The Goodrich Silvertown Orchestra
Encyclopedia
The Goodrich Silvertown Orchestra was a musical variety radio program, sponsored by B. F. Goodrich
and heard in different formats and timeslots from 1925 until 1935. The performers included Henry Burr
(tenor), Carl Mathieu (tenor), James Stanley (baritone), Stanley Baughman (bass), Monroe Silver
(comedian), Frank Banta (piano), and Sam Herman (xylophone). The Orchestra's theme music was "Her Waltz" by Arthur Johnston
.
The hour-long program of "orchestra, songs, character sketches" began on February 12, 1925 on WEAF
in New York City, airing Thursday nights at 10pm ET. On November 19, 1926, the show moved to the NBC Red Network
-- of which WEAF was the flagship station -- where it was heard Thursdays at 9pm ET (1926-27) and then Wednesdays at 9:30pm ET (1927-28). At various times the program was titled The Goodrich Zippers, The Silvertown Cord Orchestra, Silvertown Orchestra, Silvertown Quartet and The Silvertown Zippers. The Zippers were a small banjo ensemble featured in 1926-27.
, police had to escort White into theaters.
In 1935-36, B. A. Rolfe was the bandleader on 15-minute pre-recorded programs created for syndication.
Goodrich Corporation
The Goodrich Corporation , formerly the B.F. Goodrich Company, is an American aerospace manufacturing company based in Charlotte, North Carolina. Founded in Akron, Ohio in 1870 as Goodrich, Tew & Co. by Dr. Benjamin Franklin Goodrich. The company name was changed to the "B.F...
and heard in different formats and timeslots from 1925 until 1935. The performers included Henry Burr
Henry Burr
Henry Burr was a Canadian singer of popular songs from the early 20th century, an early radio performer and producer...
(tenor), Carl Mathieu (tenor), James Stanley (baritone), Stanley Baughman (bass), Monroe Silver
Monroe Silver
Monroe Silver was an American actor and singer who was also a comedian and monologist using a Jewish dialect-accent in his performances. For various record labels, he recorded 78rpm discs of parodies like Cohen on the Telephone and Cohen Phones to His Friend Levy. Lee De Forest recorded Silver...
(comedian), Frank Banta (piano), and Sam Herman (xylophone). The Orchestra's theme music was "Her Waltz" by Arthur Johnston
Arthur Johnston (composer)
Arthur Johnston was a composer known for such works as “Mandy, Make Up Your Mind,” "Pennies From Heaven," and many others...
.
The hour-long program of "orchestra, songs, character sketches" began on February 12, 1925 on WEAF
WFAN
WFAN , also known as "Sports Radio 66" or "The FAN", is a radio station in New York City. The station broadcasts on a clear channel and is owned by CBS Radio...
in New York City, airing Thursday nights at 10pm ET. On November 19, 1926, the show moved to the NBC Red Network
NBC Red Network
The NBC Red Network was one of the two original radio networks of the National Broadcasting Company. After NBC was required to divest itself of its Blue Network , the Red Network continued as the NBC Radio Network.It, along with the Blue Network, were the first two commercial radio networks in the...
-- of which WEAF was the flagship station -- where it was heard Thursdays at 9pm ET (1926-27) and then Wednesdays at 9:30pm ET (1927-28). At various times the program was titled The Goodrich Zippers, The Silvertown Cord Orchestra, Silvertown Orchestra, Silvertown Quartet and The Silvertown Zippers. The Zippers were a small banjo ensemble featured in 1926-27.
The Silver-Masked Tenor
The show was notable for introducing listeners to Joseph M. White, aka "The Silver-Masked Tenor", who had first been heard on WEAF as early as 1923. With a mask concealing his secret identity, White found such fame on radio that when the Silvertown Orchestra played on the Keith vaudeville circuitKeith-Albee-Orpheum
The Keith-Albee-Orpheum Corporation was the owner of a chain of vaudeville and motion picture theatres. It was formed by the merger of the holdings of Benjamin Franklin Keith and Edward Franklin Albee II and Martin Beck's Orpheum Circuit, Inc..-History:...
, police had to escort White into theaters.
In 1935-36, B. A. Rolfe was the bandleader on 15-minute pre-recorded programs created for syndication.