Old Radio

October 5, 1934: Hollywood Hotel aired on CBS. It was one of the earliest radio programs to be transmitted directly from Hollywood. The program  Hollywood Hotel  was hosted by Dick Powell and featured Louella Parsons in a starring role.  Dick Powell also performed a song and kibitzed with Louella and her movie star guests. Louella Parsons, with her influence, could get various stars to come on the show as features of the program. The impressive collaboration between Dick Powell and Louella Parsons gave the program mass appeal, pushing make "Hollywood Hotel" to become one of the highest rated radio shows on the air. The program only lasted until 1937 on CBS because of a problem with the American Federation of Radio Artists. Powell and Louella then moved to another radio station. The whole story is covered in the Tony Thomas book, The Films Of Dick Powell .