fights (WBBM): Raymond Massey stars in series of dramas based on lives of noted men of medicine; Dr. James E. Paullin, president of American Medical Assn., guest speaker.

AFRS 'Carnival of Music' Radio Program Log
Date	Episode	Title	Avail.	Notes
43-10-06	4	Opens with This Is the Army	N
43-11-24	11	Opens with Alexander's Ragtime Band	N
44-02-02	21	Opens with Aurora	N
44-02-09	22	Opens with Mimi	N
44-03-08	26	Opens with A Traditional Irish Jig	N
44-05-17	35	Opens with Blow, Gabriel, Blow	N
44-05-24	36	Opens with Hallelujah	N

Cresta Blanca Carnival Radio Program Biographies

Morton Gould
(Music Director/Host)
(1913-1996)

Birthplace: Richmond Hill, New York City, New York

Education: New York University

Radiography:

1940 Good News of 1940
1940 ASCAP World's Fair Concert
1942 This Is War
1942 Cresta Blanca Carnival
1943 Uncle Sam Presents
1945 Symphonic Strings
1952 Surprise Serenade
1955 Best of All
1955 Biography In Sound
1956 Music For America
1966 Voices of Vista

Morton Gould in 1939

From the March 1st 1996 edition of the Daily Herald:

Morton Gould obit headline

I only met the man once, but it left a lasting impression.
Morton Gould, then in his early 70s, was in Chicago for the 1985 world premiere of his Flute Concerto, which he had composed the previous year

	for the Chicago Symphony Orchestra's principal flutist, Donald Peck. The conductor for the occasion was then-CSO music director Sir Georg Solti. Gould had a get-together over lunch with the Chicago media, and the thing that impressed was his quiet humility. Here was one of the most gifted musicians America had ever produced, and he treated himself as an "average Joe" — a welcoming smile
and warm handshake for all with whom he came in contact.

     If there ever was a musician who was the polar opposite to the ego-driven Leonard Bernstein, Gould was it.
     But Gould, who died in his sleep Feb. 20 in Orlando, Fla., at age 82, never claimed to be another legacy may prove otherwise.
     Gould was an all-around musician — pianist, conductor, composer, arranger and educator — who did his job to the best of his ability from his first composition at age 6 (a piece titled, appropriately, "Just Six") to the seminars he was attending his final days in Orlando.
     Gould's professional ties with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra were long and fruitful. He was especially welcome as a guest conductor in the mid-to late 1960s, when Jean Martinon was winding down his brief term as music director.
     Gould offered interesting programs to CSO subscribers, mixing traditional 19th century fare with contemporary American works, many of them his own.
     In the interim period between Martinon's departure and the arrival of Solti two years later in 1969, Gould gave the orchestra much of his time.
     He made numerous recordings for RCA Red Seal during his visits to Chicago, winning a Grammy Award for "Best Classical Album" for the CSO in 1966 for the first stereo recording of Charles Ives' Symphony No. 1 in D Minor.
     Other Gould recordings with the CSO included his ever-popular "Spirituals for Orchestra" and an Leonard Bernstein, although his electrically-charged reading of Danish composer Carl Nielsen's Symphony No. 2 ("The Four Temperaments").
     Gould was a slightly younger contemporary of American composer Aaron Copland. Their careers were similar in many ways; both wrote mainstream American classical music based on folk and other popular idioms.
     While Copland composed virtually no music in his later years, Gould stayed active right until the end. He won the Pulitzer Prize for Music in 1994 for "Stringmusic," which was commissioned by cellist Mstislav Rostropovich. Later that "same year, he was one of the recipients of the Kennedy Center Honors.
     One of Gould's passions was music for concert band, and many of his pieces (or arrangements of other composers' works) have been played by nearly every high school and college band over the past half-century.
     Many of his shorter "orchestral pops" pieces, such as "Latin-American Sinfonette," were composed to fit the time constraints of commercial radio.
     When television exploded onto the scene in the early 1950s, Gould wrote for musical variety and drama programs, as well as doing the scores for series like "World War I" (1964-65) and "Holocaust" in 1978.
     Among Gould's popular music efforts were scores for a pair of Broadway shows, "Billion Dollar Baby" and "Arms and the Girl," neither of which set longevity records in the world's toughest theater town.
     The 1985 visit to Chicago gave the public one of his finest scores. The flute concerto includes a slow section titled "Elegiac Variations" that is a masterpiece of the composer's art.
     Never has the Chicago Symphony sounded better. Gould was a special man indeed and we're fortunate that he gave so much of his musical soul to the city and its orchestra.

Alec Tempelton
(Featured Artist)
(1909[10]-1963)

Birthplace: Cardiff, Wales, United Kingdom

Education: Royal Academy of Arts

Radiography:

1937 National Barn Dance
1937 The Magic Key of RCA
1939 The Chase and Sanborn Hour
1939 The Johnson's Wax Program
1940 Alec Templeton Time
1941 The Pause That Refreshes...On the Air
1943 The Telephone Hour
1943 Cresta Blanca Carnival
1943 The Chamber Music Society of Lower Basin Street
1944 Radio Hall of Fame
1944 Fitch Bandwagon
1944 Texaco Star Theater
1945 Information Please
1946 Alec Templeton Time
1946 The Carnation Contented Hour
1947 Philco Radio Time
1947 Guest Star
1947 Here's To Veterans
1949 March of Dimes
1949 The Spike Jones Show
1950 Chicago Theater Of the Air
1953 Summer Concert
1964 The Chase and Sanborn One Hundreth Anniversary Show
Concert Hall
Treasury Song Parade
Dorothy Kilgallen's Diary
Something For the Girls
Payroll Savings Plan

Alec Templton circa 1940

Alec Templeton at the instrument he played as if an extention of his brilliant mind.

Templeton's great genius was his remarkable ability to improvise medley's of piano pieces from as many as eight or nine famous composers on a moment's notice.

From the March 29th 1963 edition of the Wisconsin State Journal:

Blind Pianist Alec Templeton
Dies in East at Age of 52

GREENWICH, Conn. (AP) -- Alec Templeton, 52, blind pianist and satirist who appeared on many radio shows, died in his home here Thursday.
He had been ill several months.
     Templeton, born in Cardiff, Wales, came to the United States in 1935. He appeared as a guest on a number of radio programs and later starred in a show of his own. He became a United States citizen in 1941.
Templeton, blind from birth, could pick out tunes on a piano at the age of four.
     He was skilled at improvising. He would ask for five musical notes from an audience and weave the notes into a melody. Or, he would ask for the names of several songs and work them into one composition.
Templeton attended Worchester College and the Royal College of Music in England. He went on a concert tour and then joined Jack Hilton's jazz band, playing special numbers such as "Rhapsody in Blue."
     Among places at which he entertained in United States tours were the Rainbow Room in New York, the Drake Hotel in Chicago, and the Cocoanut Grove in Los Angeles.
     Radio programs on which he appeared included the Bing Crosby and Ford Hour shows.

From the March 29th 1963 edition of the Capital Times:

Blind Pianist
Templeton Died
Fighting Cancer

GREENWICH, Conn. (UPI) -- Alec Templeton, blind pianist who lived by the motto, "What I can't have I don't think about," died Thursday at his home. The 52-year-old entertainer had battled cancer for nearly a year.
     Although Templeton was born without sight, he was gifted with perfect musical pitch and almost total musical recall. Born in Cardiff, Wales, he first came to the United States in 1936 after four years as a concert pianist in Britain. He became an American citizen in 1941.
     Templeton never was permitted by his parents to feel that he was handicapped. He once said he learned of his blindness at the age of 7 when a family visitor inadvertently used the word. His mother and father had prohibited its use in their home. He said he had supposed everyone lived in darkness and everyone recognized other people by the key and tone of voices.
     He took the first steps toward a musical career when he picked out his first tune on the piano before he was 2 and composed his first melody at the age of 4.
     After he arrived in the United States, he was an immediate success both as an amusing innovator who delighted stage and radio audiences and as a concert pianist.
     His great talent was his ability to improvise in the style of any composer.

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The Cresta Blanca Carnival Radio Program

Background

Cresta Blanca Carnival Radio Program Log

AFRS 'Carnival of Music' Radio Program Log

Cresta Blanca Carnival Radio Program Biographies