Philco Radio Hall of Fame with Judy Garland (PRHF)

Judy Garland sings The Trolley Song. Les Paul plays the electric guitar. Lum and Abner get hung up on the phrase "two heads are better than one." Judy sings Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas. Jerry Colonna, "the mustache that walks," stops by for some one-liners and a silly song. (The band behind him is hot, but Jerry's voice is ... well, not.)

After the break, The Les Paul Trio plays Blue Skies. Lum and Abner and Colonna join Judy on the stage and get her cracking up. Judy sings a medley with the Paul Whiteman orchestra honoring the composer Jerome Kern.

The show ends with Judy giving a passionate speech, "I'm dreaming of a peaceful Christmas." But she doesn't sing it. And the announcer gives a plea to buy war bonds.

I'm exploring some Christmas stuff, which will take me out of my comfort zone. Here's a variety show. I sometimes like these "for the feels" (they give me that cool sense of time travel), but they don't really date well. The saccharine style of music that was popular in the 40's has very little appeal to a modern audience. Judy is mostly singing show tunes and carols in this one, though. I threw in a picture of Jerry Colonna because a lot of his comedy relies on imagining his crazy face. Without his buggy eyes and mustache to "sell" them, his jokes are less good.

Philco Radio Hall of Fame
Judy Garland
17 December 1944
19441217(000)_PRHF_JudyGarland.mp3

Jerry Colonna