The Jack Berch Show was a

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variety/talk program in the

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. It was broadcast on

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, Mutual, and

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at various times 1935–1954. The program at times went by other names, including ''The Kitchen Pirate'' (1935–36) and ''The Sweetheart Serenader'' (1939-1941).

Format

The Berch programs featured "light music and informal chatter. When housewives tired of listening to the tribulations of their soap opera characters, they turned for relief to the songs of Berch."DeLong, Thomas A. (1996). ''Radio Stars: An Illustrated Biographical Dictionary of 953 Performers, 1920 through 1960''. McFarland & Company, Inc.; . p. 30. Berch usually began his program with a whistle and a song. In an article in the January 1949 issue of '' Radio and Television Mirror'', he gave the reason for that: "I was reading the morning paper. Suddenly I realized that the whole front page was full of disaster -- fires, murders, political troubles, jealousy and strife between persons and between nations. ... 'Now,' I said to myself, 'something ought to be done about this. And, in my own small way, I'm the guy to do it.' Then and there, in theory at least, the Heart to Heart Hookup and the Good Neighbor Club came into being." The Heart to Heart Hookup and the Good Neighbor Club were features of Berch's program. Heart to Heart Hookup featured Berch reading "letters dedicated to the encouragement of more unfortunate people in the world." The Good Neighbor Club highlighted good deeds sent in by the program's listeners. In that same article, Berch wrote: "There's a certain informality about the Jack Berch Show. We like to think of ourselves as coming into your living room for a visit every morning ... you'd get pretty tired of stiff and formal guests every day, wouldn't you?" The program featured a variety of types of songs, "from the old favorites to the latest popular tunes from

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. The show's ability to not only entertain listeners but to prompt them to act was demonstrated in 1950. After a listener wrote to Berch requesting used Christmas cards for a project, NBC received more than 5 million Christmas cards.

Reviews

A review in the April 20, 1937, issue of the trade publication ''Radio Daily'' commented: "Berch offers an enjoyable program of singing and chatting that is well geared to appeal to the feminine ears. Jack's style is friendly, and he slips in the commercial remarks in a manner that makes them easy to take." Another comment in the same publication four months later said, "The singing of Berch is particularly well designed to give the day a sunny sendoff." On the other hand, a 1943 comment in the trade publication ''

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'' described Berch's program as "strictly a long quarter-hour of flimsy whimsy."

Personnel

Musicians heard on the programs included Jerry Colonna,

Raymond Scott Raymond Scott (born Harry Warnow; September 10, 1908 – February 8, 1994) was an American composer, band leader, pianist, record producer, and inventor of electronic instruments. Though Scott never scored cartoon soundtracks, his music is ...

, Johnny Williams, Nick Tagg, John Gart,

Carl Kress Carl Kress (October 20, 1907 – June 10, 1965) was an American jazz guitarist. Music career Kress started on piano before picking up the banjo. Beginning in 1926, he played guitar during his brief period in Paul Whiteman's orchestra. For most ...

, Sammy Prager,

Mark Warnow Mark Warnow (April 10, 1900 – October 17, 1949) was a violinist and orchestra conductor, who performed on the radio in the 1930s and 1940s. He was the older brother of composer and bandleader Raymond Scott, born Harry Warnow, and is credited wi ...

Charles Magnante Charles Magnante (December 7, 1905 – December 30, 1986) was an American piano-accordionist, arranger, composer, author and educator. His artistry helped raise the image of the accordion from an instrument considered suitable only for folk ...

Tony Mottola Anthony C. Mottola (April 18, 1918 – August 9, 2004) was an American jazz guitarist who released dozens of solo albums. Mottola was born in Kearny, New Jersey and died in Denville. Career Like many of his contemporaries, Mottola began ...

, and

George Wright George Wright may refer to: Politics, law and government * George Wright (MP) (died 1557), MP for Bedford and Wallingford * George Wright (governor) (1779–1842), Canadian politician, lieutenant governor of Prince Edward Island * George Wright ...

Ed Herlihy Edward Joseph Herlihy (August 14, 1909 – January 30, 1999)Cox, Jim (2008). ''This Day in Network Radio: A Daily Calendar of Births, Debuts, Cancellations and Other Events in Broadcasting History''. McFarland & Company, Inc. . was an Ameri ...

John Reed King John Reed King (October 25, 1914 – July 8, 1979) was an American radio and television game show host who hosted numerous game shows during the 1930s, 1940s, and 1950s. Career King was one of the announcers for ''The American School of the Air' ...

, Eddie Dunn, and Joe Bier were the announcers. Dick Charles was both writer and director for the program. Other directors included Herb Leder and Henry Hull, Jr. Other writers included Howard Blake. Robert Ross Smith was a producer.Alicoate, Jack, Ed. (1951). ''The 1951 Radio Annual''. Radio Daily Corp., p. 987.

Schedule

The broadcast schedule of ''The Jack Berch Show'' varied widely during its time on the air. The table below gives pertinent information. Source: ''The Encyclopedia of Old-Time Radio'', except as noted.

References

External links

Streaming episodes of ''The Jack Berch Show'' from Old Time Radio Researchers Group Library
{{DEFAULTSORT:Jack Berch Show, The American music radio programs NBC radio programs Mutual Broadcasting System programs CBS Radio programs ABC radio programs 1930s American radio programs 1940s American radio programs 1950s American radio programs 1935 radio programme debuts 1954 radio programme endings