Hour Glass is the first regularly scheduled variety show shown on American network television. The Encyclopedia of Television noted that the program "is historically important because it exemplified the issues faced by networks, sponsors, and advertising agencies in television's formative years." From that time, the three-city network continued until March 1947.
Overview
Described as "the first [television] hour-long musical variety show", Hour Glass was sponsored by Standard Brands, promoting Chase and Sanborn coffee and Tenderleaf Tea. The program included comedians, musicians, entertaining films (such as a film of dance in South America), and a long, live commercial for the sponsor's products.
Such famous names as Doodles Weaver, Bert Lahr, Dennis Day, Anton Reiter, Jerry Colonna, Peggy Lee and Joe Besser appeared on the program. The first show was hosted by Evelyn Eaton (daughter of one of The Seven Little Eatons); Life surmised that NBC was adapting to a paradigm shift and making better use of the visual medium by hiring an attractive woman as master of ceremonies, as opposed to the more authoritative voices of men who typically commanded radio variety shows of the era. Edgar Bergen later became the host of the program. Edward Sobol was the producer.
Critical reception
A contemporary review in Life praised the individual performances but panned the production values, noting that camera operators cut off the feet of dancers and that the show lacked the kind of "camera virtuosity monopolized by Hollywood." On the whole, the Life review noted that television would need "good scripts and better directors" if it were to succeed.
See also
- 1946-47 United States network television schedule