First Song Sioux City Sue, Guest Trudy Erwin, Kraft Choral Club

Step into the warm glow of Studio 8-H at NBC's Radio City as the Kraft Music Hall orchestra strikes up its opening fanfare on this December evening in 1946. The year's final weeks have brought America a restless energy—the war is over, servicemen are returning home, and the nation hungers for entertainment that feels both comforting and celebratory. Tonight's broadcast captures that spirit perfectly: the program opens with "Sioux City Sue," a rollicking novelty number that captures the playful optimism of postwar America, before welcoming the talented contralto Trudy Erwin to the microphone. With the rich harmonies of the Kraft Choral Club swelling behind her, Erwin's warm, sophisticated voice transforms the evening into something genuinely magical—the kind of intimate yet grand performance that only live radio could deliver, where millions of listeners gathered around their sets feel personally connected to the artists performing just for them.

By 1946, Kraft Music Hall had established itself as one of America's most reliable sources of quality entertainment, having graced NBC's airwaves since 1933. The show's formula—blending popular music, classical selections, comedy sketches, and guest stars—had proved timeless through depression and war alike. Sponsors like Kraft understood that music was the thread holding the nation together, and this program was their gift to listeners who'd endured so much. Trudy Erwin, whose career spanned film, radio, and concert halls, represented the caliber of talent the show consistently attracted.

Tune in now to experience a slice of 1946 radio in its fullest glory—the orchestra's warmth, the crackle of the broadcast, and the voices of artists who sang directly into the hearts of a grateful nation.