The Bell Telephone Hour

1959 10 Seasons 120 Episodes ⭐ 8.0

“The Bell Telephone Hour” was a musical variety show that aired on “NBC” TV from 12 January 1959 to 14 June 1968 that showcased the best in Broadway, Classical, Concert, Jazz and Popular music each week. The series had its’ own house band appropriately named the “Bell Telephone Orchestra”. The show also had its’ own theme song being the “Bell Waltz” composed by “Donald Voorhees” who was also the show's Orchestra conductor. Some of the greatest violinists of the 1960’s performed on this show that aired in the old “Black & White” format. Some of these great violinists included “Erica Mornin”, “Isaac Stern", "Michael Rabin", "Ruggiero Ricci", "Yehudi Menuhin" and "Zino Francesacatti". From time to time some of the great singers and bandleaders of the 1960’s would perform on the show as well. Some of these were “Bing Crosby”, “Gordon MacRae”, “John Gary”, “Leslie Uggams”, “Mary Martin”, “Nelson Eddy”, “Patti Page” and “Roy Rogers”. The TV show followed on the heels of its’ predecessor with the same name on “NBC” radio that aired from 29 April 1940 to 1958 on Monday nights at 8 PM. The name of the show was derived from its’ Major sponsor “Bell Telephone Laboratories”. The TV version began airing on Friday nights at 8:30 PM once a month. It later was given it’s same time slot now airing every other week alternating with another show on the other weeks such as News shows and specials. The show time slot changed quite often over the years. In September 1960 it aired at 9 PM and in September 1961 it moved to 9:30 PM. In October 1963 it moved to Tuesday nights at 10 PM, September 1965 it moved to Sunday night at 6:30 PM and in September 1967 it made its' final move back to Friday night at 10 PM.

Seasons & Episodes

EP 1

Adventures In Music

EP 2

American Festival

EP 3

Concert 1959

EP 4

An Hour of Music

EP 1

A Night Of Music

EP 2

Music of the West

EP 3

On Stage With Music

Burgess Meredith is host. Performers are John Raitt, Jayne P. Morgan, Johnny Desmond, Gene Nelson, Taina Elg, The Four L

EP 4

The Music of Gershwin

EP 5

The Gift of Music

EP 6

Our Musical Ambassadors

EP 7

We To

Musical variety show with this episode focusing on famous couples: recording artists Les Paul and Mary Ford; dancers Mar

EP 8

The Four of Us

Four entertainers perform songs not readily associated with them: Ray Bolger sings and dances 'Slaughter on Tenth Avenue

EP 9

Portraits In Music

EP 10

The Music Makers

Polly Bergen is the host with singers John Raitt and Barbara Cook, 15-year-old concert pianist Lorin Hollander; the jazz

EP 11

Main Street USA

EP 12

Concert Hall

EP 13

The Mikado

EP 1

Holiday In Music

EP 2

The Unforgettable Music of Vincent Youmans

EP 3

One Nation Indivisible

EP 4

And Freedom Sings

EP 5

The Music Of Romance

EP 6

'Twas Was the Night Before

EP 7

And There Shall Be Music

EP 8

Music Hath Charms

EP 9

Almanac for February

EP 10

The Sounds of America

EP 11

A Galaxy of Music

EP 12

Much Ado About Music

EP 13

The Signs of Spring

EP 14

The Younger Generation

EP 15

Encore!

EP 1

Opening Night

EP 2

Salute to Autumn

EP 3

Trio

EP 4

The Music Of Richard Rodgers

EP 5

Designs In Music

EP 6

Trip To Christmas

EP 7

A Measure Of Music

EP 8

Weavers Of Song

EP 9

Portals Of Music

EP 10

The Songs Of Irving Berlin

Ginger Rogers is hostess of this program devoted to the music of Irving Berlin. Guests include John Raitt, Johnny Desmon

EP 11

The Music Of Love

EP 12

Gala Performance

EP 13

Springtime In The Park

EP 14

Till Autumn

EP 1

Season 5, Show 1

EP 2

Season 5, Show 2

EP 3

Season 5, Show 3

EP 4

Season 5, Show 4

EP 5

Season 5, Show 5

EP 6

Season 5, Show 6

EP 7

Season 5, Show 7

EP 8

Season 5, Show 8

EP 1

Season 6, Show 1

EP 2

Season 6, Show 2

EP 3

Season 6, Show 3

EP 4

Season 6, Show 4

EP 5

Season 6, Show 5

EP 6

Season 6, Show 6

EP 7

Season 6, Show 7

EP 8

The Younger Generation

EP 9

Cole Porter: An All-Star Tribute

EP 10

Almanac

EP 11

Season 6, Show 11

EP 12

Season 6, Show 12

EP 13

Season 6, Show 13

EP 14

Season 6, Show 14

EP 15

Season 6, Show 15

EP 16

Season 6, Show 16

EP 17

Season 6, Show 17

EP 18

Season 6, Show 18

EP 19

Season 6, Show 19

EP 1

Season 7, Show 1

EP 2

Lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein

Henry Fonda hosts a tribute to the late Oscar Hammerstein II.

EP 3

Season 7, Show 3

EP 4

Season 7, Show 4

EP 5

Season 7, Show 5

EP 6

Love Makes The World Go Round

EP 7

The Sound Of Music

EP 8

The American Song

EP 9

The Masques Of Music

EP 10

The American Girl

EP 11

Wayfarer On The Mississippi

EP 12

Festival Of Spring

EP 13

Great Moments

EP 14

Tin Pan Alley

EP 15

The Many Faces Of Cole Porter

EP 1

Salute To Jerome Kern

EP 2

Music In Manhattan

EP 3

Joan Sutherland

EP 4

Salute To Veteran's Day

EP 5

Thanksgiving

EP 6

The Music Of Harold Arlen

EP 7

An Old Fashioned Christmas

Martha Scott, opens with a tableau set in a small town in 1909. Townspeople gradually leave their still-frame poses, com

EP 8

The Music Of The West

EP 9

The Song And The Dance Man

EP 10

A Gershwin Portrait

EP 11

Valentine's Day

EP 12

The Lyrics Of Allan Jay Lerner

EP 13

Music Of The Movies

EP 14

Masterpieces And Music

EP 15

Songs Of Spring

EP 16

Music That Mirrors The Times

EP 1

Christmas Through The Ages

EP 2

The First Ladies Of Opera

EP 3

The Sounds And Sights Of San Fransisco

EP 1

The Many Faces of Romeo and Juliet

EP 2

On The Road With Duke Ellington

EP 3

Benjamin Britten and His Aldeburgh Festival

EP 4

The Virtuoso Teacher

EP 5

Casals at Marlboro

EP 6

Carnival of the Menuhins

EP 7

The Secret Musical Life of George Plimpton

EP 8

The Sights and Sounds of Chicago

EP 9

Man Who Dances: Edward Villella

EP 10

Opera: Two to Six

EP 11

Going to Bethlehem

EP 12

Jazz - The Intimate Art

EP 13