Frances Lee Barton's Cooking School of the Air

Frances Lee Barton from a General Foods Cooking School of the Air mailing where she writes, 'Every day and every hour in the General Foods Kitchens we are thinking of new ways to help you handle your housekeeping job -- better management ideas that will save precious hours and precious dollars to spend on other worthwhile things of life.'
Frances Lee Barton from a General Foods Cooking School of the Air mailing

Thousands of women all over the country know Frances Lee Barton and her broadcasts from the General Foods Cooking School of the Air.

Heretofore, Barton's broadcasts have dealt entirely with baking, cooking demonstrations, menu making, proper use of recipe ingredients, kitchen hints and the related material that has made her Cooking School of the Air programs of invaluable service to housewives everywhere.

From now on, however -- beginning with the broadcast of January 4 -- Barton will present not only her regular cooking service but, in addition, a delightful program of smart, musical entertainment.

The new half-hour programs will be broadcast every Friday afternoon at 3 p.m., Eastern Standard Time, over a coast-to-coast network.

Barton, star of the Cooking School of the Air, is presenting the all-star entertainment program as superlative in quality as the delicious cakes that come from her oven.

This savory musical recipe will be served up piping hot by handsome young Warren Hull, who will be Barton's assistant chef, or in other words, master of ceremonies.

In Hull's musical recipe will be quality ingredients -- Frances Langford, charming southern songstress who has created an outstanding radio success; James Wilkinson, baritone, and Al and Lee Reiser, whose piano duets over the air have placed them in the very front rank of radio performers. Al and Lee are cousins. Al specializes in popular music and Lee in the classics, so that their programs offer varied musical fare to please all tastes.

Remember every Friday afternoon. Listen in and hear this new, unusual combination of practical cooking information and delightful entertainment. It's a well-rounded menu -- spicy, appetizing, substantial and wholesome -- served by Barton and Hull, and topped off by all the sweetness that Langford, Wilkinson and the musical Reisers can bring you in their appealing music and song -- a unique half hour that will bring you the utmost in enjoyment and practical cooking help.

From General Foods Broadcaster, January 1935

Comments

This announcement was the beginning of the end for this Frances Lee Barton's radio show. Warren Hull being "Barton's assistant chef " made it sound as if Barton was still running the show, but alas, the statement of Hull being "master of ceremonies" was really pushing Barton out the door -- her pots and pans with her. Barton's show ended this same year. In the original announcement Barton has a small picture at the bottom of the page, and there's a larger picture of "handsome young Warren Hull" above the fold, on top, next to a picture of one of the new beautiful female singers. It was a competitive radio market, and following the original Betty Crocker School of the Air (1924 to 1948) with Frances Lee Barton's Cooking School of the Air (1932 to 1935) may not have cut it enough. Too bad. I like Frances Lee Barton. She was originally from Scotland, so probably had a Scot's accent for the radio. Did you know that wasn't her real name?

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