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The Bell Telephone Hour

Latest episode

S10 E13 · Discover America with Jose Jimenez

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About The Bell Telephone Hour

The Bell Telephone Hour is a TV series that premiered on NBC on January 12, 1959. It has 10 seasons and 120 episodes so far and has ended. The latest episode, Season 10 Episode 13 "Discover America with Jose Jimenez", aired on May 17, 1968.

“The Bell Telephone Hour” was a musical variety show that aired on “NBC” TV from 12 January 1959 to 14 June 1968 that showcased the best in Broadway, Classical, Concert, Jazz and Popular music each week. The series had its’ own house band appropriately named the “Bell Telephone Orchestra”. The show also had its’ own theme song being the “Bell Waltz” composed by “Donald Voorhees” who was also the show's Orchestra conductor. Some of the greatest violinists of the 1960’s performed on this show that aired in the old “Black & White” format. Some of these great violinists included “Erica Mornin”, “Isaac Stern", "Michael Rabin", "Ruggiero Ricci", "Yehudi Menuhin" and "Zino Francesacatti". From time to time some of the great singers and bandleaders of the 1960’s would perform on the show as well. Some of these were “Bing Crosby”, “Gordon MacRae”, “John Gary”, “Leslie Uggams”, “Mary Martin”, “Nelson Eddy”, “Patti Page” and “Roy Rogers”. The TV show followed on the heels of its’ predecessor with the same name on “NBC” radio that aired from 29 April 1940 to 1958 on Monday nights at 8 PM. The name of the show was derived from its’ Major sponsor “Bell Telephone Laboratories”. The TV version began airing on Friday nights at 8:30 PM once a month. It later was given it’s same time slot now airing every other week alternating with another show on the other weeks such as News shows and specials. The show time slot changed quite often over the years. In September 1960 it aired at 9 PM and in September 1961 it moved to 9:30 PM. In October 1963 it moved to Tuesday nights at 10 PM, September 1965 it moved to Sunday night at 6:30 PM and in September 1967 it made its' final move back to Friday night at 10 PM.

Last updated

Episodes

120 episodes · 10 seasons

Season 1

1959 · 4 episodes · Last episode: 67 years ago

The Bell Telephone Hour Season 1 release dates →
  1. E4

    4. An Hour of Music

    Finale
  2. E3

    3. Concert 1959

  3. E2

    2. American Festival

  4. E1

    1. Adventures In Music

Season 2

1959 · 13 episodes · Last episode: 66 years ago

The Bell Telephone Hour Season 2 release dates →
  1. E13

    13. The Mikado

    Finale
  2. E12

    12. Concert Hall

  3. E11

    11. Main Street USA

  4. E10

    10. The Music Makers

    Polly Bergen is the host with singers John Raitt and Barbara Cook, 15-year-old concert pianist Lorin Hollander; the jazz combo Dukes of Dixieland; the barbershop quartet Buffalo Bills; and the Bob Hamilton dance trio.

  5. E9

    9. Portraits In Music

  6. E8

    8. The Four of Us

    Four entertainers perform songs not readily associated with them: Ray Bolger sings and dances 'Slaughter on Tenth Avenue;' clarinetist Benny Goodman plays Carl Maria von Weber's Concerto in E-flat Major; Beatrice Lillie sings ballads in a comic style; and Ethel Merman sings ragtime tunes.

  7. E7

    7. We To

    Musical variety show with this episode focusing on famous couples: recording artists Les Paul and Mary Ford; dancers Marge and Gower Champion; singers Gordon and Sheila MacRae; concert pianist JosZ iturbi and his sister Amparo Iturbi; and Raymond Scott and his wife Dorothy Collins.

  8. E6

    6. Our Musical Ambassadors

  9. E5

    5. The Gift of Music

  10. E4

    4. The Music of Gershwin

  11. E3

    3. On Stage With Music

    Burgess Meredith is host. Performers are John Raitt, Jayne P. Morgan, Johnny Desmond, Gene Nelson, Taina Elg, The Four Lads, pianist Loren Hollander, dancers Allegra Kent and Jacques d'Amboise, and the Coast Guard Academy Choir.

  12. E2

    2. Music of the West

  13. E1

    1. A Night Of Music

Season 3

1960 · 15 episodes · Last episode: 65 years ago

The Bell Telephone Hour Season 3 release dates →
  1. E15

    15. Encore!

    Finale
  2. E14

    14. The Younger Generation

  3. E13

    13. The Signs of Spring

  4. E12

    12. Much Ado About Music

  5. E11

    11. A Galaxy of Music

  6. E10

    10. The Sounds of America

  7. E9

    9. Almanac for February

  8. E8

    8. Music Hath Charms

  9. E7

    7. And There Shall Be Music

  10. E6

    6. 'Twas Was the Night Before

  11. E5

    5. The Music Of Romance

  12. E4

    4. And Freedom Sings

  13. E3

    3. One Nation Indivisible

  14. E2

    2. The Unforgettable Music of Vincent Youmans

  15. E1

    1. Holiday In Music

Season 4

1961 · 14 episodes · Last episode: 64 years ago

The Bell Telephone Hour Season 4 release dates →
  1. E14

    14. Till Autumn

    Finale
  2. E13

    13. Springtime In The Park

  3. E12

    12. Gala Performance

  4. E11

    11. The Music Of Love

  5. E10

    10. The Songs Of Irving Berlin

    Ginger Rogers is hostess of this program devoted to the music of Irving Berlin. Guests include John Raitt, Johnny Desmond, Janet Blair, Mindy Carson, the Joe Bushkin Trio, the NORAD Command Band and Chorus. AnnouncerL Mel Brandt.

  6. E9

    9. Portals Of Music

  7. E8

    8. Weavers Of Song

  8. E7

    7. A Measure Of Music

  9. E6

    6. Trip To Christmas

  10. E5

    5. Designs In Music

  11. E4

    4. The Music Of Richard Rodgers

  12. E3

    3. Trio

  13. E2

    2. Salute to Autumn

  14. E1

    1. Opening Night

Season 5

1962 · 8 episodes · Last episode: 63 years ago

The Bell Telephone Hour Season 5 release dates →
  1. E8

    8. Season 5, Show 8

    Finale
  2. E7

    7. Season 5, Show 7

  3. E6

    6. Season 5, Show 6

  4. E5

    5. Season 5, Show 5

  5. E4

    4. Season 5, Show 4

  6. E3

    3. Season 5, Show 3

  7. E2

    2. Season 5, Show 2

  8. E1

    1. Season 5, Show 1

Season 6

1963 · 19 episodes · Last episode: 62 years ago

The Bell Telephone Hour Season 6 release dates →
  1. E19

    19. Season 6, Show 19

    Finale
  2. E18

    18. Season 6, Show 18

  3. E17

    17. Season 6, Show 17

  4. E16

    16. Season 6, Show 16

  5. E15

    15. Season 6, Show 15

  6. E14

    14. Season 6, Show 14

  7. E13

    13. Season 6, Show 13

  8. E12

    12. Season 6, Show 12

  9. E11

    11. Season 6, Show 11

  10. E10

    10. Almanac

  11. E9

    9. Cole Porter: An All-Star Tribute

  12. E8

    8. The Younger Generation

  13. E7

    7. Season 6, Show 7

  14. E6

    6. Season 6, Show 6

  15. E5

    5. Season 6, Show 5

  16. E4

    4. Season 6, Show 4

  17. E3

    3. Season 6, Show 3

  18. E2

    2. Season 6, Show 2

  19. E1

    1. Season 6, Show 1

Season 7

1964 · 15 episodes · Last episode: 61 years ago

The Bell Telephone Hour Season 7 release dates →
  1. E15

    15. The Many Faces Of Cole Porter

    Finale
  2. E14

    14. Tin Pan Alley

  3. E13

    13. Great Moments

  4. E12

    12. Festival Of Spring

  5. E11

    11. Wayfarer On The Mississippi

  6. E10

    10. The American Girl

  7. E9

    9. The Masques Of Music

  8. E8

    8. The American Song

  9. E7

    7. The Sound Of Music

  10. E6

    6. Love Makes The World Go Round

  11. E5

    5. Season 7, Show 5

  12. E4

    4. Season 7, Show 4

  13. E3

    3. Season 7, Show 3

  14. E2

    2. Lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein

    Henry Fonda hosts a tribute to the late Oscar Hammerstein II.

  15. E1

    1. Season 7, Show 1

Season 8

1965 · 16 episodes · Last episode: 60 years ago

The Bell Telephone Hour Season 8 release dates →
  1. E16

    16. Music That Mirrors The Times

    Finale
  2. E15

    15. Songs Of Spring

  3. E14

    14. Masterpieces And Music

  4. E13

    13. Music Of The Movies

  5. E12

    12. The Lyrics Of Allan Jay Lerner

  6. E11

    11. Valentine's Day

  7. E10

    10. A Gershwin Portrait

  8. E9

    9. The Song And The Dance Man

  9. E8

    8. The Music Of The West

  10. E7

    7. An Old Fashioned Christmas

    Martha Scott, opens with a tableau set in a small town in 1909. Townspeople gradually leave their still-frame poses, coming to life to sing holiday tunes. Melissa Hayden, as the Snow Queen, and Jacques D'Amboise, as the Prince, perform the "Snow" pas de deux from "The Nutcracker," with music by Tchaikovsky. The ensemble of singers perform carols in "Grandma's house," followed by a Christmas message from Frederick R. Kappel. A church scene with the Columbus Boychoir singing "Adeste Fideles," "The First Noel," and "Carol of the Bells". Martha Scott reads a biblical passage from Luke. Gianna d'Angelo and the Boychoir close singing "O Holy Night" and "Silent Night".

  11. E6

    6. The Music Of Harold Arlen

  12. E5

    5. Thanksgiving

  13. E4

    4. Salute To Veteran's Day

  14. E3

    3. Joan Sutherland

  15. E2

    2. Music In Manhattan

  16. E1

    1. Salute To Jerome Kern

Season 9

1966 · 3 episodes · Last episode: 59 years ago

The Bell Telephone Hour Season 9 release dates →
  1. E3

    3. The Sounds And Sights Of San Fransisco

    Finale
  2. E2

    2. The First Ladies Of Opera

  3. E1

    1. Christmas Through The Ages

Season 10

1967 · 13 episodes · Last episode: 58 years ago

The Bell Telephone Hour Season 10 release dates →
  1. E13

    13. Discover America with Jose Jimenez

  2. E12

    12. Jazz - The Intimate Art

  3. E11

    11. Going to Bethlehem

  4. E10

    10. Opera: Two to Six

  5. E9

    9. Man Who Dances: Edward Villella

  6. E8

    8. The Sights and Sounds of Chicago

  7. E7

    7. The Secret Musical Life of George Plimpton

  8. E6

    6. Carnival of the Menuhins

  9. E5

    5. Casals at Marlboro

  10. E4

    4. The Virtuoso Teacher

  11. E3

    3. Benjamin Britten and His Aldeburgh Festival

  12. E2

    2. On The Road With Duke Ellington

  13. E1

    1. The Many Faces of Romeo and Juliet

Cast & crew

  • Jane Wyatt

    Jane Wyatt

  • Maureen O'Hara

    Maureen O'Hara

  • Guy Lombardo

    Guy Lombardo

  • Pete Fountain

    Pete Fountain

  • Edward Villella

  • Jane Wyman

    Jane Wyman

    Self - Host

  • Robert Merrill

  • Harry Belafonte

    Harry Belafonte

    Self

  • Woody Herman

    Woody Herman

    Self

  • Dorothy Collins

    Self

  • Lena Horne

    Lena Horne

    Self - Host

  • Florence Henderson

    Florence Henderson

    Self - Hostess

  • Jack Jones

    Jack Jones

    Self

  • Fritz Weaver

    Fritz Weaver

    Self - Narrator

  • John Forsythe

    John Forsythe

    Self - Host

  • Johnny Desmond

    Johnny Desmond

    Self

The Bell Telephone Hour FAQ

Will there be new episodes of The Bell Telephone Hour?

The Bell Telephone Hour has ended, so no new episodes are scheduled. The final episode aired on May 17, 1968.

When did the latest episode of The Bell Telephone Hour come out?

The most recent episode of The Bell Telephone Hour, Season 10 Episode 13 "Discover America with Jose Jimenez", aired on May 17, 1968.

How many seasons of The Bell Telephone Hour are there?

The Bell Telephone Hour has 10 seasons with 120 episodes in total.

When did The Bell Telephone Hour first air?

The Bell Telephone Hour first aired on NBC on January 12, 1959.

How do I get notified when new episodes of The Bell Telephone Hour are released?

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