Shower of Stars - March 8, 1945

Finally this week on the blog, a popular but less remembered musical variety show.  “Major Bowes’s Shower of Stars” was heard on CBS in a series that featured a more traditional format, unlike his famous “Amateur Hour” and its talent competition.

In this post, the broadcast of March 8, 1945, as it was rebroadcast on the Armed Forces Radio Service as a replacement for episode 88 of “The Family Hour”.  I think this may be a lost episode of the series.

Major Bowes isn’t heard in this particular episode - he was ill for a few months and unable to appear.  The first song is "Baía" from the Walt Disney film “The Three Cabelleros” performed by Morton Gould and His Orchestra.  We also hear this week's featured performer, previous “Amateur Hour” winner Tommy Dix, perform the song he made famous, “Buckle Down Winsocki”, along with “Through the Years” and “The Lord’s Prayer”.  (You can find out more about Dix’s life and work at a website devoted to his work.)

The show was transferred from an original 16” Armed Forces Radio Service vinyl transcription.  The date is from the disc matrix.

And deepest thanks to blog listener William Harris for his donation of the disc to the collection!