The Gay Nineties Revue

*The Gay Nineties Revue*
The Gay Nineties Revue
Presented by	Joseph E. Howard
Country of origin	United States
Production
Running time	30 minutes
Original release
Network	ABC
Release	August 11, 1948 –; 1949

The Gay Nineties Revue is an American variety series that aired live on ABC Television from August 11, 1948, to January 14, 1949.^[1] The host was 81-year-old songwriter and vaudeville veteran Joe Howard.^[2]

Overview

The Gay Nineties Revue brought live performances of entertainment that had originally been written and performed decades earlier. It was an adaptation of a program of the same name that was on radio from 1939 to 1944, before it was revived for television.^[3] Regular performers were singers Lulu Bates and The Florodora Girls. Ray Bloch and his orchestra provided accompaniment.^[2]

The theme song was "I Wonder Who's Kissing Her Now", which Howard claimed to have written but was actually composed by Harold Orlob.^[2]

Production background

Howard was a popular songwriter and singer, who later had a successful career capitalizing on the nostalgia many had for the "Gay Nineties" (the 1890s). The program was initially broadcast on Wednesdays from 8 to 8:30 p.m. Eastern Time. In November 1948 it was moved to Fridays from 8:30 to 9 p.m. E. T.^[2]

Preservation status

At least one episode of this show survives, which can be viewed online at the Internet Archive.

References

↑ McNeil, Alex (1996). Total Television: the Comprehensive Guide to Programming from 1948 to the Present (4th ed.). New York, New York: Penguin Books USA, Inc. p. 315. ISBN 0-14-02-4916-8.
1 2 3 4 Brooks, Tim; Marsh, Earle (2007). The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows 1946–Present (9 ed.). New York: Ballantine Books. pp. 519–520. ISBN 978-0-345-49773-4. Retrieved February 2, 2026.
↑ Dunning, John (1998). On the Air: The Encyclopedia of Old-Time Radio (Revised ed.). New York, NY: Oxford University Press. p. 280. ISBN 978-0-19-507678-3. Retrieved March 27, 2025.

External links

[tt-1] McNeil, Alex (1996). Total Television: the Comprehensive Guide to Programming from 1948 to the Present (4th ed.). New York, New York: Penguin Books USA, Inc. p. 315. ISBN 0-14-02-4916-8.

[brooks-2] 1 2 3 4 Brooks, Tim; Marsh, Earle (2007). The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows 1946–Present (9 ed.). New York: Ballantine Books. pp. 519–520. ISBN 978-0-345-49773-4. Retrieved February 2, 2026.

[dunningota-3] Dunning, John (1998). On the Air: The Encyclopedia of Old-Time Radio (Revised ed.). New York, NY: Oxford University Press. p. 280. ISBN 978-0-19-507678-3. Retrieved March 27, 2025.

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