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ABC Radio Christmas Eve 1967

M

Mike_Rafone

Somewhere around here I have a cassette recording of the last 10 minutes (11:50-Midnight) of a program of Christmas music WGST carried on Christmas Eve 1967. Would have been a Sunday night. Had to be 1967 because it was before the 4-network split. Last two numbers were the HALLELUJAH CHORUS and CAROL OF THE BELLS. Seemingly part of an entire evening of seasonal music they offered to the stations. Does anybody remember that? Can you tell me anything more about it? Can't remember the name of the guy hosting, but I can't forget the quote of his as the show ended: "And now, having raced across the Atlantic Ocean at 1,000 miles an hour, Christmas Day is touching the tip of Maine, to spread all across America. Good night, and Merry Christmas from the ABC Radio Network."

Thanks, folks.
 
Mike,

I was in the Army at the time so I didn't hear the program, but like you I was/am an admirer of the later years of Network radio. I know CBS still carried the New Years Eve big band broadcasts long after their daytime programming was gone and Bing Crosby still did a Christmas Show. Many AM stations were allowed to carry it a day late because it was broadcast after their daytime signoff.
 
NBC Radio until the early 1970's still raun a 30-minute pre New Year's show live from Times Square with Ben Grauer. They'd simulcast parts of it, and the last countdown on Johnny Carson's TONIGHT SHOW if it was a week-night. Then they'd do the "NBC ALL STAR PARADE OF BANDS" starting with the Rainbow Room from The Empire State Building, moving once a time zone until 3:00 AM with different remotes.

Didn't know about the CBS programming.

Yes, the Bing Crosby shows were long-time feature of CBS Christmas Eve. Some of them were fairly recent, but most of them were the tapes of shows he did in the early 1950's.

Thanks for sharing.
 
Bing Crosby did "Christmas Sing with Bing," on CBS until 1962. The 15 minute show was sponsored by the Insurance Company of North America. Crosby's long time announcer, Ken Carpenter did the introductions and commercial breaks.
 
Do you know if Bing's show was part of a block of Christmas Eve programming, or was it stand alone? Being only 15 minutes, even though sold, seems to be a lot of trouble for the network to offer just that programming.

What I'm trying to do is to figure out what the networks did after they dumped all the regular entertainment shows in the early 60's. This ABC block must have been some kind of "favor" to the affiliates, offering them programming but not demanding much of their local staffs. I suppose it was sustaining, and don't even know for certain if they broke for news at :30; certainly they did an ID break at :00

Any help from anyone else would be appreciated.
 
I stand corrected. It was usually about 55 minutes long with CBS News at the top of the hour.The last broadcast was on Christmas Eve, 1962. According to the New York Times, radio programming on CBS on Dec. 24, 1962 included musical performances celebrating the season. I do not know if these were network programs. When Christmas Sing With Bing aired in 1957, it was preceded by news and musical programs. Amos n' Andy's Christmas show was broadcast at 7:05 EST, followed by news, commentary with Edward R. Murrow and "Rusty Draper" before Bing. That was followed by "Bach Mass".
 
I tried to stay on top of network radio special holiday programming during the last days of the networks (early to late 60's). It was difficult in Atlanta because the CBS and Mutual affiliate were daytimers. Sustaining generic music programs were offered as stated to give stations the opportunity to let as many employees off with part timers running the board without having to say much of anything. I listened to KMOX St Louis and WWL New Orleans for CBS programming. Mutual was more difficult. WSM Nashville was good for NBC on weeknights but on the weekend the Grand Ole Opry broadcasts dominated. WGST carried most of the ABC stuff until the breakup. WSB AM was great for NBC network holiday sports programming but would carry local religious church events rather than network offerings (most cases). It's been a long time since I thought hard about those programs. Thanks for letting me know I was not the only one interested.
 
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