Radio Drama · Old Time Radio Researchers · Comedy

Joan Davis

Networks
CBS, NBC (as its archives name them)
Heard
1943–1950
Episodes
43

THE JOAN DAVIS SHOW

More about it

The Joan Davis Show is a title applied — in some cases specifically and in other cases generically — to several old-time radio comedy programs in the United States, some of which had other distinct titles as indicated below. Comedian Joan Davis starred in the programs, all but one version of which were broadcast on CBS. The Sealtest Village Store (1943-1945) Singer Rudy Vallée's joining the U.S. Coast Guard during World War II left Sealtest Dairy with no star for The Rudy Vallee Show, which it sponsored. Therefore, the program was revamped and renamed The Sealtest Village Store. Davis was promoted from cast member to star in the new program, which debuted on July 8, 1943, on NBC. Her character was the proprietor of the title store, a woman who "chased men and pined for a steady beau". Jack Haley joined the cast as the male lead in the role of Davis' helper in the story, apparently because NBC officials were dubious that a female star could be successful as the sole lead in a program. David C. Tucker, in his biography of Davis, described the program as "a ratings winner for NBC from 1943 through 1945". The musical void left by Vallée's departure was filled by singer David Street. Davis emerged as a strong presence behind the scenes as well as on the air. Her disagreements with producer Tom McAvity over what was best for the show eventually led to McAvity's leaving the program, to be replaced by Robert Redd. As the end of Davis' contract with the sponsor…

Episodes, in broadcast order

  1. Guest - Frank Sinatra

    · No. 10 · 30 min

  2. Rudy Is Back from the Coast Guard

    · No. 17 · 29 min

  3. Computing Joan's Income Tax (AFRS #66)

    · No. 66 · 29 min

  4. Guest - George Raft (AFRS #27)

    · No. 27 · 28 min

  5. Wants to Join the WAVES (AFRS)

    · No. 40 · 29 min

  6. Joan Researches Her Ancestors (AFRS)

    · No. 43 · 29 min

  7. Summer Series - Buying Engagement Ring (AFRS #48)

    · No. 48 · 30 min

  8. The New Hairdresser (AFRS #58)

    · No. 58 · 30 min

  9. Joan Wants to Borrow Jack's Car (AFRS #60)

    · No. 60 · 30 min

  10. Joan Has Inherited Property (AFRS #70)

    · No. 70 · 30 min

  11. Jack Has $500 (AFRS #87)

    · No. 87 · 30 min

  12. Sell Bonds, Win a Screen Test (AFRS #90)

    · No. 90 · 30 min

  13. Season Premiere

    · No. 1 · 7:02

  14. Will Andy Russell Make a Movie for Atomic Pictures?

    · No. 8 · 25 min

  15. Going Hunting

    · No. 14 · 25 min

  16. Red Flannel Underwear

    · No. 15 · 24 min

  17. Joan Takes a Fall

    · No. 17 · 24 min

  18. Barbara Plays a Trick on Joan

    · No. 19 · 25 min

  19. Double Love Triangle

    · No. 21 · 24 min

  20. Joan Joins Literary Society

    · No. 22 · 24 min

  21. Gold Found in Swanville

    · No. 23 · 24 min

  22. Birthday Party for Joan

    · No. 24 · 25 min

  23. Three Hundred Dollars Missing

    · No. 25 · 24 min

  24. U.N.O. Meeting

    · No. 26 · 25 min

  25. Joan Has Insomnia

    · No. 28 · 25 min

  26. Counterfeiter Visits Tea Room

    · No. 29 · 24 min

  27. Joan Plans a Vacation (Rehearsal)

    · No. 39 · 23 min

  28. Joan Cooks Dinner

    · No. 45 · 25 min

  29. Career Woman, Guest - Danny Thomas

    · No. 3 · 24 min

  30. Joan's Cleaning Fluid

    · No. 9 · 16 min

  31. Sam Spade

    · No. 15 · 30 min

  32. Joan Wants to Be a Nurse

    · No. 18 · 30 min

  33. Joan becomes a Mystery Writer (AFRS)

    · No. 22 · 30 min

  34. Joan becomes a Mystery Writer (network)

    · No. 22 · 29 min

  35. Joan Sells Advertising (AFRS #76)

    · No. 76 · 30 min

  36. Is Joan Married to John Payne?

    · No. 25 · 30 min

  37. Guest - Rudy Vallee

    · No. 27 · 30 min

  38. Guest - Al Jolson

    · No. 30 · 31 min

  39. Biography

    No date given · 5:51

  40. Biography

    No date given · 5:51

Where it comes from 1

The archive items its episodes are played from, best first, with each one’s rights as its archive states them. An episode two sets both hold is played from the first.

  1. OTRR Joan Davis Singles

    Old Time Radio Researchers · 43 episodes here · archive.org (opens in a new tab)

    the Internet Archive states no licence or rights for it.

A set by the Old Time Radio Researchers Group (otrr.org), at the Internet Archive's Old Time Radio collection.

More Comedy

Radio drama, old-time radio and historic broadcasts from the Internet Archive (its Old Time Radio collection with the Old Time Radio Researchers' sets, WWII Era Audio Recordings, the Pacifica Radio Archives, the Radio Haiti Archive, German radio plays and listeners' uploads), Wikimedia Commons (with the Netherlands Institute for Sound and Vision's broadcasts) and the Library of Congress. Every episode plays from its archive, which this site does not copy; rights are as each archive states them. Nothing here is called public domain on this site's say-so. In the United States, sound recordings first fixed before 15 February 1972 have federal protection under the Music Modernization Act of 2018, for most until 2067 at the latest, so most American radio of the 1930s to the 1950s is not in the public domain there. Each set shows the licence, mark or statement its archive gives, and says whose it is. Horror, crime, war and westerns are for teenage and adult profiles, racist caricature for adults only, and children’s profiles hear what was made for children. More about these archives.