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 Oscar Levant |
 By
1936 you had become the “Voice of Firestone” along
with Margaret Speaks and Richard Crooks. On the program of March
23, 1936 you sang one of my all-time favorites…”Trees”. |
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Radio
Guide has now listed you among the top five “Stars
of Stars” (you leading the pack as a “Singer of Operatic
or Classical songs”) and there you stayed. In December, 1935
Grace Moore invited you to guest on “Vick’s Open House”
but by September, 1936 it became “Vick’s Open House With
Nelson Eddy” and you did all the inviting!
Grace Moore.
| Going
with you to “Vicks..” was Francia White to grace your
duets but she was soon followed by Nadine Conner who would be
with you for the rest of the series and beyond. Now Radio Guide
has put the show in first place of their “Musical Shows”
listings so you continued to set high standards in the world of
music. |
 Nadine Conner |
Variety
announced: “ (Nelson) Eddy, generally graded the top ranking
baritone for mass and sex appeal, hopped abourd the fast movin’
Chase and Sanborn streamliner with Sunday’s (August 8, 1937)
edition”. You were surrounded by talented friends for this sojourn,
and tapes of these shows are still making the rounds among fans.
 Don Ameche |
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 Edgar Bergen &Charlie McCarthy |
You
now had celebrated guest stars too numerous to mention. On November
14th ,1937 you sang” Shortnin’ Bread” on the show
and caused a uproar. You had done that song before (once on the Hoffman
Variety Hour, once on Vick’s Open House) but it was the first
time Charlie had heard it!
Your
regular appearances on the Chase and Sanborn Hour ended in November,
1939 after over two years minus time off for films and concerts. But
you never left radio and did special guest spots and theater in the
interim. Then, in 1942, Lorillard (Old Gold) offered you a weekly
show of your own. “The Nelson Eddy Show” premiered on April
29th, 1942! In May of that year, Nadine Conner joined you. On the
the studio lot you were making your last film with Jeanette…and
MGM. “I Married An Angel” wasn’t your best outing
together.
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In Pittsburgh Sunday, September 16th, 1942 over CBS affiliate WJAS, “The Nelson Eddy Show” aired as usual. Nelson began the program with “Flying Down to Rio” from the film of the same name. He then introduced Russell Radell, a merchant mariner who had two, count ‘em, two, ships sunk under him since the war began. Twenty minutes into the program, as Nelson and soprano Nadine Conner began their duet of “Wanting You” from Nelson’s film “New Moon”, the music suddenly stopped! The connection was lost! After a few seconds, a staff pianist ended the silence and, minutes later, the program resumed. Pittsburgh heard Nelson again. But the switchboard was ablaze with calls from disgruntled listeners! Nelson Eddy replaced by a piano! Never! |
The Old Gold series wrapped up on January 20th, 1943 and, in June,
you began “The Bell Telephone Hour with Nelson Eddy” with
another of my favorites. “Play, Gypsies… Dance, Gypsies”.
On September, 14th, 1944 you became the host of “The Electric
Hour” with Gloria Scott as the resident soprano. Variety thought
it was a great way to spend a Sunday afternoon. There were special
guests..Frances McCann, 12 year old Lois Butler, Florence George and
even Mel Blanc. In January, 1945 you were joined by Shirley Dinsdale
and her “close friend“, Judy Splinters!
 Mel Blanc |
 Shirley and "Judy" |
Then, on April 15th, you had a very special guest to help you commemorate
the death of our president. It was your favorite lady, Jeanette MacDonald!
Jeanette
Anne
Jamison joined you after you took a summer break to work with Walt
Disney on “Make Mine Music”. Jeanette came and so did
Rise Stevens, Kathryn Grayson and Oscar Levant. And when you missed
three broadcasts in February and March due to illness , you were helped
out by Kenny baker, Dinah Shore and, yes, Jeanette again!
 Rise Stevens |
 Kathryn Grayson |
 Kenny Baker |
 Dinah Shore |
| By
February 1947, you were back with Charlie on The Charlie McCarthy
Show” (Bergen had been bumped to just a voice in the trees!)
That took you through your last film too and movies became a
thing of the past. You began “The Kraft Music Hall”
in July, 1947 with Nadine Conner and concert pianist, Leonard
Pennario. In June, 1948 Dorothy Kirsten replaced Nadine and when
she became ill on September 16th, you had your Jeanette back for
an encore night! The series ended on September 22nd, 1949. You
guested on the Telephone Hour seven more times from 1950 until
1952 and did one one Nelson Eddy Show with Martha Tilton and her
sister Liz. |
 Martha Tilton. |
After
that, there were guest spots and radio theater and you even ventured
into television with guest appearances and your own pilot “Nelson’s
Backyard”. But new horizons beckoned you. The golden age of
radio was over and you knew it was time to move on so you said goodbye
to your first love.
But
radio was never the same without you.
So let’s have just one more piece of radio lore….the song you sang on “The Nelson Eddy Show” September 2nd, 1942...”Without a Song”.
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The Street of Dreams now has a name! |
| On September 27th at Hollywood Forever Cemetery Nelson Eddy Drive was formally dedicated thanks to all of his fans! They came from all over the world to gather at his gravesite. What a wonderful tribute to our beloved Nelson! | |
Another
surprise! |
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Arabella
& Co. polished and shined Nelson‘s “stars”
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Next edition: Nelson Does Radio Theater!