Scope and Content Note
The records of the Amateur Hour Collection primarily consist of more than 7,000 applications from contestants who appeared on the Major Bowes' Original Amateur Hour radio program between 1934 and 1948. The remainder of the materials in the collection are administrative papers dating from the late 1940s and 1950s. Although these materials comprise only a small percentage of the admistrative papers related to the program, they are notable in that they provide some insight into its day to day operations. Materials related to the Mexican version of the program, La hora internacional del aficionado, are also present.
The Amateur Hour collection is organized in eight series. The first and largest series, Contestant Materials, contains the aforementioned applications, as well as biographical sketches and lists of performers. Filed with these applications are letters of introduction, reference letters, and other documents submitted by prospective contestants. Both the "type of entertainment" and "details of interest" responses on the applications provide an overview of the broad range of amateur performance genres of the period. Applications from conventional performers, such as musicians, dancers, singers, and impersonators, are most numerous, but there are also applications from novelty acts such as a human piccolo, a group of hand standing singers, and a group who played harmonicas with fire extinguishers. Of particular interest are applications performers, now well-known, who "got their break" on the show, including Teresa Brewer, Stubby Kaye, Robert Merrill, Beverly Sills, and Frank Sinatra.
The second series, Photographs, consists of black and white prints, arranged by subject, that provide a fascinating visual record of the show from the 1940s and 1950s. A small series of Correspondence that follows contains letters to and from program staff members Lou Goldberg, Daniel Manjarrez, and Harry McWilliams pertaining to program business transactions. The remaining series consist of small quantities of administrative and operational materials, programs, clippings, and other miscellaneous items. General program information, advertising packages, and ratings information are included with the Advertising/Sponsor Materials, while scripts in the collection are housed with the Production Materials.