08/16/1939 Alvino Rey Show - Maxine Gray - Hallelujah

Summary

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Podcast Summary: Harold's Old Time Radio

Episode: 08/16/1939 Alvino Rey Show – Maxine Gray – Hallelujah
Release Date: March 22, 2026
Host: Harold’s Old Time Radio
Featured Artists: Alvino Rey, Maxine Gray, Bud Cole, Mutual Don Lee Orchestra

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Episode Overview

This episode transports listeners to the Golden Age of Radio, featuring a 1939 broadcast of The Alvino Rey Show. The show spotlights the innovative guitar stylings of Alvino Rey and showcases the bright vocal talents of Maxine Gray, the first television artist to appear on both coasts. The program is filled with lively orchestral numbers, romantic vocals, and touching musical moments, offering an authentic slice of pre-television American entertainment.

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Key Discussion Points & Musical Highlights

1. Introduction to Alvino Rey and the Musical Program

• [00:36] The announcer introduces Alvino Rey, his orchestra, and special guest Maxine Gray.
• Listeners are invited into a night of classic music, with Bud Cole at the piano and the orchestra setting a lively tone.

2. Opening Number: “Hallelujah”

• [00:36–03:22]
  • The orchestra and singers revive the musical comedy favorite, Hallelujah.
  • The music is lively and joyful, establishing the nostalgic charm that defines the era.

3. Latin-Inspired Quartet

• [03:22–03:39]
  • The announcer cues a quartet performance, describing it as “further afield to set a scene that is eminently Latin.”
  • The piece explores “the intricacies of the karaoke,” giving the show an international flavor.

4. Maxine Gray’s Feature: “This Is It”

• [05:35–07:57]
  • Maxine Gray, introduced as “television’s newest star,” brings depth and romance to the set with her heartfelt number “This Is It.”
  • Notable lyrical lines:
    • Maxine Gray:

      “Why is my future brighter? Why is my head much lighter?” (05:56)
      “I’ve been stricken by romance, I’m sure that this is it, my great romance. I want to hang on to my one big chance.” (06:09)

    • Chorus:

      “And I thought love passed me by, but I must admit this is it.” (06:39)

  • The performance is brimming with sincerity and a touch of glamour befitting the era.

5. Encore: “Stairway to the Stars”

• [07:57–11:41]
  • Maxine Gray and the chorus perform the dreamy standard, “Stairway to the Stars,” with orchestral accompaniment.
    • Noted for evocative lines like:

      “Let’s build a stairway to the stars and climb that stairway to the stars with love beside us to fill the night with a song.” (09:26 – Maxine Gray) “It would be heaven to climb to heaven with you.” (10:15 – Maxine Gray)

  • The arrangement allows Maxine’s voice to shine, supported by lush harmonies and a sweeping melody.

6. Finale: “Over the Waves”

• [11:41]
  • The show closes with Alvino Rey’s "rhythmic adaptation of the classic favorite, Over the Waves," demonstrating his signature musical style.
  • The announcer invites listeners to tune in the next night for more music by Rey and lyrics by Gray.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Announcer on the spirit of the program:

  “Entertainment’s newest progression is television. And television’s newest star has an admission to make. Maxine Grey comes forward and in no uncertain terms declares that this time, this is it.” (05:35)

• Maxine Gray on romance:

  “Instead of tearing me it builds me up to such a dizzy height to know this is so very real and right.” (07:30)

• Music as emotional centerpiece:

  “The moon will glide us as we go drifting along. Could we sail away on a lazy daisy pedal over the rim of the hill…” (09:44 – Maxine Gray)

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Segment Timestamps

• 00:36 – Introduction to Alvino Rey, orchestra, and Maxine Gray
• 02:04–03:22 – Chorus opening (Hallelujah)
• 03:22–03:39 – Latin quartet segment
• 05:35–07:57 – Maxine Gray’s solo feature and chorus: “This Is It”
• 07:57–11:41 – “Stairway to the Stars” performance
• 11:41 – Finale, closing credits & invitation for next episode

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Tone and Language

The episode is delivered with the genteel nostalgia and polish typical of 1930s radio, featuring warm, earnest narration and sincere musical performances. The language and style evoke a time when radio was the central medium for family entertainment, with an air of optimism and artistry.

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Transcript

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[Announcer]

Alvino. Alvino Ray and his music. From Hollywood. The Mutual Donnelly Network presents the artistry of Alvino Ray, his singing guitar, his orchestra and his guest, the first television artist to appear on both coasts, Maxine Gray. A rising note is struck by the orchestra as they recall a musical comedy favorite of a few seasons ago, Bud Cole at the piano and the refreshing admonition to sing Hallelujah.

[Chorus]

Sa. Sam.

[Announcer]

Four men journey farther afield to set a scene that is eminently Latin. The quartet explores the intricacies of the karaoke.

[Chorus]

Sa.

[Announcer]

Entertainment's newest progression is television. And television's newest star has an admission to make. Maxine Grey comes forward and in no uncertain terms declares that this time, this is it.

[Maxine Gray]

Why is my future brighter? Why is my head much lighter?

[Chorus]

At last I have my change

[Maxine Gray]

I've been stricken by romance I'm sure that this is it My great romance I want to hang on to my one big chance.

[Chorus]

You're mine. My loneliness dies I feel fine with

[Maxine Gray]

stars in my eyes oh, it fills me up to such a height to know this is so very real and right.

[Chorus]

And I thought love passed me by But I must admit this is it.

[Maxine Gray]

Now this is it. My great romance I want to hang

[Chorus]

on to my one big chance. You're mine. My loneliness dies I feel fine with stars in my eyes

[Maxine Gray]

Instead of tearing me it builds me up to such a dizzy height to know this is

[Chorus]

so very real and right and I. Yes, I thought love passed me by But I must admit. Oh, love bug bit. Yes, I'll admit that this is.

[Announcer]

As an encore, Maxine takes the chorus of one of the more melodic fantasies. The orchestra and Maxine Gray lead us up the Stairway to the Stars.

[Chorus]

Sam. Sa. Let's build a stairway to the stars

[Maxine Gray]

and climb that stairway to the stars with love beside us to fill the

[Chorus]

night with a song. We'll hear the sound of violins out

[Maxine Gray]

yonder where the blue begins the moon will glide us as we go drifting along. Could we sail away on a lazy daisy Pedal over the rim of the hill can we sail away on a little dream and settle high on the

[Chorus]

crest of a thrill let's build a

[Maxine Gray]

stairway to the stars A lovely spot Stairway to the stars it would be heaven to climb to heaven with you.

[Announcer]

Finale with Alvino Ray presenting his rhythmic adaptation of the classic favorite over the Waves. From the Don Lee Studios in Hollywood. We have presented the music of Alvino Ray, his singing guitar, his orchestra and the radio and television star Maxine Gray. This is Raleigh Thomas inviting you to join us at 8 tomorrow for another program of music by Alvino Ray and lyrics by Maxine Gray. This is the Mutual Don Lee Broadcasting System.

[Howie Mandel]

The Global Gaming League is presented by Atlas Earth, the fun cashback app. Hey, it's Howie Mandel and I am inviting you to witness history as me and my How We do it gaming team take on Gilly the King and Wallow267's million dollars gaming in an epic Global Gaming League video game showdown. Plus a halftime performance by multiplatin artist Travy McCoy. Watch all the action and see who wins and advances to the championship match right [e-mail] that's globalgamingleague.com in partnership with Level Up Expo.

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