''Bride and Groom'' is an
old-time radio
The Golden Age of Radio, also known as the old-time radio (OTR) era, was an era of radio in the United States where it was the dominant electronic home entertainment medium. It began with the birth of commercial radio broadcasting in the earl ...
human-interest program in the
United States
The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 U.S. state, states, a Washington, D.C., federal district, five ma ...
. It was broadcast on
ABC
ABC are the first three letters of the Latin script known as the alphabet.
ABC or abc may also refer to:
Arts, entertainment, and media Broadcasting
* American Broadcasting Company, a commercial U.S. TV broadcaster
** Disney–ABC Television ...
from November 26, 1945 to September 15, 1950.
Each episode featured an engaged couple who would be married during the broadcast, then showered with gifts.
In 1951, it was adapted as a
television show of the same name.
Format
Each episode centred on a couple engaged to be married. An episode would begin with host John Nelson interviewing the couple, with questions about how the two met and their courtship.
[Terrace, Vincent (1999). ''Radio Programs, 1924-1984: A Catalog of More Than 1800 Shows''. McFarland & Company, Inc. . P. 52.] Announcer Jack McElroy would sing a song for the couple, who would then exit to an adjacent chapel to be married by one of around 30 clergymen retained by the show. During the wedding ceremony, which was not recorded, Nelson would chat with members of the audience. He would usually speak with married couples who were celebrating significant anniversary milestones, who would be given gifts such as matching wristwatches.
After the ceremony, the newlyweds returned to the studio where they received wedding gifts provided by sponsors, such as refrigerators, stoves, silverware and jewelry, as a reward for participating in the program.
The 30-minute program was sponsored by
Sterling Drug
Sterling Drug was an American global pharmaceutical company, also known as Sterling Winthrop, Inc. in its last years (after the merger with Winthrop-Stearns Inc. which itself resulted from the merger of ''Winthrop Chemical Company Inc.'' and '' ...
until January 2, 1950.
Casting
Radio historian
John Dunning wrote, "During its five-year run, ''Bride and Groom'' told the stories of almost 1,000 new couples."
[ Couples who were ready to marry provided information about themselves to the show's staff. Applications were reviewed by director John Reddy or a panel of judges.
As a matter of policy, the show excluded divorcees from consideration. ]Roman Catholic
Roman or Romans most often refers to:
*Rome, the capital city of Italy
*Ancient Rome, Roman civilization from 8th century BC to 5th century AD
*Roman people, the people of ancient Rome
*''Epistle to the Romans'', shortened to ''Romans'', a letter ...
couples were also not cast because their faith would have required them to be married in a Catholic church. Couples married on the show ranged in age from teenagers to octogenarians. On occasion, the show featured celebrity couples, such as radio personality Bud Collyer
Bud Collyer (born Clayton Johnson Heermance Jr., June 18, 1908 – September 8, 1969) was an American radio actor and announcer and game show host who became one of the nation's first major television game show stars. He is best remembered for ...
and actress Marian Shockley
Marian Shockley (also Marian Shockley Collyer) (October 10, 1908 – December 14, 1981) was an American film actress of the 1930s.
Early years
Born in Kansas City, Missouri, Marian Shockley (sometimes known as Marion Shockley) attended the Univer ...
in 1948.[
]
Personnel
John Nelson was the program's host, while Jack McElroy was the announcer.[ Music was by Gaylord Carter.]
See also
*'' Bride and Groom (TV series)''
References
External links
Episodes of ''Bride and Groom'' from Old Time Radio Researchers Group Library
1945 radio programme debuts
1950 radio programme endings
ABC radio programs
1940s American radio programs
1950s American radio programs
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