The Bell Telephone Hour 1959
What is The Bell Telephone Hour?
The Bell Telephone Hour is a musical variety show that originally aired on NBC television. The program broadcast weekly from January 12, 1959, to June 14, 1968, showcasing the best in Broadway, classical, concert, jazz, and popular music.
- Type
- TV series
- Year
- 1959
- Status
- Ended
- Episodes
- 120
- Runtime
- 60 minutes
- First aired
- Jan 12, 1959
- Last aired
- May 17, 1968
- Original language
- EN
- Origin
- US
- Networks
- NBC
- Updated
How long to binge?
Estimate the schedule using 120 episodes and an average 60-minute runtime.
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Find the trailer on YouTube ↗Overview
The Bell Telephone Hour is a musical variety show that originally aired on NBC television. The program broadcast weekly from January 12, 1959, to June 14, 1968, showcasing the best in Broadway, classical, concert, jazz, and popular music. The series featured its own house band, the Bell Telephone Orchestra, and had its own theme song titled the Bell Waltz. The theme song was composed by Donald Voorhees, who also served as the orchestra's conductor. The show originally aired in a black and white format and featured performances by some of the greatest violinists of the 1960s, including Erica Mornin. Additionally, the musical series aired in the 8:30 to 9:30 pm time slot in color from September 11, 1959, until June 17, 1960, as part of an NBC Friday Night Special Presentation schedule.
Should you watch it?
“Experience weekly musical variety showcasing Broadway, classical, jazz, and popular performances.”
- Features a dedicated house band
- Showcases great violinists of the 1960s
- Aired in the old black and white format
Watch it if you enjoy classic musical variety television programs.
The series features musical performances suited for general audiences.
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Episode guide
Spoiler-Safe Browsing Progress
Season 1 · 4 episodes
Open the complete Season 1 guide & lore primer →- E1 Adventures In Music Mytharc Jan 12, 1959
- E2 American Festival Core Feb 10, 1959
- E3 Concert 1959 Core Mar 4, 1959
- E4 An Hour of Music Mytharc Apr 9, 1959
Season 2 · 13 episodes
Open the complete Season 2 guide & lore primer →- E1 A Night Of Music Mytharc Oct 9, 1959
- E2 Music of the West Core Oct 23, 1959
- E3 On Stage With Music Core Nov 6, 1959
- E4 The Music of Gershwin Core Nov 20, 1959
- E5 The Gift of Music Core Dec 18, 1959
- E6 Our Musical Ambassadors Core Jan 1, 1960
- E7 We To Core Jan 15, 1960
- E8 The Four of Us Core Jan 29, 1960
- E9 Portraits In Music Core Feb 12, 1960
- E10 The Music Makers Core Feb 26, 1960
- E11 Main Street USA Core Mar 11, 1960
- E12 Concert Hall Mytharc Apr 1, 1960
- E13 The Mikado Mytharc Apr 29, 1960
Season 3 · 15 episodes
Open the complete Season 3 guide & lore primer →- E1 Holiday In Music Mytharc Sep 30, 1960
- E2 The Unforgettable Music of Vincent Youmans Core Oct 14, 1960
- E3 One Nation Indivisible Core Oct 28, 1960
- E4 And Freedom Sings Core Nov 11, 1960
- E5 The Music Of Romance Core Nov 25, 1960
- E6 'Twas Was the Night Before Core Dec 23, 1960
- E7 And There Shall Be Music Core Jan 6, 1961
- E8 Music Hath Charms Core Jan 20, 1961
- E9 Almanac for February Core Feb 3, 1961
- E10 The Sounds of America Core Feb 17, 1961
- E11 A Galaxy of Music Core Mar 3, 1961
- E12 Much Ado About Music Core Mar 17, 1961
- E13 The Signs of Spring Core Mar 31, 1961
- E14 The Younger Generation Mytharc Apr 14, 1961
- E15 Encore! Mytharc Apr 28, 1961
Season 4 · 14 episodes
Open the complete Season 4 guide & lore primer →- E1 Opening Night Mytharc Sep 29, 1961
- E2 Salute to Autumn Core Oct 13, 1961
- E3 Trio Core Oct 27, 1961
- E4 The Music Of Richard Rodgers Core Nov 10, 1961
- E5 Designs In Music Core Dec 8, 1961
- E6 Trip To Christmas Core Dec 22, 1961
- E7 A Measure Of Music Core Jan 19, 1962
- E8 Weavers Of Song Core Feb 2, 1962
- E9 Portals Of Music Core Feb 16, 1962
- E10 The Songs Of Irving Berlin Core Mar 2, 1962
- E11 The Music Of Love Core Mar 16, 1962
- E12 Gala Performance Core Mar 30, 1962
- E13 Springtime In The Park Mytharc Apr 13, 1962
- E14 Till Autumn Mytharc Apr 27, 1962
Season 5 · 8 episodes
Open the complete Season 5 guide & lore primer →- E1 Season 5, Show 1 Mytharc Sep 24, 1962
- E2 Season 5, Show 2 Core Oct 22, 1962
- E3 Season 5, Show 3 Core Nov 22, 1962
- E4 Season 5, Show 4 Core Dec 23, 1962
- E5 Season 5, Show 5 Core Jan 18, 1963
- E6 Season 5, Show 6 Core Feb 4, 1963
- E7 Season 5, Show 7 Mytharc Mar 13, 1963
- E8 Season 5, Show 8 Mytharc Apr 11, 1963
Season 6 · 19 episodes
Open the complete Season 6 guide & lore primer →- E1 Season 6, Show 1 Mytharc Oct 8, 1963
- E2 Season 6, Show 2 Core Oct 22, 1963
- E3 Season 6, Show 3 Core Nov 5, 1963
- E4 Season 6, Show 4 Core Nov 19, 1963
- E5 Season 6, Show 5 Core Dec 3, 1963
- E6 Season 6, Show 6 Core Dec 17, 1963
- E7 Season 6, Show 7 Core Dec 24, 1963
- E8 The Younger Generation Core Jan 14, 1964
- E9 Cole Porter: An All-Star Tribute Core Jan 28, 1964
- E10 Almanac Core Feb 11, 1964
- E11 Season 6, Show 11 Core Feb 25, 1964
- E12 Season 6, Show 12 Core Mar 10, 1964
- E13 Season 6, Show 13 Core Mar 24, 1964
- E14 Season 6, Show 14 Core Apr 7, 1964
- E15 Season 6, Show 15 Core Apr 21, 1964
- E16 Season 6, Show 16 Core May 5, 1964
- E17 Season 6, Show 17 Core May 19, 1964
- E18 Season 6, Show 18 Mytharc Jun 16, 1964
- E19 Season 6, Show 19 Mytharc Jun 30, 1964
Season 7 · 15 episodes
Open the complete Season 7 guide & lore primer →- E1 Season 7, Show 1 Mytharc Oct 6, 1964
- E2 Lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein Core Nov 10, 1964
- E3 Season 7, Show 3 Core Nov 24, 1964
- E4 Season 7, Show 4 Core Dec 8, 1964
- E5 Season 7, Show 5 Core Dec 22, 1964
- E6 Love Makes The World Go Round Core Jan 5, 1965
- E7 The Sound Of Music Core Jan 19, 1965
- E8 The American Song Core Feb 2, 1965
- E9 The Masques Of Music Core Feb 16, 1965
- E10 The American Girl Core Mar 2, 1965
- E11 Wayfarer On The Mississippi Core Mar 16, 1965
- E12 Festival Of Spring Core Apr 13, 1965
- E13 Great Moments Core Apr 27, 1965
- E14 Tin Pan Alley Mytharc May 11, 1965
- E15 The Many Faces Of Cole Porter Mytharc May 25, 1965
Season 8 · 16 episodes
Open the complete Season 8 guide & lore primer →- E1 Salute To Jerome Kern Mytharc Sep 26, 1965
- E2 Music In Manhattan Core Oct 10, 1965
- E3 Joan Sutherland Core Oct 24, 1965
- E4 Salute To Veteran's Day Core Nov 7, 1965
- E5 Thanksgiving Core Nov 21, 1965
- E6 The Music Of Harold Arlen Core Dec 5, 1965
- E7 An Old Fashioned Christmas Core Dec 19, 1965
- E8 The Music Of The West Core Jan 2, 1966
- E9 The Song And The Dance Man Core Jan 16, 1966
- E10 A Gershwin Portrait Core Jan 30, 1966
- E11 Valentine's Day Core Feb 13, 1966
- E12 The Lyrics Of Allan Jay Lerner Core Feb 27, 1966
- E13 Music Of The Movies Core Mar 13, 1966
- E14 Masterpieces And Music Core Mar 27, 1966
- E15 Songs Of Spring Mytharc Apr 10, 1966
- E16 Music That Mirrors The Times Mytharc Apr 24, 1966
Season 9 · 3 episodes
Open the complete Season 9 guide & lore primer →- E1 Christmas Through The Ages Mytharc Dec 18, 1966
- E2 The First Ladies Of Opera Core Jan 1, 1967
- E3 The Sounds And Sights Of San Fransisco Mytharc Jan 29, 1967
Season 10 · 13 episodes
Open the complete Season 10 guide & lore primer →- E1 The Many Faces of Romeo and Juliet Mytharc Sep 8, 1967
- E2 On The Road With Duke Ellington Core Oct 13, 1967
- E3 Benjamin Britten and His Aldeburgh Festival Core Nov 3, 1967
- E4 The Virtuoso Teacher Core Nov 24, 1967
- E5 Casals at Marlboro Core Dec 29, 1967
- E6 Carnival of the Menuhins Core Jan 19, 1968
- E7 The Secret Musical Life of George Plimpton Core Feb 2, 1968
- E8 The Sights and Sounds of Chicago Core Feb 16, 1968
- E9 Man Who Dances: Edward Villella Core Mar 8, 1968
- E10 Opera: Two to Six Core Mar 22, 1968
- E11 Going to Bethlehem Core Apr 14, 1968
- E12 Jazz - The Intimate Art Mytharc Apr 26, 1968
- E13 Discover America with Jose Jimenez Mytharc May 17, 1968
Frequently asked questions
What type of show was The Bell Telephone Hour?
It was a musical variety show that showcased Broadway, classical, concert, jazz, and popular music.
When did the series air?
The show aired on NBC from January 12, 1959, to June 14, 1968.
What was the name of the house band?
The house band was called the Bell Telephone Orchestra.
Who composed the theme song and conducted the orchestra?
Donald Voorhees composed the theme song, known as the Bell Waltz, and conducted the orchestra.
What visual format was used for the show?
Some of the show aired in the old black and white format.
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