''Hap Hazard'' is an American

old-time radio The Golden Age of Radio, also known as the old-time radio (OTR) era, was an era of radio in the United States where it was the dominant electronic home entertainment medium. It began with the birth of commercial radio broadcasting in the early ...

comedy-variety program that was broadcast on NBC-Red beginning on July 1, 1941 and on CBS beginning in January 1942.

Premise

The title character, Hap Hazard, was the proprietor of Crestfallen Manor, "a ramshackle hotel in the 'Stop-and-Flop' chain." Flaws in the building, such as creaking floors, dripping faucets, and non-shutting doors, kept Hazard busy trying to help guests in the hotel. In the program's CBS version, guests at the hotel demanded "a variety of entertainment ranging from music appreciation lessons to talks on the international situation".

Personnel

NBC version

On the NBC version,

Ransom Sherman Ransom Sherman (October 15, 1898 – November 26, 1985) was an American radio and television personality and writer. Early years Sherman and his family moved from Appleton, Wisconsin, to Chicago when he was 14. He attended a technical school in ...

had the title role, and wrote the scripts, with Dick McKnight as assistant writer. Edna O'Dell was the show's vocalist, and Harlow Wilcox was the announcer. Billy Mills and his orchestra provided music. Other members of the cast were Elmira Roessler as Miss Mink, Arthur Kohl as Mr. Pittaway, Ray Grant as Demitasse, and Mary Patton as Kitty. Cecil Underwood was the program's producer, and Van Fleming was his assistant. The show initially originated from Chicago, but in August 1941 it moved to Hollywood.

Johnson Wax S. C. Johnson & Son, Inc. (commonly referred to as S. C. Johnson) is an American multinational, privately held manufacturer of household cleaning supplies and other consumer chemicals based in Racine, Wisconsin. In 2017, S. C. Jo ...

was the sponsor. ''Hap Hazard'' began as a summer replacement for ''

Fibber McGee and Molly ''Fibber McGee and Molly'' (1935–1959) was a longtime highly popular husband-and-wife team radio comedy program. The situation comedy was a staple of the NBC Red Network from 1936 on, after originating on NBC Blue in 1935. One of the most p ...

,'' broadcast in that program's time slot from 9:30 to 10 p.m. Eastern Time on NBC-Red. However, it remained on the air when ''Fibber McGee and Molly'' returned in the fall. Initial plans called for ''Hap Hazard'' moved to Wednesdays from 7:30 to 8 p.m. Eastern Time on NBC-Red beginning on October 1, 1941, but the debut in the new time slot was delayed until October 15, 1941.

Shirley Mitchell Shirley J. Mitchell (November 4, 1919 – November 11, 2013) was an American radio, film, and television actress. Early life Mitchell was born in Toledo, Ohio, the daughter of Sam Mitchell & Mary Ann Daniels, Jews who emigrated to America to esc ...

and

Paula Winslowe Paula Winslowe (born Winifred Reyleche; March 23, 1910 – March 6, 1996) was an American television, radio and voice actress, best known for her role as the voice of Bambi's mother in the 1942 movie ''Bambi''. Career In the early 1930s, ...

were in the cast, and

Martha Tilton Martha Tilton (November 14, 1915 – December 8, 2006) was an American popular singer during America's swing era and traditional pop period. She is best known for her 1939 recording of "And the Angels Sing" with Benny Goodman. Tilton was born ...

was the singer. Johnson's Car-Nu Wax was the sponsor.

CBS version

CBS began carrying ''Hap Hazard'' in 1942 with a three-week run on seven West Coast stations beginning on January 2. Distribution was expanded to the national network on January 23, 1942. Sherman still portrayed Hazard, and

Irene Ryan Irene Ryan (born Irene Noblitt, Noblett, or Noblette; October 17, 1902 – April 26, 1973) was an American actress and comedienne who found success in vaudeville, radio, film, television, and Broadway. She is most widely known for her por ...

was in the cast. Tilton was the singer, and

Gordon Jenkins Gordon Hill Jenkins (May 12, 1910 – May 1, 1984) was an American arranger, composer, and pianist who was influential in popular music in the 1940s and 1950s. Jenkins worked with The Andrews Sisters, Johnny Cash, The Weavers, Frank Sinatra, Loui ...

led the orchestra. Jack Harvey and Arthur Stander were the writers, and Joe Parker was the producer.

Ivory Soap Ivory (french: Savon d'Ivoire) is a flagship personal care brand created by the Procter & Gamble Company (P&G), including varieties of white and mildly scented bar soap that became famous for its claim of purity and for floating on water. Over ...

was the sponsor. The show was broadcast on Fridays from 10 to 10:30 p.m. Eastern Time, replacing ''Hollywood Premiere''.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Hap Hazard 1941 radio programme debuts 1940s American radio programs CBS Radio programs NBC radio programs American comedy radio programs