American Rhapsody - April 7, 1945

Here’s a rather obscure network musical show “American Rhapsody”.  This is the episode of April 7, 1945 as it was heard on the Armed Forces Radio Network replacing Fred Waring program 412.

The show, hosted by Frederick Shields, the program features vocalist Gene Baker, the Dix Davis Glee Club, and Wilbur Hatch and His Orchestra (not playing the “I Love Lucy” theme).  The first song on the show is “Song of the Vagabonds”.  Other songs include “Smoke Gets in Your Eyes” and “The Hills of Home”.

Our show was transferred from an original 16” vinyl Armed Forces Radio transcription.  The date is from the disc matrix.  (Goldin’s database has a listing for this episode dated April 8, but I double-checked the date on the disc.)

Many thanks to blog listener William Harris for his donation of the disc to the collection!