[78-L] Al & Bob Harvey return to Canada

[David Lennick]

I'm not sure when Bob left the act. Al Harvey was still doing regular programs 
on the CBC in the late 40s (my parents worked on them and may have done some 
writing for him). I don't know of much from Al after 1950..the latest shows I 
have with him are "Song Pluggers" which also featured Gisele Mackenzie.

dl


On 9/4/2019 11:56 PM, David Lennick wrote:
> Al and Bob were really popular in the 1920s as the A&B Battery Boys, as
> noted..they recorded ten sides for Apex and related labels under that name and
> as Al and Bob, and two sides for Bluebird in 1933.
>
> The Good Luck Club was a daily show with a full orchestra (at first) and then a
> small group headed by Bob Farnon and Bert Pearl. A few programs exist.
>
> This is excellent stuff. Thanks!
>
> dl
>
>
> On 9/4/2019 11:35 PM, Lloyd Davies wrote:
>> Al & Bob ran early Tuesday evenings on CBC, starting 1940-oct-01.  They
>> followed "John and Judy", and their program was eventually named "Good luck".
>>
>> from the Regina Leader Post (1940-sep-28):
>>
>> Two performers, well-known in England but comparatively new to Canadian radio
>> audiences, start a new series of programs Oct 1 on CKCK. The series, known as
>> "Al and Bob Harvey," will be heard Tuesday evenings at 6.30. "Al and Bob" are
>> two Canadian boys who made good in England on the vaudeville and concert hall
>> stage. Their program should bring a fresh touch and a very welcome new angle
>> to Canadian radio.
>>
>> (end quote)
>>
>> There was simultaneously a "Bob Harvey and his orchestra" appearing on NBC radio.
>>
>> This announcement is forgetting that Al & Bob were already popular on
>> Canadian radio *before* they left for England.
>>
>> from the Nanaimo Daily News (1931-mar-23):
>>
>> Meet the Makers of "Melody Mike" The Canadian Pacific Railway cross-continent
>> radio feature. ''Melody Mike" every Monday night has grown into the most
>> popular radio hour in Canada as is proved by the fact that many thousands of
>> letters continually pour into the railway headquarters from delighted fans.
>> Al and Bob Harvey are responsible respectively for music and general effect
>> and for direction of the dialogue.  They are the sons of a well-known
>> entertainer and have sung before the Prince of Wales.  They won radio fame as
>> the "A and B" battery boys. This season they have concentrated on "Melody Mike."
>>
>> Mrs. Evelyn M. Biddle is responsible for the continuity and dialogue of the
>> feature. She taught school in rural Ontario where her knowledge of atmosphere
>> was acquired and where she gained the wide experience from which such
>> characters as "Simplicity Sawdust," "Deacon Scratchgravel," "Abe," "Whiskers
>> Wilson," and "Lack-a-day Liz" were evolved. These characters have captured
>> the liking and interest of hundreds of thousands of listeners-in.
>>
>> (end quote)
>>
>> The Nanaimo article has headshots of the three radio artists.
>>
>> - Stephen in Calgary
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