At 10AM eastern time on the morning of Wednesday, December 22nd, 1948, Fred Waring and his Pennsylvanians signed on NBC with the most expensive daytime show on radio.

Waring’s enormous glee club gave his show a distinctive musical body and spirit. He was described as genial and affable away from the bandstand, but a tireless perfectionist at work. His people talked of constant rehearsals, sometimes lasting eight hours.

He prepared twice the material needed, then chose numbers that were fresh despite the hours of rehearsal.

Waring also arranged tunes three ways—in straight time, as a waltz, and in jive. He wouldn’t reveal which he wanted until the Pennsylvanians were on the air. It kept the group alert and ready to play anything.