Without a doubt, Mal’s favorite work on the air was the Music Wagon program on WBBM AM in the 50’s and 60’s. Music Wagon was a live studio morning show with a band, a girl singer, a guy singer and an announcer. Mal was the “wagon master”. They worked without a script and had fun.
A few tapes of shows are left:
- Mal was a pro and did not often crack up on the air. It turns out porcupine balls are funny. 10/29/1958.
- First 15 minutes of Music Wagon on January 21, 1959. Mal Bellairs, Hal Carton, Billy Leach, Paul Rogers. A snowy day in Chicago.
- January 30, 1959. Opens with the Boyd Twins, Keep Your Sunny Side Up. Mal expresses admiration for FDR and gets some pushback off mike.
- February 8, 1959. Clark Gas, Jewell Foods, Gentle Fels, McCalls magazine, Campbells soup
- February 12, 1959. 76 Trombones, Fernstrom Moving, til There Was You (Billy Leach), Jeepers Creepers (Where’d You Get Those Eyes), Andy’s Candies (4 pounds $8.50), instrumental, Gentle Fels,
- February 20, 1959 A personal for Mal on arrival of a new baby.
- 8/16/62.
Blinko(?) Bleach, Robert Hall Clothes, Walgreens. Bob Vega, Avalon. Mentholatum Deep Heating Rub. Ginny & Jesters, Waiting for the Sunrise. Robert Hall jingle. Porky, trumpet solo. Robert Hall suits $25.71. Duet, No 2 people. Back to school clothes. Bob, Day In, Day Out. 9:30 break Swift Premium Franks jingle + copy. Walgreen jingle, new store in Oak Park. 72º. Cub Scout den mother, King’s Jesters, Paper Doll. Hal Carton Orchestra, Love for Sale, instrumental. Bob, My Funny Valentine. Randhurst Shopping Center (Joe Foss). Midnight in Moscow. Coca-cola, 4 pack 49¢. Ginny, Let there be you. Jesters, Pianola Blues. break to Randhurst Mall ad. Daily News pitch I was a black muslim story.
- 08/18/62.
- September 26, 1962 Live with Ginny and Kings Jesters
- June 5, 1963.
A snow day. Chicago area school closings.
Boyd Twins — Keep Your Sunnyside Up
Homer Bros. Furniture
Campbells Soup
Porky
Billy
Cold Relief (Coldene?)
Golden Mix
King’s Jesters — Philadelphia USA
Alka Seltzer
Budweiser — Where there’s life
Porky — Trumpeter’s Lullaby
Jewell Food Stores — Oscar Mayer
New York in June
Manor House Coffee
Billy — Song Coming On
Northern Tissue
Jesters — Where Have You Been Billy Boy?
Gentle Fels — dishwashing detergent, Fels Naphtha
Burton Dixie Slumberon Mattress
Walgreens
China Doll
Billy, Twins — When the World was Young
Debunking proverbs
Twins
All Through the Night
Porky Panico was key to the WBBM band that performed live on The Music Wagon. He wrote a book how to play trumpet. The notes give a little bit of biographical info about him.