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The Shower of Stars Radio Program

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Chrysler, CBS and 'Major' Edward Bowes had enjoyed a long-standing relationship over Radio. Owing to failing health, Major Bowes served only as the Production Supervisor for Major Bowes' Shower of Stars.

Morton Gould in 1939

Morton Gould polishes one of his scores for Shower of Stars.

Don Voorhees picked up the baton for the Chrysler Summer Concert series spawned by Show of Stars during the Summer of 1945

Background

From the February 8th 1945 edition of the Mason City Globe-Gazette:

On the Beam with Chuck Hilton syndicated news column

"MAJOR BOWES'" SHOWER OF STARS," new, all-musical series featuring Morton Gould and his orchestra and weekly guest stars drawn from the ranks of successful "graduates" of the Major's "Amateur Hour," makes its debut over KGLO-CBS Thursday, at 9 p.m. Opening night guest is Regina Resnik, young dramatic soprano who made such a sensational short-notice debut at the Metropolitan Opera House earlier this season.

Recent broadcasts in Major Bowes' Thursday night time were devoted, through the courtesy of the sponsor, Chrysler Corporation, to the March of Dimes and to special Army, Navy and Red Cross shows.

The new musical series is scheduled to continue until the Major returns to the air. Among the "graduates" to be heard on coming programs are William Horne, operatic tenor, concert baritone Robert Merrill, chanteuse Yvette and baritone Tommy Dix.

Miss Resnik will sing the dramatic and brilliant "Ernani, involami" from Verdi's "Ernani," "My Message" by D'Hardelot and Strauss' "With All My Heart."

Gould directs the orchestra in the Latin-American favorite "Tico, Tico," a medley of tunes from Walt Disney films, "I Dream of You" and "Begin the Beguine."

From the April 21st 1945 edition of the Rochester Daily Record:

Major Edward Bowes, whose radio program made professional entertainers out of hundreds of amateurs and entertained millions of listeners, will retire from active radio work, with the broadcast of his current series, Major Bowes' Shower Of Stars, the night of April 26.

Officials of the Columbia Broadcasting System, which carries the series, said Major Bowes would give up his direction of the program but would continue as advisor to his sponsors in their radio interests.

Major Bowes, a real estate operator who abandoned that field for the theater after twice amassing a fortune, went into radio as a master of ceremonies of a local program over a New York City station designed to advertise the Capitol Theater. The program originated in 1934, acquired a sponsor in 1935 and became a coast-to-coast feature the following year.

From the April 26th 1945 edition of the Mason City Globe-Gazette:

On the Beam with Chuck Hilton syndicated news column

MAJOR EDWARD BOWES, long associated with the Columbia Broadcasting System through his famed Amateur Hour will retire from active radio participation as of the Thursday, April 26, broadcast of his current series, "Major Bowes' Shower of Stars" over KGLO-CBS at 8 p.m. Major Bowes will continue his interest in radio, however, by serving as advisor on radio matters to the Chrysler Corporation, program sponsor.
The "Shower of Stars" program is a recent outgrowth of the original Amateur Hour and features outstanding graduates from the ranks pf the Major's amateurs and Morton Gould and his orchestra.
Major Bowes first brought the Amateur Hour, one of the most talked about programs in radio history, to the attention of listeners in 1934 over a local New York station. In 1935 the program became sponsored and its popularity sky-rocketed to hew heights. On Sept. 27, 1936, Chrysler Corporation became Major Bowes' sponsor and the program came over to the Columbia network. The Major's association with his sponsor has remained unbroken through the years.

LIFE magazine Chrysler ad from May 21st 1945 promotes the 'Major Bowes Program'

(Program announcement from above)

The exact same ad (rendered in black and white) for a June 3rd 1945 newspaper insert showed the title--in quotes--as 'Shower of Stars'

Series Derivatives:

Major Bowes' Amateur Hour; AFRS 'Shower of Stars'; AFRS R-Series 'Shower of Stars'; Major Bowes Program; The Morton Gould Program;

Genre:

Anthology of Golden Age Radio Variety

Network(s):

CBS

Audition Date(s) and Title(s):

Unknown

Premiere Date(s) and Title(s):

45-02-08 01 Guest Regina Resnik

Run Dates(s)/ Time(s):

45-02-08 to 45-08-30; CBS ; Thirty, 30-minute programs; Thursday evenings

Syndication:

Columbia

Sponsors:

Chrysler

Director(s):

Major Bowes [Production Supervisor]

Guest Performers:

Regina Resnik, William Horne, Yvette, Robert Merrill, Tommy Dix, Muriel Smith, Christina Carroll, Virginia McWatters, Coast Guard Quartet, Tom Lockard, Gertrude Ribla, Thomas Lockhart, Kay Armen, The Jubilaires, Eileen Farrell, Burl Ives, Connie Boswell, Bob Hannon, Genevieve Rowe, Todd Duncan, Mildred Bailey, Danny O'Neil, Earl Wrightson, Eileen Farrell, Lee Sullivan, Jean Tighe, Jack Smith

Recurring Character(s):

None

Protagonist(s):

None

Author(s):

None

Writer(s)

Music Direction:

Morton Gould and his orchestra; Don Voorhees and orchestra

Musical Theme(s):

Announcer(s):

Estimated Scripts or
Broadcasts:

Episodes in Circulation:

Total Episodes in Collection:

Provenances:

Contributor Jerry Haendiges; The Billboard.

Notes on Provenances:

The most helpful provenances were newspaper listings.

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The Shower of Stars Radio Program Log
Date	Episode	Title	Avail.	Notes
45-02-01	--		--	45-02-01 Wisconsin State Journal - 8:00 Red Cross Show--WBBM
45-02-08	1	Guest Regina Resnik	N	45-02-08 Wisconsin State Journal 8 p.m.--Shower of Stars (WBBM): premiere of new Major Bowes series featuring Morgon Gould orchestra and guest appearances of successful "Amateur Hour" graduates; first guest, Regina Resnik, soprano, of Metropolitan Opera; "Ernani, Involami," from "Ernani," "With All My Heart," "Tico Tico," "Begin the Beguine."
45-02-15	2	Guest William Horne	N	[ AFRS Only] 45-02-15 Wisconsin State Journal 8 p.m.--Major Bowes' Shower of Stars (WBBM): guest, William Horne, tenor; "The Eagle and Me," "Sea Medley," "Tell Me Tonight," "Over the Rainbow."
45-02-22	3	Guest Yvette	N	45-02-22 Wisconsin State Journal 8 p.m.--Shower of Stars (WBBM): Yvette, guest vocalist; "My Heart Sings," "Alll the Things You Are," "St. Louis Blues," "The Very Thought of You."
45-03-01	4	Guest Robert Merrill	N	45-03-01 Wisconsin State Journal 8 p.m.--Shower of Stars (WBBM): Robert Merrill, concert baritone; "Largo al factotum," "Strange Music," "Song of the Open Road," "Chloe."
45-03-08	5	Guest Tommy Dix	N	45-03-08 Wisconsin State Journal 8 p.m.--Shower of Stars (WBBM): with Baritone Tommy Dix, Morton Gould orchestra; "Baia," "Buckle Down Winsocki," Victor Herbert medley, "Surrey With the Fringe on Top."
45-03-15	6	Guest Muriel Smith	N	45-03-15 Wisconsin State Journal 8 p.m.--Shower of Stars (WBBM): Muriel Smith, soprano star of "Carmen Jones," guest; "Hand Me Down My Walkin Cane," "Carmen Jones version of "Habanera" from "Carmen," "Stars in My Eyes," medley from "The Cat and the Fiddle."
45-03-22	7	Guest Christina Carroll	N	45-03-22 Wisconsin State Journal 8 p.m.--Shower of Stars (WBBM): Christina Carroll, colorature soprano of Metropolitan Opera, guest; "Jewel Song" from "Faust," "The Man I Love," "That Old Black Magic," "Tales from the Vienna Woods," "Cowboy Medley."
45-03-29	8	Guest Robert Merrill	N	45-03-29 Wisconsin State Journal 8 p.m.--Shower of Stars (WBBM): with Robert Merrill, baritone; "Cheek to Cheek," "Glory Road," "Barnyard Medley," "Rogre Young," "Stardust."
45-04-05	9	Guest Virginia McWatters	N	45-04-05 Wisconsin State Journal 8 p.m.--Shower of Stars (WBBM): guest singer, Virginia McWatters; "Alexander's Ragtime Band," "April in Paris," "Holiday for Strings," "With a Song in My Heart."
45-04-12	10	Guests The Coast Guard Quartet with Tom Lockard	N	45-04-12 Wisconsin State Journal 8 p.m.--Shower of Stars (WBBM): Coast guard quartet with Tom Lockard, baritone soloist; "One Meatball," "Li'l Liza Jane," Mexican medley, "If You Are But a Dream."
45-04-19	11	Guest Yvette	N	45-04-19 Wisconsin State Journal 8 p.m.--Shower of Stars (WBBM): guest, Yvette, singer; "Brazil," "My Dreams Are Getting Better," "Where or When," "Old Man River."
45-04-26	12	Guest Gertrude Ribla	N	45-04-26 Wisconsin State Journal 8 p.m.--Shower of Stars (WBBM): with Gertrude Ribla, dramatic soprano; "Vissi d'Arte" from "Tosca," "Falling in Love With Love," "Vilia," Schubert's "Ave Maria," Gay Nineties medley. 45-04-26 Berkely Gazette Major Bowes will retire from active radio participation with his broadcast, "Shower of Stars," tonight, 6 p.m., KQW
45-05-03	13	Guest Thomas Lockhart	N	45-05-03 Wisconsin State Journal 8:00 Shower of Stars--WBBM
45-05-10	14	Guest Unknown	N	45-05-10 Wisconsin State Journal 8 p.m.--Music of Morton Gould (WBBM): program of favorites.
45-05-17	15	Guests Kay Armen, Jubilaires	N	45-05-17 Wisconsin State Journal 8 p.m.--Morton Gould Music (WBBM): "One Morning in May," "Hora Staccato," "Dancing in the Dark," "Homespun Medley." 45-05-17 New York Times 9:00-WABC--Morton Gould and Orchestra; Kay Armen, the Jubalaires, Guests
45-05-24	16	Guest Eileen Farrell	N	45-05-24 Wisconsin State Journal 8 p.m.--Music of Morton Gould (WBBM): guest singer Eileen Farrell; program presenting special arrangements and original compositions by Gould.
45-05-31	17	Guest Burl Ives	N	45-05-31 Wisconsin State Journal 8 p.m.--Morton Gould Orchestra (WBBM): "Jungle Drums," "To a Wild Rose," "June Is Bustin' Out All Over," "Stardust." 45-05-31 New York Times 9:00-WABC--Morton Gould and Orchestra; Burl Ives, Guest
45-06-07	18	Guest Connie Boswell	N	45-06-07 New York Times 9:00-WABC--Morton Gould and Orchestra; Connie Boswell, Guest
45-06-14	19	Guest Bob Hannon	N	45-06-14 Wisconsin State Journal 8 p.m.--Music of Morton Gould (WBBM): guest, Bob Hannon, baritone; "Cheek to Cheek," "Donkey Serenade," "Dream," "Two Guitars."
45-06-21	20	Guest Genevieve Rowe	N	[ AFRS Only] 45-06-21 Wisconsin State Journal 8 p.m.--Music by Morton Gould (WBBM): with Genevieve Rowe, soprano; "Rosalie," "Hora Staccato," "Pavanne," "Birth of the Blues." 45-06-21 New York Times 9:00-WABC--Morton Gould and Orchestra; Genevieve Rowe, Soprano
45-06-28	21	All Gershwin Program with Todd Duncan	N	45-06-28 Wisconsin State Journal 8 p.m.--Music of Morton Gould (WBBM): Todd Duncan, baritone, guest, on all-Gershwin program; "Strike Up the Band," "Wintergreen for President," "Summertime," "The Man I Love."
45-07-05	22	Guests Mildred Bailey, Jubilaires	N	45-07-05 Wisconsin State Journal 8 p.m.--Morton Gould (WBBM): guests, Mildred Bailey, and Jubalaires, Negro quartet.
45-07-12	23	Guest Danny O'Neil	N	45-07-12 Wisconsin State Journal 8 p.m.--Morton Gould Orchestra (WBBM): "Marche Lorraine," "El Rancho Grande," "Georgia On My Mind," "Londonderry Air." 45-07-12 New York Times 9:00-WABC--Morton Gould and Orchestra; Danny O'Neil, Guest
45-07-19	24	Guest Earl Wrightson	N	45-07-19 Wisconsin State Journal 8 p.m.--Music of Morton Gould (WBBM): "Tropical," "Lisa," "Dark Eyes," "Laura." 45-07-19 New York Times 9:00-WABC--Morton Gould and Orchestra; Earl Wrightson, Baritone

45-07-26	25	Guest Eileen Farrell	N	[ Summer Concert series, featuring Donald Voorhees and orchestra] 45-07-26 Wisconsin State Journal 8 p.m.--Summer Concert (WBBM): Donald Voorhees, guest conductor for program of light music, with Eileen Farrell as soloist; "Louisiana Hayride," "Baia," "The More I See You," "Frankie and Johnny."
45-08-02	26	Guest Lee Sullivan	N	45-08-02 Wisconsin State Journal 8 p.m.--Summer Concert (WBBM): Lee Sullivan, tenor, and guest-conductor Don Voorhees.
45-08-09	27	Guest Kay Armen	N	45-08-09 Wisconsin State Journal 8 p.m.--Don Voorhees and Orchestra (WBBM): Kay Armen, guest singer.
45-08-16	28	Guests Jean Tighe, Jack Smith	N	45-08-16 New York Times 9:00-WABC--Donald Voorhees and Orchestra; Jean Tighe and Jack Smith, Songs
45-08-23	29	Guest Unknown	N	45-08-23 Wisconsin State Journal 8:00 Summer Concert--WBBM. 45-08-23 New York Times 9:00-WABC--Donald Voorhees and Orchestra and Soloists
45-08-30	30	Guests Peggy Mann, Jubilaires	N	45-08-30 Wisconsin State Journal 8:00 Summer Concert--WBBM. 45-08-30 New York Times 9:00-WABC--Donald Voorhees Orchestra; Peggy Mann, Songs; Jubilaires Quartet
45-09-06	--		--	45-09-06 Wisconsin State Journal 8:00 Andre Kostelanetz--WBBM. 45-09-06 New York Times 9:00-WABC--Andre Kostelanetz Orchestra; Lily Pons, Guest

AFRS R-Series 'Shower of Stars' Program Log
Date	AFRS #	Title	Avail.	Notes
45-02-15		Guest William Horne	Y
45-06-07	19	Guest Peggy Mann	N
45-06-21		Guest Genevieve Rowe	Y
45-08-30	20	Guest Connie Boswell	N

The Shower of Stars Radio Program Biographies

Morton Gould
(Composer and Conductor)
(1913-1996)

Birthplace: Richmond Hill, New York City, New York, U.S.A.

Education: New York University

Radiography:

1939 Good News of 1940
1940 ASCAP World's Fair Concert
1942 This Is War
1943 Uncle Sam Presents
1945 Shower Of Stars
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.

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The Shower of Stars Radio Program

Background

The Shower of Stars Radio Program Log

AFRS R-Series 'Shower of Stars' Program Log

The Shower of Stars Radio Program Biographies