The Sportsmen

The Sportsmen, also known as The Sportsmen Quartet, was a singing group originally formed in the 1930s and performing primarily on radio, film soundtracks, and records, often singing backup to star names. Their recordings were used multiple times on Sam and Friends.
In the early 1940s, the group made occasional appearances on The Jack Benny Program (then including Thurl Ravenscroft). Post-World War II, the quartet was used more frequently and in the fall of 1946 was formally established on the show as the resident vocal group for commercials. Responding to all questions with a collectively hummed "Hmmm," the Sportsmen (like most of the cast) drove Jack Benny nuts, as their musical renditions would get out of hand, prompting Jack to shout "Wait a minute... wait a minute... WAIT A MINUTE!" The line up for the first several years on Benny's radio show consisted of Bill Days, Jay Meyer (later one of the busts in The Haunted Mansion), Marty Sperzel, and Gurney Bell, with replacements made later and as the group continued with Benny on television.
The Sportsmen frequently sang in support of other Benny alumni on radio and disc, including regularly on The Phil Harris-Alice Faye Show, with Mel Blanc on his show and records, and performing the theme for the Ronald Colman sitcom The Halls of Ivy. Other radio work included regular stints on the comedy shows of Eddie Cantor and Judy Canova, as well as frequent appearances with Edgar Bergen and Charlie McCarthy. Iterations of the group were heard frequently in Looney Tunes (notably The Dover Boys at Pimento University) and in Dumbo as well as in films spotlighting assorted radio personalities (Here Comes Elmer, Make Believe Ballroom).
==Records used==
Often used in more than one episode, or on other early Muppet appearances
*1955: "You Can't Do Wrong Doin' Right" (1955) with Phil HarrisShemin, Craig. Sam and Friends: The Story of Jim Henson's First Television Show. p. 247.
*1955: "The Sad Cowboy" (1948)ibid. p. 248
*1957: "Goodnight Ladies" (1948)ibid. p. 379
==External links==
*Finding Aid to the Sportsmen Collection - American Radio Archives
==Sources==
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Category:Musical References