Coca-Cola Topnotchers

Coca-Cola Topnotchers is an American old-time radio program starring sportscaster Grantland Rice and announced by Graham McNamee who, at the time, was regarded as "the [radio's] most recognized national personality in its first international decade."[2]

Coca-Cola Topnotchers
GenreSports/Variety
Running time30 minutes
Country of originUnited States
Language(s)English
Home stationWEAF[1]
SyndicatesNBC Red
Hosted byGrantland Rice
StarringTopnotchers
(aka The Coca-Cola Topnotchers Orchestra)
Leonard Joy (first conductor)
Gus Haenschen (second conductor)
James Melton (tenor)
Olga Albani (contralto)
Phil Dewey (baritone)
Lewis James (tenor)
Elizabeth Lennos
AnnouncerGraham McNamee
Recording studioWEAF Recording Studios, New York City[1]
Original releaseMarch 19, 1930 (1930-03-19) –
May 25, 1932 (1932-05-25)
No. of series3
No. of episodes114
Opening theme"The Coca-Cola Waltz" (recorded and conducted by Leonard Joy and his "Coca-Cola Topnotchers Orchestra")
Ending theme"The Coca-Cola Waltz"
Sponsored byCoca-Cola

The late-night program featured interviews with well-known sports celebrities and personalities of the era and sometimes included special instances during which McNamee spent several minutes reporting the latest in sports-related news. A 31-piece all-string orchestra provided music to supplement the verbal segments.[3]

The program was broadcast live every Wednesday evening for its entire run from March 19, 1930, until May 25, 1932. It originated in the studios of WEAF in New York and was carried nationally over the NBC Red Network.

Some content from the program's broadcasts was released on Victor recordings CVE-59833 through CVE59839.[4]

See also

References
  1. "Sounds (and Sights) of the NBC Chimes - 1929-1930 Seven Note Sequence". www.nbcchimes.info. Retrieved May 31, 2015.
  2. "Voices". Time. Time Inc. October 3, 1927. Archived from the original on November 12, 2011. Retrieved May 31, 2015.
  3. "New radio hour attracts sport fans". The Union-Banner. Alabama, Clanton. March 27, 1930. p. 5. Retrieved November 10, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. "Coca Cola Topnotchers (Musical group)". Discography of American Historical Recordings. Regents of the University of California. Archived from the original on November 10, 2019. Retrieved November 10, 2019.


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