Old-Time Radio Reimagined
Beat the Band
24 episodes · 1940–1944 · NBC · Variety & Music
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Listeners sent in musical questions, often puns or riddles, and the band tried to answer them; a musician who missed tossed a fifty-cent piece on the bass drum. It ran on NBC from January 28, 1940, to February 23, 1941, with Garry Moore as emcee and Ted Weems and his orchestra, for Kix, and again in 1943-1944, and it popularized the show-business line "Give me a little traveling music."
Sources: Wikipedia: Beat the Band (quiz show); RadioGOLDINdex
Episodes
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1940
- Audition Broadcast: Goody Goodbye
Possibly an audition from Chicago, with the game's rules spelled out. Garry Moore hosts Ted Weems and His Orchestra, Perry Como, Marvel Maxwell and whistler Elmo Tanner; "Goody Good-Bye" opens. - You're a Lucky Guy
The show's first coast-to-coast network broadcast. Garry Moore hosts Ted Weems and His Orchestra, with Perry Como, Marvel Maxwell and Elmo Tanner; "You're a Lucky Guy" opens. - Say, Si Si
Garry Moore hosts Ted Weems and His Orchestra, with Perry Como, Marvel Maxwell and Elmo Tanner, opening with "Say, Si Si." - Goody Goodbye (February 1940)
Garry Moore hosts Ted Weems and His Orchestra, with Perry Como, Marvel Maxwell and Elmo Tanner, opening with "Goody Good-Bye." - Goody Goodbye (March 1940)
Ted Weems and His Orchestra play "Goody Good-Bye" to start, with host Garry Moore, Perry Como, Marvel Maxwell and Elmo Tanner. - Wearin' of the Green
A St. Patrick's Day show: Garry Moore hosts Ted Weems and His Orchestra, with Perry Como, Marvel Maxwell and Elmo Tanner, starting with "Wearin' of the Green." - You Little Heartbreaker You
Garry Moore hosts Ted Weems and His Orchestra, with Perry Como, Marvel Maxwell and Elmo Tanner, starting with "You Little Heartbreaker You." - Oh Golly, I'm in Love
Ted Weems and His Orchestra lead off with "Oh, Golly, I'm in Love," with host Garry Moore, Perry Como, Marvel Maxwell and Elmo Tanner. - Knit One, Purl Two
- Take Your Girlie to the Movies
- Manhattan Moon and You
From the Meadowbrook Country Club in St. Louis: Garry Moore hosts Ted Weems and His Orchestra, with Perry Como and Marvel Maxwell, opening with "Manhattan Moon and You." - Get That Moon Out of Your Eyes
From Chicago: Garry Moore hosts Ted Weems and His Orchestra, with Perry Como, Marvel Maxwell and Elmo Tanner, starting with "Get That Moon Out of Your Eyes." - It Seems Like a Month of Sundays
- I'm Nobody's Baby
Garry Moore hosts Ted Weems and His Orchestra, with Perry Como, Marvel Maxwell and Elmo Tanner, starting with "I'm Nobody's Baby." - There's a Great Day Coming Manana
Ted Weems and His Orchestra open with "There's a Great Day Coming, Manana," with host Garry Moore, Perry Como, Marvel Maxwell and Elmo Tanner. - Cali-Conga
- It Feels Like a Month of Sundays
Songs and quiz questions with host Garry Moore and Ted Weems and His Orchestra, plus a whistled solo from Elmo Tanner; "It Feels Like a Month of Sundays" opens. - Down Argentine Way
Garry Moore hosts Ted Weems and His Orchestra, with Perry Como, Marvel Maxwell and Elmo Tanner, starting with "Down Argentine Way." - Who's Who in Your Heart
The band tries to name songs from listeners' puns, with host Garry Moore, Ted Weems and His Orchestra and Perry Como; "Who's Who in Your Heart?" opens. - Toot That Trumpet
- The Lady with Red Hair
From Indianapolis: Garry Moore hosts Ted Weems and His Orchestra, with Perry Como, Marvel Maxwell and Elmo Tanner, opening with "The Lady With Red Hair." - How About You
Garry Moore hosts Ted Weems and His Orchestra, with Perry Como, Marvel Maxwell and Elmo Tanner, starting with "How About You?"