Family Hour of Stars

Family Hour of Stars is an American radio anthology series that was broadcast on CBS beginning on October 3, 1948, and ending on February 26, 1950. It was also known as The Prudential Family Hour of Stars.

Background
Family Hour of Stars, which was sponsored by the Prudential Insurance Company of America, replaced The Prudential Family Hour, a program that featured concert music but also included dramatic segments about composers' lives. The musical program had been on for seven years and had "a gradual erosion of audience". The sponsor began Family Hour of Stars "with no break in continuity" a week after the concert show ended.

Overview
Family Hour of Stars initially featured Humphrey Bogart, Bette Davis, Gregory Peck, Ginger Rogers, Barbara Stanwyck, and Robert Taylor as its core group of stars. Those actors were absent during summer episodes in 1949, when the broadcasts used "free-lance 'less expensive' talent". John Lund was featured in the first summer program, on June 5, 1949, with Ava Gardner, Richard Widmark, and Diana Lynn in the next three episodes. In October 1949 the show had a new core group of stars: Dana Andrews, Ronald Colman, Irene Dunne, and Loretta Young. In January 1950, Colman left because he began a program of his own; James Stewart replaced him. Some episodes featured guest stars. Frank Goss and Truman Bradley were the announcers, and Carmen Dragon led the orchestra.

Production
Benton & Bowles (B & B) had overall control of production, but when the show was launched B & B farmed out responsibility to MCA Inc. Effective with the June 5, 1949, episode, B & B took direct control of production from MCA. Ken Burton was the producer. Directors included Murray Bolen and Jack Johnstone. Writers included Jean Holloway. The half-hour program was broadcast on Sundays at 6 p.m. Eastern Time. Prudential ended Family Hour of Stars, "planning to save some money by the cancellation". Combined costs of time and talent exceeded $20,000 per week. The show was replaced by My Favorite Husband.

Critical response
Radio historian John Dunning wrote in the reference book On the Air: The Encyclopedia of Old-Time Radio that Family Hour of Stars "had much the same sound as half a dozen 'Hollywood glitter' shows then on the air". He added that even with occasional guest stars and original stories (rather than adaptations), "the sound was the same, due to the glut of such programming on CBS and the other networks as well."