Sparkle Time Explained

Show Name:	Sparkle Time
Other Names:	Sparkle Time with Meredith Willson
Country:	United States
Language:	English
Syndicates:	CBS
Starring:	Meredith Willson
Director:	Myron Dutton
Producer:	John Bates Myron Dutton
First Aired:	October 4, 1946
Last Aired:	March 28, 1947
Sponsor:	Canada Dry

Sparkle Time was a musical radio program in the United States. It was broadcast on CBS October 4, 1946 - March 28, 1947.^[1]

Background

Meredith Willson was the orchestra leader on the George Burns and Gracie Allen radio program. He headed Maxwell House Coffee Time as the summer replacement for that show for 13 weeks beginning June 6, 1946.^[2] Executives at Canada Dry decided to sponsor a similar program with Willson at the helm beginning in the fall of 1946. The name Sparkle Time was selected as a reminder "of the fizz of the sponsor's beverage."

The program's advertising led to an award for J.M. Mathes Inc. "for the creation of the most effective direct selling, sponsored program, Canada Dry Sparkle Time" for 1946. The recognition came from the Committee on National Radio Awards of the City College of New York.^[3]

Citing a shortage of sugar, Canada Dry dropped its sponsorship of Sparkle Time effective March 28, 1947, and that ended the program.^[4]

Format

Sparkle Time featured a combination of music and comedy much like that found in many other programs of its era. One thing that set it apart, however, was its delivery of commercials, described as "a unique approach to support [Willson's] sponsors." A five-member group, Talking People, spoke the words in commercials in unison. The technique "caught on with the public, sponsors, and even media critics who were impressed with the concept and its results."

Discovery Department

The program had a regular feature called "Discovery Department," in which a relatively unknown entertainer was given exposure on network radio.^[5] Those introduced in that segment included the following:

• Annette Warren, "accomplished concert pianist and singer .. making her radio debut" (October 4, 1946)^[5]
• Jean Nelson, a mezzo-soprano who had performed on two USO tours (November 8, 1946)^[6]
• Ernie Felice, "young accordion stylist whose playing has done much to take the instrument out of the mazurka and polka class and into swing" (November 22, 1946)^[7]
• Marion Francis, "promising young Hollywood singer" (January 3, 1947)^[8]
• Sam Salop, a singer and AAF veteran who lost both arms in World War II (January 17, 1947)^[9]
• Rece Saxon, a mezzo-soprano who had "been featured as soloist at the Hollywood Bowl and in concert with Werner Jannssen's Symphony Orchestra." (January 31, 1947)^[10]
• Ralph Isbell, a bass singer who won the 1946 Atwater Kent auditions (February 14, 1947)^[11]
• Norma Zimmer, a member of Willson's Talking People group (and who later became a featured performer on The Lawrence Welk Show on television, made her solo debut on radio (February 28, 1947)^[12]
• Dorothy Wade, a violinist who played a violin that was made in 1704 and was given to her by Jascha Heifetz (March 7, 1947)^[13]
• Teresa Piper, 18-year-old lyric soprano from Canada, who had sung with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra (March 28, 1947)^[14]

Personnel

Sparkle Time featured Meredith Willson and his orchestra—Willson's first opportunity to have "his own show on prime time radio."^{[15] [16]}

The program's choral group was Talking People, described in an article in a trade publication as "a unique group of radio commercial renderers" and as a "group of five who talk as one."^[17] Willson directed the group much as he would an orchestra. The original five members were John Rarig, Betty Allan, Bob Hanlon, Norma Zimmer, and Maxwell Smith.^[17]

Paulena Carter was the pianist,^[18] and Ben Gage was a singer and the announcer.^{[19] [20]}

John Bates was the initial producer; Myron Dutton was the director^[5] and later became producer.^[21]

External links

• Log of two Sparkle Time episodes from radioGOLDINdex

Notes and References

1. Book: Dunning, John. John Dunning (detective fiction author)

   . On the Air: The Encyclopedia of Old-Time Radio. John Dunning (detective fiction author) . 1998. Oxford University Press. New York, NY. 978-0-19-507678-3. 455 . Revised. 2019-10-09.

2. News: "Coffee Time" A Musical for 13-Wk. Summer Period. 10 August 2015. Radio Daily. May 23, 1946. 6.
3. News: CCNY Plaque Winners Announced. 11 August 2015. Broadcasting. March 31, 1947. 20.
4. News: To Drop 'Sparkle Time'. 11 August 2015. Broadcasting. March 10, 1947. 87.
5. News: 'Sparkle Time With Meredith Willson' Heard on WHP Friday Nights, 7.30. Harrisburg Telegraph. September 28, 1946. 19. Newspapers.com. August 11, 2015.
6. News: Seattle Soprano to Make Radio Debut on 'Sparkle Time' on WHP. Harrisburg Telegraph. November 2, 1946. 19. Newspapers.com. August 10, 2015.
7. News: D.H.S. Game On WSOY-FM. The Decatur Herald. November 22, 1946. 22. Newspapers.com. August 11, 2015.
8. News: Guest Singer. Harrisburg Telegraph. December 28, 1946. 17. Newspapers.com. September 4, 2015.
9. News: A.A.F. Vet on Sparkle Time. The Decatur Herald. January 17, 1947. 11. Newspapers.com. August 10, 2015.
10. News: "Sparkle Time" Introduces New Mezzo-Soprano. Harrisburg Telegraph. January 25, 1947. 17. Newspapers.com. August 11, 2015.
11. News: On The Beam. The Mason City Globe-Gazette. February 14, 1947. 2. Newspapers.com. August 10, 2015.
12. News: On The Beam. The Mason City Globe-Gazette. February 28, 1947. 1. Newspapers.com. August 11, 2015.
13. News: 'Sparkle Time' Guest Plays Rare Violin, Gift of Jascha Heifetz. Harrisburg Telegraph. March 1, 1947. 19. Newspapers.com. August 10, 2015.
14. News: Simms, Disney Writer Paired. The Decatur Daily Review. March 28, 1947. 7. Newspapers.com. August 11, 2015.
15. Book: Skipper. John C.. Meredith Willson: The Unsinkable Music Man. 2000. Da Capo Press. 9781882810789. 84–85. 8 August 2015.
16. Book: Oates. Bill. Meredith Willson - America's Music Man: The Whole Broadway-Symphonic-Radio-Motion Picture Story. 2005. 9781420835250. 85.
17. News: August. Ann. The Talking People. 10 August 2015. Broadcasting. January 3, 1949. 35.
18. News: 'Ford Showroom' Set For Wednesday, 9.30 P.M.; Meredith Willson Stars. Harrisburg Telegraph. June 14, 1947. 19. Newspapers.com. August 10, 2015.
19. News: On The Beam. The Mason City Globe-Gazette. October 11, 1946. 2. Newspapers.com. August 10, 2015.
20. News: Willson Heads Conga Line. Harrisburg Telegraph. January 11, 1947. 19. Newspapers.com. August 10, 2015.
21. News: Agencies. 10 August 2015. Broadcasting. September 9, 1946. 50.