‘Plantation Party’ Opened Doors to Radio Success

St. Petersburg Times – Jul 15, 1945

A few year ago, a series called “PlantationParty” ended a four-year run over NBC, out of Chicago. Throughout its run, the show enjoyed a good rating . . . and subsequent developments have proved that there was a good reason for it.

Two of the latest proofs are offered by Curt Massey and Marlin Hurt, both of whom are starring in new shows of their own.

Curt Massey, with Carol Bruce and Harry Sosnik’s orchestra, has the spotlight on the new “Sunday on the N-K Ranch” series. Massey, following a few guest appearances on the Andrews Sisters show, was so widely hailed as the next male singing, sensation, that he was signed as headliner on the replacement series while famous Andrews threesome entertains overseas. On “Plantation Party,” Curt sang, played trumpet and violin, with his sister, Louise Massey, and her Westerners.

Hurt, multiple-voiced comic who is Beulah, the colored maid, as well as “her” beau Bill and himself on the “Beulah” show, another summer newcomer, also is veteran of the Chicago series. Marlin’ developed the Beulah character, as well as a few dozen others, as a member of the trio, Tom, Dick and Harry, who offered a Marx Brothers-with-music touch to “PlantationParty.” Hurt later brought his maid characterization to the Fibber McGee show, and now is started in his own program, in which he “triples” as two comedians and a straight man.

As new situations bring new characters into the life of Beulah, chances are excellent that Hurt will play his share of the added parts, for he does characters by the dozen, including at least three distinct Negro males, and just about all the other dialect roles, male and female, that an imaginative script writer might dream up.

Comedian on “Plantation Party” was Whitey Ford, the Duke of Paducah. You hear him now as comedy star of the Saturday night folk music and fun festival, “Grand Ole Opry.”

“Plantation Party” was produced by Tom Wallace, who also is right in the foreground of the radio picture today. He is the owner and producer of the American network’s popular “Blind Date”

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