There is scant information out there regarding the Fraser Radio Gospel Hour. It started in 1925 and ran possibly as late as 1973 and was hosted by Rev. Robert Fraser a Blind Radio Evangelist in Philadelphia. He headed several related charities including the Fraser Home for Elderly Ladies, the Fraser Mission and the Fraser Home for Girls.
He was born on March 14th 1906, and attended Overbrook school for the blind also in Philly. The book Undaunted by Blindness by Clifford E. Olstrom claims that he was singing on the radio by the age of 16. That seems dubious as that'd be in 1922, but there were at least a few stations in Philadelphia at that time: WFI-AM, WOO-AM, WGL-AM, WCAU-AM, and WDAR-AM, so it is possible. The Olstrom reference I found for this seemed weak. The book does got the man's age wrong a sentence later claiming he was 19 in 1923... oops. Fraser wrote his autobiography in 1936 titled Overcoming Obstacles, chapter 4 is "Growing up with radio." It ironed out the specifics.
It details his early radio appearances. He worked with Christopher W. Graham (Uncle WIP) on WIP-AM, and on WCAU-AM he played the character "Sunshine Boy." He sang with Dumont and Emmett Welsch's Minstrels on WFI-AM and WDAR-AM. But in 1924 he was converted and gave up jazz and vaudeville for gospel and preaching. It's unclear where he might have preached on the radio in the early years but he and his wife Ella Stark were married in the studio of WCAU, so it's probably that station.
Another book, 30 Years With Radio looks back at the program over it's history. It was published in 1955 to commemorate 30 years of his radio program. It lists WLBR, WIBG, WNAR, WVCH and WKAP among others but often lacking dates. But the autobiography noted that they broadcast 532 shows on WIP-AM. If the Fraser Radio Gospel Hour was always weekly program, that means spent the better part of a decade on WIP before appearing on any of those other stations.
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Updates in PART TWO HERE
The Fraser Gospel Hour was on the air past the death of Robert Fraser until 1995. Mrs. Fraser continued to host the program, and the speaker for the last 10 years was the late Rev. Nelson H. Hill, Jr., of Aldan, PA. The equipment was run by James J. "Joe" Tolbert. His wife, Dianne, played the organ. Dianne's sister, Darlene, and mother Adele Marsh were on the program years before Mr. Hill was the speaker. This information was given this date by Mr. Hill's wife, Lucille Mosher Hill. Lucille, and Joe and Dianne are residents at Quarryville (PA) Presbyterian Retirement Community.
ReplyDelete--Chaplain Steve
Where was the program still being aired? I found no contemporary references whatsoever.
ReplyDeleteThe above mentioned residents indicated that when the Gospel Hour was discontinued, it was being produced at WVCH, Chester. Concerning Mrs. Fraser, you might want to check this link: http://articles.philly.com/2001-02-08/news/25319091_1_radio-broadcasts-gimbels-air-time
ReplyDelete--Chaplain Steve
That article says what all other sources say which is that it debuted in 1927 and ran for 30 years. "she broadcast until 1995" was it the same program or did she just stay in broadcasting? You could be the sole source of this information.
ReplyDeleteThe Fraser Radio Gospel Hour was no longer being produced at the Fraser Home for Elderly Ladies (where I worked in 1972). The equipment was still in place, though. The Home was an interesting place to work. One of the ladies who played the organ was a survivor of the Boxer Rebellion--her parents were missionaries in China.
ReplyDeleteI grew up and was bitten by the radio bug at the Frazer Mission in Philadelphia. Once a month, I believe the third Sunday of the month, we would travel to the mission where my dad would play with other relatives as The Gospel Trumpeters and appear on the Radio Broadcasts. At the time they recorded tapes for 6 radio stations, WVCH, Chester; WBOX, Doylestown; and WLBR, Lebanon along with three others of which I do not know the call signs. My "job" was to be at the end of the chain of the recorders listening to be sure audio traveled through the chain without interruption. Not bad for a 10 year old huh! Always wore a set of old hard plastic or bakelite headphones (tin cans we called them). Occasionally there was a breakdown and I would flag the operator, then Rev William L. (Bud) Moore who would come over and check the problem. There were 2 Magnecord PT-6 Recorders with 4 Ampex 600 recorders in use. I lost contact with them when I went into the Army in 1971, but I always remembered Rev. Moore as about once a month I would receive a Mimeographed post card from him reminding me that he was praying for me. Yea it was mimeographed! An impressive use of "batch mail" but when you are far away from home in a strange country with stranger people it still meant a lot to me. Mrs. Frazer (Aunt Ella) as she was known to me gave me a copy of all of the 45 RPM records that were made of Rev. Frazer's voice singing Goapel songs. I still have those records. Haven't played them in years, but they do remind me of days of my youth. The editing was poor as they were outtakes from radio broadcasts, but every week Mrs Frazer would play "the record" and keep his memory alive.
ReplyDeleteGary Gruver,
Palamyra PA
Gary I am Fraser’s legally adopted daughter They called me Tootsie I sang on the broadcast until I was 21 I am known as Fraser legally. There doesn’t seem to be mention of the Television shows from W.C.A.U on City Line Avenue or the Service Men’s Center on Arch street in Phila during the Second World War. I have the History of this Social Service Work and am willing to share if there is interest
DeleteIt started in 1927 just after Robert and Ella were married. The program ran until 1995. I was there when it stopped although I don't remember much since I was 9 at the time. Ella Marie Stark Fraser was my great-grandmother. I can ask my great aunt about more information if you are farther interested.
ReplyDeleteThe marriage was the first to be broadcast on public radio. The Fraser’s adopted three children one in 1934 I am She then a Boy and much later another girl Irene Robeta
Deleteof course!
ReplyDeleteMy wife was from Philadelphia an as a young girl she and her aunt Sadie Desabaye used to attend Dr. Fraser's broadcast. Her name was Elizabeth Dugan and she remembers Robert (Bobby) and Ella (Tootsy) she is still moved by what she witness as a little girl at the Fraser Gospel Hour.
ReplyDeleteElizabeth Dugan Davis: Dr Fraser and Ella always called me cassie. Dr Fraser wanted me to be his secretary when I graduated high school in 1955
ReplyDeleteCassie I remember you I no longer go by Tootsie after Mother died Aunt Ella to so many the work ended I am sorry
DeleteHi Jose. I purchased a Bible at an Estate Sale in Southern California. Inside are several artifacts from the Fraser Radio Hour, including a card announcing the passing of Rev. Robert J. Fraser on April 11, 1957. Would you care for the jpg files?
ReplyDeleteyes please!
DeleteWe use to give Bibles away especially to people that were in prison or came to the mission on 9th street or people in the military during World War II. The service center always provided free Bibles. There were a few distributed after my Mother died
DeleteJose can you provide me an email address or an upload process so I can provide these jpg files to you? Thanks!
ReplyDeleteIf you comment me your email, (and a note not to post) I can contact you privately. How's that?
ReplyDeleteI worked at the Fraser Home for Elderly Ladies back in 1972. Would be happy to describe what was an interesting experience, if anyone were interested.
ReplyDeleteyes please Gina!
ReplyDelete