''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 Henry Burr (January 15, 1882 – April 6, 1941) was a Canadian singer, radio performer and producer. He was born Harry Haley McClaskey and used Henry Burr as one of his many pseudonyms, in addition to Irving Gillette, Henry Gillette, Alfred Alex ...

(tenor), Carl Mathieu (tenor), James Stanley (baritone), Stanley Baughman (bass),

Monroe Silver Monroe Silver (December 21, 1875 – May 3, 1947) was an American actor and singer who was also a comedian and monologist using a Jewish dialect-accent in his performances. Career For various record labels, he recorded 78rpm discs of parodies ...

(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 18, 1926, the show moved to the

NBC Red Network The NBC, National Broadcasting Company's NBC Radio Network (known as the NBC Red Network prior to 1942) was an American commercial radio network which was in operation from 1926 through 2004. Along with the Blue Network, NBC Blue Network it was ...

—of which WEAF was the flagship station—where it was heard Thursdays at 10, and then 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. In 1935-36, B. A. Rolfe was the bandleader on 15-minute pre-recorded programs created for syndication.

The Silver-Masked Tenor

The show was notable for introducing listeners to

Joseph M. White Joseph M. White (May 10, 1781 – October 19, 1839) was a Delegate to the U.S. House of Representatives from the Florida Territory. Born in Franklin County, Kentucky; completed preparatory studies; studied law; was admitted to the bar and ...

, a.k.a. "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 circuit Benjamin Franklin Keith (January 26, 1846 – March 26, 1914) was an American vaudeville theater owner, highly influential in the evolution of variety theater into vaudeville. Biography Early years Keith was born in Hillsboro Bridge, New ...

, police had to escort White into theaters.

References

Listen to

"Mary Lou" B. F. Goodrich Silvertown Cord Orchestra (September 14, 1926)
{{DEFAULTSORT:Goodrich Silvertown Orchestra, The 1920s American radio programs 1930s American radio programs American music radio programs American variety radio programs NBC radio programs