PHIL HARRIS & ALICE FAYE SHOW

OLD TIME RADIO - 5 mp3 CD - 238 Shows - Total Playtime: 117:44:06

The Phil Harris-Alice Faye Show, a comedy radio program which ran on NBC from 1948 to 1954, evolved from an earlier music and comedy variety program, The Fitch Bandwagon. Singer-bandleader Phil Harris and his wife, actress-singer Alice Faye, became the earlier show's breakout stars, and the show was retooled into a full situation comedy, with Harris and Faye playing fictionalized versions of themselves as a working show business couple raising two daughters in a slightly madcap home.
* Alice Faye: "Oh, Phil, are you ready?"
* Phil Harris: "Darn, you made me swallow a bobby pin!"

Harris had been a mainstay and musical director for The Jack Benny Program; Faye had been a frequent guest on programs such as Rudy Vallée's. Their marriage provoked a 1941 episode of the Benny show.

In 1946, they were invited to co-host The Fitch Bandwagon, a musical variety and comedy show that had been a Sunday night fixture on NBC since 1938, featuring such orchestras as Tommy Dorsey, Jimmy Grier, Harry James, Freddy Martin and Jan Savitt and Harry Sosnik. In The Big Broadcast 1920-1950 Frank Buxton and Bill Owen wrote: "Even though many people thought that The Fitch Bandwagon was lucky to be sandwiched in between Jack Benny at 7pm and Edgar Bergen at 8pm on NBC, the [show] pioneered Sunday evening entertainment programming, because prior to its appearance most broadcasters felt that Sunday programming should be of a more religious or serious nature."

The growing popularity of the Harris-Faye family sketches turned the program into their own comic vehicle by 1947. When announcer Bill Foreman[1] hailed, "Good health to all... from Rexall!" on October 3, 1948], The Phil Harris-Alice Faye Show launched its independent life under Rexall's sponsorship with a debut storyline about the fictitious day the couple signed their sponsorship deal.

The show was a quick success and its position in that powerhouse NBC Sunday lineup didn't hurt. Playing themselves as radio and music star parents of two precocious young daughters (played by actresses Jeanine Roos and Ann Whitfield, instead of the Harris' own young daughters), Harris refined his character from the booze-and-broads, hipster jive talker he had been on the Benny show ("Hiya, Jackson!" was his usual hail to Benny) into a slightly vain (particularly about his wavy hair and the dimpled smile that always hinted mischief) and dunderheaded husband who usually needed rescuing by Faye as his occasionally tart but always loving wife. References to his hair and vanity became a running gag.

Harris often passed wisecracks about buddy Frank Remley's taste for the spirits, a contrast to Harris' former Benny character. The show's writers, Ray Singer and Dick Chevillat, also used Faye's experience making the ill-fated film Fallen Angel as a source of gags, to say nothing of setting up situations in which Harris was recognized (if at all) as her husband or "Mr. Alice Faye." In the closing, Foreman said, "Alice Faye appears through the courtesy of 20th Century Fox." Gerald S. Nachman (Raised on Radio) and other radio historians believed that was a conscious jibe at the studio, since Faye's contract had been torn up when she walked out rather than abide Darryl Zanuck cutting her scenes in favor of Linda Darnell.

Harris's radio character was also scripted as an occasional language and context mangler, six parts Gracie Allen and half a dozen parts Yogi Berra. ("Why, The Mikado never would have been written if Gilbert didn't have faith in Ed Sullivan!") The sardonic humor that laced the show was far beyond the gentility of that other show which featured a bandleader and his singing wife, The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet.

SHOWS LIST

Phil Harris 46-07-10 (000) Audition Show
Phil Harris 46-10-20 (004) A Tutor for the Girls
Phil Harris 46-11-10 (007) A Movie for Alice
Phil Harris 46-12-01 (010) Phil's Self-Improvement
Phil Harris 46-12-08 (011) Emily's Musicale (Returning from Lake Arrowhead)
Phil Harris 46-12-15 (012) A Present for Phil aka Fitch Stockholders
Phil Harris 46-12-29 (014) New Year's Resolution
Phil Harris 47-01-05 (015) Phil's Enrolled At USC
Phil Harris 47-03-09 (024) Will Benny Renew Phil's Contract
Phil Harris 47-10-12 (038) Stockholder Phil
Phil Harris 47-10-19 (039) Selling the House
Phil Harris 47-10-26 (040) A Day with Phil Harris
Phil Harris 47-11-02 (041) Phil's Band at High School
Phil Harris 47-11-23 (044) Phil Sees the Doctor
Phil Harris 47-11-30 (045) Phil's Hobby
Phil Harris 47-12-07 (046) A Dog for the Kids
Phil Harris 47-12-21 (048) Annual Christmas Show
Phil Harris 48-04-25 (066) The Kids Come to See Daddy at Work
Phil Harris 48-10-03 (071) First Show for Rexall
Phil Harris 48-10-10 (072) Phil to Retrieve Contract from Frankie
Phil Harris 48-10-17 (073) Phyllis' Boyfriend
Phil Harris 48-10-24 (074) The Live Steer
Phil Harris 48-10-31 (075) Homework
Phil Harris 48-11-07 (076) A Job with Rexall for Willie
Phil Harris 48-11-14 (077) New Drug
Phil Harris 48-11-21 (078) Health Food Diet
Phil Harris 48-11-28 (079) Homework Helper
Phil Harris 48-12-05 (080) Frankie Borrows the Kids
Phil Harris 48-12-12 (081) The Babysitter
Phil Harris 48-12-19 (082) Hiring a Santa Claus
Phil Harris 48-12-26 (083) The Christmas Present
Phil Harris 49-01-02 (084) Phil is Drafted
Phil Harris 49-01-09 (085) The Engagement Ring
Phil Harris 49-01-16 (086) Broken Hearted Phil
Phil Harris 49-01-23 (087) Truman's Inaugural
Phil Harris 49-01-30 (088) The Fire Chief
Phil Harris 49-02-06 (089) Mr Scott Wants to Fire Band
Phil Harris 49-02-13 (090) An Admirer Sends Flowers to Alice
Phil Harris 49-02-20 (091) Jury Duty
Phil Harris 49-02-27 (092) Remley is Fired
Phil Harris 49-03-06 (093) The Kangaroo
Phil Harris 49-03-13 (094) Remley is Re-Hired
Phil Harris 49-03-20 (095) Alice's Birthday
Phil Harris 49-03-27 (096) The Ski Trip
Phil Harris 49-04-03 (097) The Sponsor's Daughter
Phil Harris 49-04-10 (098) The Circus
Phil Harris 49-04-17 (099) Dinner for Teacher
Phil Harris 49-04-24 (100) Movie Role
Phil Harris 49-05-01 (101) Spring Housecleaning
Phil Harris 49-05-08 (102) Mother's Day Present
Phil Harris 49-05-15 (103) Cadillac in the Swimming Pool
Phil Harris 49-05-22 (104) Phil's Boat
Phil Harris 49-05-29 (105) The Picnic
Phil Harris 49-06-05 (106) The Tonsillectomy
Phil Harris 49-06-12 (107) The French Orphan
Phil Harris 49-06-19 (108) Frankie's Foster Son
Phil Harris 49-06-26 (109) Concern About Contract Renewal
Phil Harris 49-09-18 (110) Phil Returns from Vacation
Phil Harris 49-09-25 (111) Keeping Regular Office Hours
Phil Harris 49-10-02 (112) Frankie Borrows Phil's New Chartreuse Car
Phil Harris 49-10-09 (113) Three Grey Hairs
Phil Harris 49-10-16 (114) A Fight in the Market
Phil Harris 49-10-23 (115) Sponsor's Formal Party Honoring Harrises
Phil Harris 49-10-30 (116) The Ukulele
Phil Harris 49-11-06 (117) The Television Test
Phil Harris 49-11-13 (118) The Engineer
Phil Harris 49-11-20 (119) Talented Children's Screen Test
Phil Harris 49-11-27 (120) Investment in Female Wrestler
Phil Harris 49-12-04 (121) Sponsor to Hire Myrtle
Phil Harris 49-12-11 (122) Dishwasher and Garbage Disposal
Phil Harris 49-12-18 (123) Getting a Christmas Tree in the Mountains
Phil Harris 49-12-25 (124) Annual Christmas Show
Phil Harris 50-01-01 (125) Concert Stage
Phil Harris 50-01-08 (126) Red Paint on Poodle
Phil Harris 50-01-15 (127) Fixing the Furnace
Phil Harris 50-01-22 (128) Statue for Phil's Birthday
Phil Harris 50-01-29 (129) New York Trip
Phil Harris 50-02-05 (130) Jump off Brooklyn Bridge
Phil Harris 50-02-12 (131) Wrong Studio
Phil Harris 50-02-19 (132) Unpaid Bills
Phil Harris 50-02-26 (133) Wabash Avenue
Phil Harris 50-03-05 (134) The Fortune Hunter
Phil Harris 50-03-12 (135) Julius to Marry Mr Scott's Daughter
Phil Harris 50-03-19 (136) Alice's New Car
Phil Harris 50-03-26 (137) Alice's Palm Springs Weekend
Phil Harris 50-04-02 (138) The Last Day In Palm Springs (aka Frankie's Flying Saucers)
Phil Harris 50-04-09 (139) The Easter Bunny
Phil Harris 50-04-16 (140) Phil Puts on Cinderella
Phil Harris 50-04-23 (141) Darryl Zanuck's Dinner Party
Phil Harris 50-04-30 (142) The New Secretary
Phil Harris 50-05-07 (143) Gangster's Trunk
Phil Harris 50-05-14 (144) Mother's Day
Phil Harris 50-05-21 (145) Driver's License Renewal
Phil Harris 50-05-28 (146) Tickets to South Pacific
Phil Harris 50-06-04 (147) Phil's Vaccination
Phil Harris 50-10-01 (148) New Contract With RCA
Phil Harris 50-10-08 (149) Phil Has No Sponsor
Phil Harris 50-10-15 (150) Forbidden To Mention Sponsor's Name
Phil Harris 50-10-22 (151) Brownie's Camping Trip
Phil Harris 50-10-29 (152) A Sick Phil Harris
Phil Harris 50-11-05 (153) Getting Out The Vote
Phil Harris 50-11-12 (154) Talking To Mr. Scott About Mentioning Sponsor's Name
Phil Harris 50-11-19 (155) Alice And The Kids Go To Palm Springs Without Phil
Phil Harris 50-11-26 (156) Investment In A Female Wrestler
Phil Harris 50-12-03 (157) The Missing Baby
Phil Harris 50-12-10 (158) Watering The Lawn
Phil Harris 50-12-17 (159) Buying Alice A Christmas Present
Phil Harris 50-12-24 (160) Annual Christmas Show With Andy Devine
Phil Harris 50-12-31 (161) Sponsor's New Year's Eve Party
Phil Harris 51-01-07 (162) Cutting The Band's Wages
Phil Harris 51-01-14 (163) The New Singer
Phil Harris 51-01-21 (164) The Pony
Phil Harris 51-01-28 (165) Phil Donates Blood
Phil Harris 51-02-04 (166) Helping Alice With The Household Budget
Phil Harris 51-02-11 (167) Are Phil And Alice Legally Married
Phil Harris 51-02-18 (168) USO Entertaining At An Army Camp
Phil Harris 51-02-25 (169) Phil's Golf Game
Phil Harris 51-03-04 (170) Waiting For Darryl Zanuck's Call
Phil Harris 51-03-11 (171) Phil, the Dramatic actor
Phil Harris 51-03-18 (172) Spring in the Air
Phil Harris 51-03-25 (173) Frankie and Easter Dinner
Phil Harris 51-04-01 (174) The Songwriters
Phil Harris 51-04-08 (175) Selling RCA Victor Television Sets
Phil Harris 51-04-15 (176) Joining a Country Club
Phil Harris 51-04-22 (177) Improvement is Necessary
Phil Harris 51-04-29 (178) The Beautiful Child Contest
Phil Harris 51-05-06 (179) Vacation Plans
Phil Harris 51-05-13 (180) Hired Mothers
Phil Harris 51-05-20 (181) Phil the Flying Sergeant
Phil Harris 51-05-27 (182) Contract Worries
Phil Harris 51-09-30 (183) Musician Union Troubles
Phil Harris 51-10-07 (184) Julius Wants to get Married
Phil Harris 51-10-14 (185) Phil's Eye Exam
Phil Harris 51-10-21 (186) The School Orchestra
Phil Harris 51-10-28 (187) The Life Story of Phil Harris and Alice Faye
Phil Harris 51-11-04 (188) Frankie Wants to Buy a Business
Phil Harris 51-11-11 (189) Red Cross Blood Drive
Phil Harris 51-11-18 (190) Phil's USC College Benefit
Phil Harris 51-11-25 (191) Indians Don't Pay Income Taxes
Phil Harris 51-12-02 (192) Frankie's TV Show
Phil Harris 51-12-09 (193) Mr Scott's Clock
Phil Harris 51-12-16 (194) Phil's Easy Chair Must Go
Phil Harris 51-12-23 (195) Stolen Christmas Presents
Phil Harris 51-12-30 (196) Need Tickets to the Rose Parade
Phil Harris 52-01-06 (197) Pebble Beach Golf Trip
Phil Harris 52-01-13 (198) Surprise Present for Phil's Birthday
Phil Harris 52-01-20 (199) Fund Raising for the March of Dimes
Phil Harris 52-01-27 (200) Phil is in Charge of the House
Phil Harris 52-02-03 (201) The Day After Mr. Scott's Dinner Party
Phil Harris 52-02-10 (202) A Wife for Frankie
Phil Harris 52-02-17 (203) Seeing Phil's New Movie
Phil Harris 52-02-24 (204) Phil's Band to Play for Mr Scott's Daughter
Phil Harris 52-03-02 (205) Frankie is Not Going with Phil to Las Vegas
Phil Harris 52-03-09 (206) Children's Costume Party
Phil Harris 52-03-16 (207) Choosing Where to Go on Vacation
Phil Harris 52-03-23 (208) Phil is Made Honorary Colonel
Phil Harris 52-03-30 (209) Grogan Wants a Party at Phil's House
Phil Harris 52-04-06 (210) Is Alice Broke
Phil Harris 52-04-13 (211) Alice's Easter Dress
Phil Harris 52-04-20 (212) Alice's Old Boyfriend
Phil Harris 52-04-27 (213) Phil Is Directed To Fire His Band
Phil Harris 52-05-04 (214) Helping Alice With Spring Cleaning
Phil Harris 52-05-11 (215) The Harris Kids On Television
Phil Harris 52-05-18 (216) Julius Is Missing
Phil Harris 52-05-25 (217) Alice's Surprise Party For Mr. Scott
Phil Harris 52-10-05 (218) Hotel Harris
Phil Harris 52-10-12 (219) The Stolen U.S. Mail
Phil Harris 52-10-19 (220) Phil, The Television Star
Phil Harris 52-10-26 (221) Baby Alice's First Date
Phil Harris 52-11-02 (222) Phil Helps Get Out The Vote
Phil Harris 52-11-09 (223) Surprise Party For Phil
Phil Harris 52-11-16 (224) Alice Buys A Business
Phil Harris 52-11-23 (225) Football Tickets
Phil Harris 52-11-30 (226) Elliott's Girlfriend's Name
Phil Harris 52-12-07 (227) Julius Is In Jail
Phil Harris 52-12-14 (228) An Elephant For Mr. Scott
Phil Harris 52-12-21 (229) Alice Volunteers to Play Santa Claus
Phil Harris 52-12-28 (230) New Year's Eve Party At The Harrises
Phil Harris 53-01-04 (231) Alice's Day
Phil Harris 53-01-11 (232) The Kitchen Sink
Phil Harris 53-01-18 (233) The $800 Kiss
Phil Harris 53-01-25 (234) Promoting The Product
Phil Harris 53-02-08 (236) Phil Fasthorse
Phil Harris 53-02-15 (237) Last Of The Mohicans
Phil Harris 53-02-22 (238) Free College Education For Indians
Phil Harris 53-03-01 (239) The 4D Camera
Phil Harris 53-03-08 (240) The Mink Cape Mix-up
Phil Harris 53-03-15 (241) The Gang Leader's Phone Number
Phil Harris 53-03-22 (242) Who Will Replace Phil
Phil Harris 53-03-29 (243) Saving Phil's Job
Phil Harris 53-04-05 (244) Coloring Easter Eggs Phil's Way
Phil Harris 53-04-12 (245) The Little Mother's Helpers Club
Phil Harris 53-04-19 (246) Willie And The Fortune Hunter aka Chloe, Gold Digger (AFRTS)
Phil Harris 53-04-19 (246) Willie And The Fortune Hunter aka Chloe, Gold Digger
Phil Harris 53-04-26 (247) A Trip To Tijuana
Phil Harris 53-05-03 (248) Elliott's Free Trip To The Orient
Phil Harris 53-05-10 (249) Mother's Day Gift Trouble
Phil Harris 53-05-17 (250) A Pool For The Kids
Phil Harris 53-05-24 (251) The Harrises Visit The Dentist
Phil Harris 53-09-25 (257) Courtship of Elliott Lewis
Phil Harris 53-10-02 (258) The Horse Race
Phil Harris 53-10-09 (259) Little Alice's First Date
Phil Harris 53-10-16 (260) The Barbells of Scotland
Phil Harris 53-10-23 (261) How to Repair a Living Room
Phil Harris 53-10-30 (262) The Romance of Alice and Phil
Phil Harris 53-11-06 (263) From Here to Eternity
Phil Harris 53-11-13 (264) A Trip to the Moon
Phil Harris 53-11-20 (265) The Birthday Gift
Phil Harris 53-11-27 (266) Traffic Problems in Los Angeles
Phil Harris 53-12-04 (267) A Night with Phil Harris
Phil Harris 53-12-11 (268) Jessica, You're Dragging Your Net
Phil Harris 53-12-18 (269) The Chaperone (with warmup)
Phil Harris 53-12-18 (269) The Chaperone
Phil Harris 53-12-25 (270) Hosting French Refugee Kids for Christmas
Phil Harris 54-06-11 (294) The Pink Bed Jacket
Phil Harris 54-06-18 (295) Vacation Without Elliott