The Pepsodent Show

The Pepsodent Show (1938-1948, United States)

Original / alternative title: The Pepsodent Show Starring Bob Hope

NBC radio show American comedy show radio variety show

In 1938 NBC, with sponsorship from Pepsodent toothpaste company, put together a program that soon became one of the most popular broadcasts of the era - The Pepsodent Show. Comedian Bob Hope was the powerhouse behind the idea, with Jerry Colonna as his sort-of sidekick. But those two were not the only talents that built the legacy of the show, among singers that started their careers in The Pepsodent Show were Judy Garland and Doris Day, while among the bandleaders was for a short period of time Desi Arnaz.

The other thing that made the show stand out among the competition was the writing team. Not only they had eight staff writers (later that number rose to 15), but also Bob Hope was paying them 2,500 USD (about 60,000 USD in 2026) each week from his own salary for the material (which also shows how high his wages must have been). Among those writers was young Larry Gelbart (who years later created M*A*S*H).

During the World War 2, The Pepsodent Show was among the most popular shows on the radio, even when Bob Hope joined the United Service Organizations (USO) and started to tour army bases. After the war the popularity of the program faded pretty quickly and by 1948 Pepsodent decided to pull the sponsorship after 10 seasons.

The program itself was a mixture of Hope’s monologues (or rather series of quick jokes), musical numbers, sketches, guest stars scenes and, of course, the toothpaste adverts. Taking under consideration that The Pepsodent Show started in 1938, the comedy side of the show is still on a decent level, the monologues and skits are still funny almost 90 years later.

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Episodes of The Pepsodent Show

Season 1 (1938)

Season 2 (1939)

Season 3 (1940)

Season 4 (1941)

Season 5 (1942)

Season 6 (1943)

Season 7 (1944)

Season 8 (1945)

Season 9 (1946)

Season 10 (1947)

Creators of The Pepsodent Show

screenplay

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Cast of The Pepsodent Show

as himself

as himself

as bandleader

as Brenda

as Cobina

as Vera Vague

as Pepsodent Girl

as bandleader

as singer

as singer

as singer

as announcer

as announcer

as announcer

as announcer

as bandleader

The Pepsodent Show quotes

Bob Hope:
I wish you would creep out of the studio.
Jerry Colonna:
But I am not finished.
Bob Hope:
That’s your opinion against millions of others.