Johnny Mercer radio programs collection

Collection

Identifier: M241

Staff Only
Not requestable

Scope and Contents of the Records

This collection is comprised entirely of audio recordings in CD and cassette formats, purchased from the now-closed vendor/publisher Crabapple Sound. There are 254 individual radio programs (dated 1934-1956) included, most 15 or 30 minutes long. There are also some short safety announcement recordings and one lengthy two-part retrospective program, dated 1999.

Exact dates for each program (where known) and lists of featured performers can be found in the Scope and Contents note section for each item.

Dates

Creation: 1934-1956, 1999

Creator

Mercer, Johnny, 1909-1976 (Person)

Restrictions on Access

Collection is open for research use.

Terms Governing Use and Reproduction

Georgia State University is the owner of the physical collection and makes reproductions available for research, subject to the copyright law of the United States and item condition. Georgia State University may or may not own the rights to materials in the collection. It is the researcher's responsibility to verify copyright ownership and obtain permission from the copyright holder before publication, reproduction, or display of the materials beyond what is reasonable under copyright law. Researchers may quote selections from the collection under the fair use provision of copyright law.

Biographical / Historical Note

The radio programs included in this collection date from 1934 to 1956, during the Golden Age of Radio when radio broadcasts were the main household electronic entertainment. Though radio broadcasts were as varied as television channels would eventually be, the programs in this collection are primarily musical. They typically feature a celebrity host with a handful of guests who perform musical numbers or occasionally short comedic skits. It was not uncommon for commercial brands to sponsor these programs and include their name somehow in the title of the program (e.g. Benny Goodman’s Camel Caravan sponsored by Camel Cigarettes or Dinah Shore’s Bird’s Eye Open House sponsored by Bird’s Eye Foods). Some of the included radio programs were popular national broadcasts while others (like Command Performance and Jubilee) were broadcast on the Armed Forces Radio Network for troops overseas during World War II.

Several notable entertainers appear repeatedly in this collection as hosts of the radio shows. These people include:

Eddie Condon – Bandleader, jazz guitarist, and prominent jazz club owner.

Benny Goodman – Bandleader and swing/jazz musician, known as “The King of Swing.”

Johnny Mercer – Lyricist, songwriter, and singer. Best known for such songs as “Moon River” and “Days of Wine and Roses.”

Dinah Shore – Singer, actress, and television personality.

Ernie Whitman – Actor, known for his roles in the film Gone With The Wind and the Broadway play The Last Mile.

Extent

2.3 Linear Feet (in 5 boxes)

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

The Johnny Mercer Radio Programs Collection consists of audio recordings of more than 250 radio broadcasts, primarily dated 1934-1956. These musical radio shows feature performances from many notable entertainers of the time, but they all include either performances by Johnny Mercer, performances of his songs, or are otherwise related to his career.