| Description |
A sales presentation, which features a complete episode. Sales messages are heard instead of commercials. Not for broadcast. The following performers are described as appearing on the program, but of course, not every actor on any particular program described below The program is also known as, "The Story Of Aunt Mary." The program may have begun as early as 1941 in Los Angeles. It's popularity was such that NBC increased the number of stations carrying the program to 13 . These stations were collectively known as, "The Orange net" or the "NBC Pacific net." By 1944, the program was heard on the entire NBC net.. Many sources consider 1944 as the start of the series. Recordings of the show were syndicated as early as February, 1944 by "NBC Recorded Programs," also known as "NBC Radio Recording." By May of 1948, NBC was offering 605 recordings of the programs for syndication to non-NBC stations as well as affilliates. Where did NBC suddenly get 605 broadcasts to offer? The possible source was recordings of the show dating back to 1945. The programs in this collection, starting with program #1, are possibly those 605 programs that NBC offered for sale in 1948. Just to confuse matters, WGR (Buffalo) and WLW (in Cincinnati) were broadcasting "Aunt Mary" programs as early as 1938. The sponsors of the show, from its earliest days were the Alber's Milling Company and Safeway stores. The syndicated programs could be sponsored by any local or regional business and were sold by the local stations to local businesses. It's for this reason that program opening, closing and commercials were NOT included on the syndicaion discs. They were added by each individual staion. The "Aunt Mary" character was that "kindly old-lady philosopher," always willing to lend a hand to family and friends. In 1961, NBC was still offering those 605 programs for sale. |