How powerful was Arthur Godfrey back in the day?

According to my 85 year old Dad, Godfrey has his hand in everything radio and early TV. My Dad said Godfrey could make or break celebrities.

Now, I know AG was a big deal, but really how powerful was he? I picture him just a popular host like Sullivan and Carson. Since Godfrey had a large audience, acts could really be seen by millions.

I do recall some story about a dust up with a young, popular singer who appeared regularly on his tv or radio show. Godfrey fired the singer due to his large ego. I’m not certain the details.

My dad says the same thing about Gene Autry as well. However, I think Autry may have been more of a developer of Hollywood geographically investment wise vs studio level decisions wise. Just my observation

 

The young singer in question was Julius La Rosa, and La Rosa's popularity actually went up (briefly) after the firing.

 

Wow. I could see how he could get big headed. I was just reading how he would get offended if any member of his staff, etc would do a project with any past competitor of his. Godfrey’s bio mentions an 1981 HBO special. I cannot find any clips of that anywhere.

 

I'll have to check that out

 

That man ruined many a life with that ukulele.

 

He had the strength of ten men.

 

His was the last old-style daily variety radio program I remember listening to. Lasted into the early ‘70s, I think.

 

As you probably know, his exposure and influence plummeted after his recovery from Lung Cancer, because television had changed.

 

On his last or near last radio episode in the 70s, Godfrey read a letter from a Woman who wrote "what will I do without you?". He replied "I don't know! We're the 'last of the Mohicans' here!"

 

I’ve heard he was a massive radio star and is now mostly forgotten except for OTR fans.

Some time ago I listened to several hours of that 1930s recording of a D.C. station’s full broadcast day, which included his morning show. I found his schtick and the music he played insufferable, but I suppose overworked and lonely housewives it aimed for enjoyed his company.

I believe Stan Freberg did a blistering parody of Godfrey, which is funnier if you’ve suffered through his show.

dan c

Edit: The station I was talking about was WJSV.

 

My Dad recalls a radio show of Godfrey he heard in the late 40's or early 50's. According to my Dad, Godfrey was a pilot and talked aviation quite a bit. On one show, Godfrey mentioned that he predicted man will land on the moon within 100 years. Godfrey actually lived to see all moon landings. That is one story Dad has told countless times thru the years. My Dad grew up poor in Harlan County, KY. My Dad worked in coal mines at 13 years old (non union mines). Dad even ran moonshine with his brothers. Radio was a huge part of their lives back then. I could see how AG was a popular figure in those days.

 

My old man watched his show pretty regularly, but he was already growing tired of his schtick when the LaRosa thing went down, and he refused to watch him after that, going so far as to turn the channel if Godfrey came on a show he was watching. It seemd like overnight, people seemed to see the real man.

 

He was also fired on the air, during the broadcast.

 

Is there video of the firing. I know the firing came on the radio portion of the broadcast. I think the show stayed on radio an extra hour.

 

Oh, maybe it was just radio, but I had heard the story that the firing occurred on-air. So yes, it could have been radio only.

 

I could have sworn I saw a video of the firing (maybe the cameras were still recording) on some TV documentary or something. I can not find any video..only audio.

 

I watched a documentary about him once.
I was surprised that the man had been so powerful and influential, yet his name was unfamiliar to me. I mentioned him to my mom and she’d remembered how hated he became after the La Rosa firing.
All I knew of his work was the Too Fat Polka, which apparently Godfrey came to dislike. The documentary stated last television appearance was a performance of the Too Fat Polka.

 

Godfrey did do Chrysler car commercials in the early 70’s. His name/brand must have still appealed to certain demographics

 

Kinda buried the lead there, Kevin...
a) you wrote a play about The Vagabonds taking over Arthur Godfrey's slot...and,
b) you were inspired to write a play about The Vagabonds taking over Arthur Godfrey's slot...plus,
c) you were in a situation where your creativity would best be served by having a reason to write a play about The Vagabonds taking over Arthur Godfrey's slot.

 

Doing some further reading, Pat Boone was chosen over Elvis for talent scouts. That is the first I heard that and I know everything Elvis (apparently not). I thought EP’s first NY trip was to meet with RCA in 1955. The Godfrey audition was Presley’s first plane ride. This was before Col. Parker. I wonder who set the audition up? Sam Phillips, Scotty Moore? Wink Martindale? I’m not certain who had ties. Maybe Louisiana Hayride.

 

Look, I don't wanna come right out and say that's genius...but, you've gotta know, that's way deep geek there...congratulations.