Adventures In Research
History
History
NBC’s First Fabulous Fifty.
NBC’s First Fabulous Fifty is a captivating Old Time Radio documentary series that delves into the rich history of radio broadcasting. This series, produced during the golden age of radio, showcases the most significant and influential programs that shaped the medium. For collectors and enthusiasts, NBC’s First Fabulous Fifty serves as a valuable archive of radio history, appealing to those interested in the development of media and entertainment. This series remains a notable resource for understanding the roots of modern broadcasting and the legacy of Old Time Radio.
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NBC’s First Fabulous Fifty: Programme Guide.
A network looks back at the sounds that helped define its first fifty years. NBC’s anniversary retrospective moves between entertainment and public events through introductions and selected archival recordings.
Broadcast history.
The five-part First Fabulous Fifty was released for NBC’s fiftieth anniversary in 1976. OTRR’s researched release notes distinguish the original five-part presentation from later recuts and additional audio in archive packages.
Cast and creative team.
The parts feature hosts Ben Grauer, Bob Hope, Bing Crosby, Arlene Francis and John Chancellor. NBC News produced the retrospective; contemporary log credits also name Gene Shalit, Joe Garagiola and material by David Brinkley.
Where to begin.
Ben Grauer, Part 1 · Bob Hope, Part 2
These available recordings offer an introduction to this collection. Their current publication dates are separate from historical broadcast dates.
An interesting detail.
A clip’s original date and the retrospective’s 1976 presentation are separate. The programme edits older material into a new account of the network’s history rather than simply replaying every broadcast in full.
Listening appeal.
Begin with Ben Grauer, Part 1, then follow the five principal parts. The extra Grauer-labelled record and Showbiz item should be compared as additional catalogue material rather than used to invent a seven-part original run.
Collection and date notes.
HRV lists 7 public recordings. Seven records include the principal sequence and additional or differently labelled material. Current podcast dates describe later archive publication, separately from original broadcast dates.
Sources.
Choose your next episode.
7 public recordings in this programme. Catalogue order is not a verified original broadcast chronology.
7 episodes available.
Questions about NBC’s First Fabulous Fifty.
Were all the historical clips originally made in 1976?
1976 dates the retrospective; the excerpted broadcasts are older.
Do seven records prove a seven-part original series?
The documented principal retrospective contains five parts.
