Janette Davis

Was the first, and foremost, singing star of "Arthur Godfrey Time" (1946-1957) and "Arthur Godfrey and His Friends" (1949-1957). She loved to help new talent and, behind the scenes, had long coached many of the performers who appeared on Godfrey's "Talent Scouts" program. Among the performers who got their big break by appearing on this show were: Vic Damone, Eddie Fisher, Tony Bennett, Rosemary Clooney, Patsy Cline, The McGuire Sisters, Pat Boone, Jonathan Winters and Don Knotts. In 1956, in response to declining ratings, Godfrey made Janette the producer of that program. She immediately instituted a number of improvements for the benefit of the performers, including a West Coast audition studio (in addition to the one in New York and better production values. It helped, but not enough. In 1958 CBS cancelled the show, and Janette retired to private life.

Singer and producer who began her musical efforts in Pine Bluff, Arkansas public schools. At fourteen, she entered and won an amateur contest and was awarded a radio contract at a Memphis station, driving a 200-mile trip for each program. Moving to Quincy, Illinois to sing at a local station, she simultaneously began a music-studies course. After a stint at a Shreveport, Louisiana station she began to receive offers from other stations but held off until her goal of working in Cincinnati could be realized. There she co-starred with Red Skelton, and in January 1944 she moved to a CBS station in Chicago and the "Petrillo, Janette and MacCormack" network show. Several other CBS programs followed - "The King's Jesters and Janette", "Serenade and Swing", "Jobs for GI Joe" and "Victory Matinee".