This Amazing America#Film
{{Short description|American old-time radio musical and quiz program}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2025}}
{{Infobox radio show
| show_name = This Amazing America
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| format = Quiz and music
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| country = United States
| language = English
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| syndicates = NBC-Blue
| television =
| presenter =
| starring = Bob Brown
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| first_aired = {{Start date|1940|02|16}}
| last_aired = {{End date|1940|06|28}}
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This Amazing America is an American old-time radio musical and quiz program that ran from February 16, 1940, to June 28, 1940, on NBC-Blue.{{cite book|last1=Dunning|first1=John|title=On the Air: The Encyclopedia of Old-Time Radio|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Fi5wPDBiGfMC&dq=%22This+Amazing+America+quiz%22&pg=PA663|date=1998|publisher=Oxford University Press|location=New York, NY|isbn=978-0-19-507678-3|page=663|edition=Revised|access-date=November 30, 2024}} A different program with the same title was broadcast later on NBC-Red.{{cite news |title=Comment |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=GgwEAAAAMBAJ |access-date=January 6, 2022 |magazine=Billboard |date=January 3, 1942 |page=8}}
Format
The quiz portion of the program featured audience participation as members of the studio audience attempted to answer questions about America that had been sent in by listeners.{{cite news |title=Greyhound on Blue |url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1940/1940-02-01-BC.pdf#page=32 |access-date=January 4, 2022 |work=Broadcasting |date=February 1, 1940 |page=32}} Participants formed two three-person teams to answer questions Members of the winning team received $25 each, and the grand prize was $169.50 (equal to the ticket price for a Grand Circle Tour by the sponsor, Greyhound bus company. Most of the questions dealt with American geography.{{cite news |title=Program Reviews: 'This Amazing America' |url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/40s/1940/Billboard-1940-04-06.pdf#page=7 |access-date=January 5, 2022 |magazine=Billboard |date=April 6, 1940 |page=7}}
Personnel and schedule
Bob Brown was the host and quizmaster. The Ranch Boys sang, accompanied by Roy Shields and his orchestra. This Amazing America was initially broadcast on NBC-Blue on Fridays from 8 to 8:30 p.m. Eastern Time. On May 3, 1940, it was moved to 9:30 - 10 p.m. ET, still on Fridays.{{cite news |title=Network Changes |url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1940/1940-05-15-BC.pdf#page=93 |access-date=January 5, 2022 |work=Broadcasting |date=May 15, 1940 |page=93}}
Reception
A review of This Amazing America in the trade publication Billboard found its advertising to be the best part of the show. The reviewer thought that questions in the quiz were too difficult, and the program was summarized by saying, "In last analysis, it isn't a quiz show but a travelog in question and answer form." The reviewer complimented the music, saying that the show would be more entertaining if the Ranch Boys performed for all of it.
Later program
Film
A Technicolor film, This Amazing America was produced by Greyhound in 1940. It was related to the radio program only in that it had the same title and sponsor. The film featured a tour of the United States with stops at sites including Yellowstone National Park, Niagara Falls, and the Grand Canyon. By 1943, it had been seen by more than 7 million people in the United States. In that year, the U. S. Office of War Information released prints for distribution in Russia, with the title changed to North America by Bus.{{cite news |title=Bus Line Film to Show in Russia |url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/40s/1943/Billboard%201943-08-14.pdf#page=28 |access-date=January 5, 2022 |magazine=Billboard |date=August 14, 1943 |page=28}}
References
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Category:1940s American radio programs
Category:1940 radio programme debuts
Category:1940 radio programme endings