Railroad Hour
Entertainment Radio
The Railroad Hour was a delightful radio series that aired musical dramas and comedies from the late 1940s to the mid-1950s. Sponsored by the Association of American Railroads, the show condensed beloved musicals and operettas into shorter formats, focusing on works written before 1943. Here are some highlights:
Host and Leading Man: The talented Gordon MacRae hosted each episode and played the leading male roles. His leading ladies came from both radio and the Metropolitan Opera.
Musical Selections: The show featured excerpts from classic musicals such as:
No, No, Nanette (with co-star Doris Day)
Brigadoon (with co-star Jane Powell)
The Desert Song
Holiday Inn
The Merry Widow
The Mikado
Naughty Marietta
Show Boat
Song of Norway
State Fair
The Student Prince
The Vagabond King
Musical Director: Carmen Dragon led the musical direction, and the show’s