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.
Trailer
No official trailer is available for this title yet.
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.
Ask the Vault
Ask anything about The Bell Telephone Hour — answers are spoiler-safe.
Your verdict
Is The Bell Telephone Hour worth watching?
Cast
Episode guide
Season 1 · 4 episodes
Open the complete Season 1 guide →- E1 Adventures In Music Jan 12, 1959
- E2 American Festival Feb 10, 1959
- E3 Concert 1959 Mar 4, 1959
- E4 An Hour of Music Apr 9, 1959
Season 2 · 13 episodes
- E1 A Night Of Music Oct 9, 1959
- E2 Music of the West Oct 23, 1959
- E3 On Stage With Music Nov 6, 1959
- E4 The Music of Gershwin Nov 20, 1959
- E5 The Gift of Music Dec 18, 1959
- E6 Our Musical Ambassadors Jan 1, 1960
- E7 We To Jan 15, 1960
- E8 The Four of Us Jan 29, 1960
- E9 Portraits In Music Feb 12, 1960
- E10 The Music Makers Feb 26, 1960
- E11 Main Street USA Mar 11, 1960
- E12 Concert Hall Apr 1, 1960
- E13 The Mikado Apr 29, 1960
Season 3 · 15 episodes
- E1 Holiday In Music Sep 30, 1960
- E2 The Unforgettable Music of Vincent Youmans Oct 14, 1960
- E3 One Nation Indivisible Oct 28, 1960
- E4 And Freedom Sings Nov 11, 1960
- E5 The Music Of Romance Nov 25, 1960
- E6 'Twas Was the Night Before Dec 23, 1960
- E7 And There Shall Be Music Jan 6, 1961
- E8 Music Hath Charms Jan 20, 1961
- E9 Almanac for February Feb 3, 1961
- E10 The Sounds of America Feb 17, 1961
- E11 A Galaxy of Music Mar 3, 1961
- E12 Much Ado About Music Mar 17, 1961
- E13 The Signs of Spring Mar 31, 1961
- E14 The Younger Generation Apr 14, 1961
- E15 Encore! Apr 28, 1961
Season 4 · 14 episodes
- E1 Opening Night Sep 29, 1961
- E2 Salute to Autumn Oct 13, 1961
- E3 Trio Oct 27, 1961
- E4 The Music Of Richard Rodgers Nov 10, 1961
- E5 Designs In Music Dec 8, 1961
- E6 Trip To Christmas Dec 22, 1961
- E7 A Measure Of Music Jan 19, 1962
- E8 Weavers Of Song Feb 2, 1962
- E9 Portals Of Music Feb 16, 1962
- E10 The Songs Of Irving Berlin Mar 2, 1962
- E11 The Music Of Love Mar 16, 1962
- E12 Gala Performance Mar 30, 1962
- E13 Springtime In The Park Apr 13, 1962
- E14 Till Autumn Apr 27, 1962
Season 5 · 8 episodes
- E1 Season 5, Show 1 Sep 24, 1962
- E2 Season 5, Show 2 Oct 22, 1962
- E3 Season 5, Show 3 Nov 22, 1962
- E4 Season 5, Show 4 Dec 23, 1962
- E5 Season 5, Show 5 Jan 18, 1963
- E6 Season 5, Show 6 Feb 4, 1963
- E7 Season 5, Show 7 Mar 13, 1963
- E8 Season 5, Show 8 Apr 11, 1963
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.