The Jack Carson Show

{{short description|Radio comedy-variety program}} {{Use mdy dates|date=March 2025}} {{Infobox radio show | show_name = ''The Jack Carson Show'' | image = File:Jack Carson in The Hard Way trailer.jpg | imagesize = 250 px | caption = Jack Carson | other_names = ''New Jack Carson Show'' ''The Sealtest Village Store'' | format = Comedy-variety | runtime = | country = United States | language = English | home_station = KNX | syndicates = CBS NBC CBC Dominion | television = ''The Jack Carson Show'' | presenter = | starring = Jack Carson | announcer = Del Sharbutt Carlton KaDell Howard Petrie Hy Averback Bob Stewart | creator = | writer = Sol Stein Tom Adair Jack Douglas Howard Harris Leo Solomon Dave Swift Leonard Levinson Lou Fulton Mack Benoff | director = Bill Brennan Vick Knight Sam Fuller Larry Berns | senior_editor = | editor = | producer = Bill Brennan Vick Knight Sam Fuller Larry Berns | exec_producer = | narrated = | rec_location = | rem_location = | oth_location = | first_aired = {{Start date|1943|06|02}} | last_aired = {{End date|1956|12|20}} | num_series = | num_episodes = | audio_format = | opentheme = "The Moment We Met" | othertheme = | endtheme = | sponsor = Campbell Soup Company Sanka coffee Sealtest | website =  | podcast =  }} [[File:Chicago—City of Contrasts (1949 photograph by Stanley Kubrick).jpg|thumb|upright=1.2|Photo of a Chicago streetscape taken by Stanley Kubrick ''Look'' magazine, 1949, from State/Lake station]] [[File:Stanley Kubrick - Chicago Theatre cph.3d02346.jpg|thumb|upright=1.2|People arriving at the Chicago Theatre for a show starring, in person, Jack Carson, Marion Hutton, and Robert Alda, taken by Stanley Kubrick for ''Look'' magazine, 1949]]

'''''The Jack Carson Show''''' is an American old-time radio comedy-variety program. It was broadcast on different seasons on CBS and NBC, beginning on June 2, 1943, and ending on December 20, 1956. The program was also known as '''''The Sealtest Village Store''''',<ref name="dunningota">{{cite book |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=EwtRbXNca0oC&dq=%22The+Jack+Carson+Show,+comedy%22&pg=PA363 |last=Dunning |first=John |authorlink=John Dunning (detective fiction author) |title=On the Air: The Encyclopedia of Old-Time Radio |date=1998 |publisher=Oxford University Press |location=New York, NY |isbn=978-0-19-507678-3 |page=363 |edition=Revised |accessdate=2019-09-06}}</ref> and the '''''New Jack Carson Show.'''''<ref name="bc071943">{{cite news |title=(untitled brief) |url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Magazines/Archive-BC-IDX/43-OCR/1943-07-19-BC-OCR-Page-0059.pdf#search=Vick+Knight+Jack+Carson |accessdate=2 July 2018 |work=Broadcasting |date=July 19, 1943 |page=55}}</ref> It was carried on the CBC Dominion network in Canada, as well.<ref>{{cite news |title=Renewal Accounts |url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Magazines/Archive-BC-IDX/46-OCR/1946-11-18-BC-OCR-Page-0064.pdf#search=Renewal+Campbell |accessdate=2 July 2018 |work=Broadcasting |date=November 18, 1946 |page=64}}</ref> Additionally, ''The Jack Carson Show'' is the title of a television program that was broadcast on NBC from October 22, 1954, until March 11, 1955.<ref name=tt>{{cite book|last1=McNeil|first1=Alex|title=Total Television|date=1996|publisher=Penguin Books USA, Inc.|location=New York, New York|isbn=0-14-02-4916-8|pages= 420–421|edition=4th}}</ref>

==Premise== Comedian Jack Carson played himself in a show akin to ''The Jack Benny Program'' in the way it portrayed a comedic version of the star's home life, supplemented with music.<ref name="rp">{{cite book|last1=Terrace|first1=Vincent|title=Radio Programs, 1924-1984: A Catalog of More Than 1800 Shows|date=1999|publisher=McFarland & Company, Inc.|isbn=978-0-7864-4513-4|pages=169–170}}</ref> Radio historian John Dunning described Carson's characterization on the show as "generally bumbling and dumb."<ref name=dunningota/>

A later version of the program had Carson in the role of "a very capable m.c., bantering with his supporting cast, reading an 'off-beat' item from a newspaper and recounting a humorous incident.<ref name=":1" />

Originating at KNX in Los Angeles, California,<ref>{{cite news |title=(KNX advertisement) |url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Magazines/Archive-BC-IDX/43-OCR/1943-08-23-BC-OCR-Page-0015.pdf |accessdate=2 July 2018 |work=Broadcasting |date=August 23, 1943 |page=15}}</ref> the program debuted as a summer replacement for Milton Berle's show.<ref>{{cite news |title=British Are Using Radio to Carry on War Against Axis |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/21464079/battle_creek_enquirer/ |work=Battle Creek Enquirer |date=May 20, 1943 |location=Michigan, Battle Creek |page=22|via = Newspapers.com|accessdate = July 1, 2018}} {{Open access}}</ref> Sponsors over the years included Campbell Soup Company,<ref>{{cite news |title=Renewal Accounts |url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Magazines/Archive-BC-IDX/43-OCR/1943-08-16-BC-OCR-Page-0060.pdf#search=Accounts+Campbell |accessdate=2 July 2018 |work=Broadcasting |date=August 16, 1943 |page=56}}</ref> Sanka coffee,<ref name=":0" /> and Sealtest.<ref name=dunningota/>

==Personnel== Besides Carson, regular characters on the show and the actors who portrayed them are shown in the table below. {| class="wikitable" |- ! Character !! Actor |- | Carson's nephew, Tugwell || Dave Willock<ref name="dunningota" /> |- | Carson's press agent || Eddie Marr<ref name="dunningota" /> |- | Mrs. Freddy Martin || Agnes Moorehead<ref name="dunningota" /> |- | Treacher, the butler || Arthur Treacher |- | Norma Jean || Norma Jean Nilsson<ref name=rp/> |- | Miss Ryan || Irene Ryan<ref name="dunningota" /> |- | Aunt Sally || Elizabeth Patterson<ref name=rp/> |- | Hubert Peabody || Mel Blanc<ref name=rp/> |- | Mrs. Foster || Jane Morgan<ref name=rp/> |}

Others often heard on the program included Doris Drew, Maxie Rosenbloom, and Hanley Stafford.<ref name="rp" />

Announcers were Del Sharbutt, Carlton KaDell, Howard Petrie,<ref name="dunningota" /> Hy Averback, and Bob Stewart. Music was led by Ray Chamberlain, Charles Dante, Walter Gross, Freddy Martin, and Johnny Richards.<ref name="rp" /> Singers on the show included Olga San Juan,<ref name=":0">{{cite news |title=Sanka Sponsors |url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Magazines/Archive-BC-IDX/48-OCR/1948-09-13-BC-OCR-Page-0083.pdf#search=Sanka |access-date=3 July 2018 |work=Broadcasting |date=September 13, 1948 |page=83}}</ref> Tony Romano,<ref name=":1">{{cite news |title=Jack Carson Show |url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Magazines/Archive-BC-IDX/55-OCR/1955-10-10-BC-OCR-Page-0013.pdf |access-date=3 July 2018 |work=Broadcasting |date=October 10, 1955 |page=13}}</ref> Marion Hutton,<ref>{{cite news |title=Production |url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Magazines/Archive-BC-IDX/48-OCR/1948-10-04-BC-OCR-Page-0093.pdf#search=Hutton |access-date=3 July 2018 |work=Broadcasting |date=October 4, 1948 |page=85}}</ref> Anita Ellis, and the King Sisters.<ref name="rp" />

Bill Brennan,<ref name=":1" /> Vick Knight, Sam Fuller, and Larry Berns were producer-directors. Sol Stein, Tom Adair,<ref name=":1" /> Jack Douglas, Howard Harris, Leo Solomon,<ref>{{cite news |title=Production |url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Magazines/Archive-BC-IDX/48-OCR/1948-09-20-BC-OCR-Page-0094.pdf#search=solomon |access-date=3 July 2018 |work=Broadcasting |date=September 20, 1948 |page=90}}</ref> Dave Swift,<ref>{{cite news |title=Production |url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Magazines/Archive-BC-IDX/48-OCR/1948-10-25-BC-OCR-Page-0084.pdf#search=Dave+Swift |access-date=3 July 2018 |work=Broadcasting |date=October 25, 1948 |page=76}}</ref> Leonard Levinson, Lou Fulton,<ref name="dunningota" /> and Mack Benoff were writers.<ref>{{cite news |title=Behind the Mike |url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Magazines/Archive-BC-IDX/44-OCR/1944-03-13-BC-OCR-Page-0044.pdf#search=benoff |access-date=2 July 2018 |work=Broadcasting |date=March 13, 1944 |page=44}}</ref> Knight and Richards collaborated to compose the program's theme song, "The Moment We Met".<ref name="bc071943" />

==Radio broadcast schedule== The table below gives information about when ''The Jack Carson Show'' was broadcast. {| class="wikitable" |- ! Beginning Date !! Ending Date !! Day of Week !! Network |- | June 2, 1943 || June 25, 1947 || Wednesday || CBS |- | September 11, 1947 || July 8, 1948 || Thursday || NBC (Sealtest) |- | October 8, 1948 || July 1, 1949 || Friday || CBS |- | October 3, 1955 || December 20, 1956 || Monday- Friday || CBS |} '''Source:''' ''On the Air: The Encyclopedia of Old-Time Radio''<ref name=dunningota/>

'''Note:''' The 1947-1948 version of the program was titled ''The Sealtest Village Store''.<ref name="dunningota" /> Jack Carson replaced Jack Haley as lead comic in September 1947, while Eve Arden was ''manager''.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://oldradioprograms.us/Jack%20Carson%20Show.htm | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140703024439/http://oldradioprograms.us/Jack%20Carson%20Show.htm | archive-date=2014-07-03 | title=The Jack Carson Show }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Dumb.com - Old Time Radio - Sealtest_Village_Store - Sealtest Village Store |url=https://www.dumb.com/oldtimeradio/radio/1914//Sealtest_Village_Store.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250120152648/https://www.dumb.com/oldtimeradio/radio/1914//Sealtest_Village_Store.html |archive-date=2025-01-20 |access-date=2025-10-08 |website=www.dumb.com |language=en}}</ref>

In 1949, as part of the show, Jack Carson's radio program toured, with Jack Carson, Marion Hutton, and Robert Alda.<ref name="bandchirps/marion-hutton">{{cite web |title=Marion Hutton |url=https://bandchirps.com/artist/marion-hutton/ |website=BandChirps |access-date=30 August 2023}}</ref>

==Television== In the TV version of ''The Jack Carson Show'', Carson was host for "a program of music, songs, and comedy sketches."<ref name="etvs">{{cite book|last1=Terrace|first1=Vincent|title=Encyclopedia of Television Shows, 1925 through 2010|date=2011|publisher=McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers|location=Jefferson, N.C.|isbn=978-0-7864-6477-7|page=520|edition=2nd}}</ref> Sponsored by Pontiac automobiles, the show was broadcast on Friday nights on NBC,<ref name=tt/> alternating with ''The Red Buttons Show''.<ref>{{cite news |title=Auto Advertising |url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Magazines/Archive-BC-IDX/54-OCR/1954-10-04-BC-OCR-Page-0028.pdf#search=Pontiac |accessdate=3 July 2018 |work=Broadcasting |date=October 4, 1954 |page=28}}</ref>

Besides Carson, regular cast members included Don Ameche, Kitty Kallen, Ray McDonald, Donald Richards, Peggy Ryan, Constance Towers, and The Asia Boys. Announcers were Bud Heistand and Ed Peck. The orchestra was led by Vic Schoen and Harry Sosnik.<ref name="etvs" />

== References == {{Reflist}}

== External links == {{Portal|Radio|Television}}

===Logs=== *[http://www.otrsite.com/otrsite/logs/logj1018.htm Log of episodes of ''The Jack Carson Show'' from Jerry Haendiges Vintage Radio Logs] *[http://www.otrr.org/FILES/Logs_txt/The%20Jack%20Carson%20Show.txt Log of episodes of ''The Jack Carson Show'' from Old Time Radio Researchers Group] *[https://radiogoldin.library.umkc.edu/Home/RadioGoldin_Records?searchString=The%20Jack%20Carson%20Show&type=Programs Log of episodes of ''The Jack Carson Show'' from radioGOLDINdex]

===Streaming=== *[http://www.dumb.com/oldtimeradio/radio/1451//Jack_Carson.html Episodes of ''The Jack Carson Show'' from Dumb.com] *[https://oldradioprograms.us/Jack%20Carson%20Show.htm Episodes of ''The Jack Carson Show'' from Old Radio Programs] *[http://otrrlibrary.org/OTRRLib/Library%20Files/J%20Series/Jack%20Carson%20Show/ Episodes of ''The Jack Carson Show'' from Old Time Radio Researchers Group Library]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Jack Carson Show}}  Category:1943 radio programme debuts Category:1956 radio programme endings Category:1940s American radio programs Category:1950s American radio programs Category:CBS Radio programs Category:NBC radio programs Category:American comedy radio programs