This show started on radio in 1928 and moved to television in 1949. It was broadcast live for about twelve seasons between 1949 and 1963. It had a 46 piece orchestra under the direction of Howard Barlow. The show won many awards. It offered viewers weekly classical and semi-classical concerts featuring celebrated vocalists and musicians.
It also had a number of highlights during its history including the American television debut of Jeanette MacDonald on November 13, 1950. Fred Waring fronted at least two theme shows--one on college songs (co-starring Sterling Holloway) and one on Easter.
Many shows (in abbreviated editions) were presented on the program. These included "Scherezade" (with Roberta Peters), "Carmen" (with Robert Merrill and Rosalind Elias), "Romeo and Juliet" (with Peters, Nicolai Gedda and William Walker and Jerome Hines' "I Am the Way" with Hines playing Christ with Walker, Mildred Miller and David Starkey as h
