Mac and Bob

(Robert Gardner and Lester McFarland)

Braille header

Curator's Note: Lester McFarland and Robert Gardner were heard on WLS from 1931 to 1950. You can see a later photo of Mac and Bob in the 1941 WLS Family Album.

Mac and Bob "Mac and Bob," our sweet harmony singers, are Lester McFarland and Robert Gardner, originally of Gray, Kentucky, and Oliver Springs, Tennessee, respectively.

Sixteen years ago the two boys met each other while they were studying music in the "Kentucky School for the Blind." Mac was an artist on the piano, cornet, trombone, guitar and mandolin, consequently he became a music teacher, while Bob made his livelihood as a piano tuner, having a perfect ear for pitch and tone.

About 10 years ago they teamed up as a harmony duo and their singing soon attracted the attention of phonograph record companies. To date, they have recorded at least 200 songs with sales totaling over a million.

While Mac and Bob are both blind, the boys do not capitalize upon their misfortune, choosing to gai
n the favor of their audiences solely through the merits of their entertainment. When Mac and Bob learn a new song, the notes and words are read to them and they punch them out on a sheet using the "point system," as their names are written at the top of this page
.
The smaller plcture at the right shows Mac and Bob and Hugh Cross entertaining the crippled children at Riley Hospital, Indianapolis, Ind. Mac and Bob in Indianapolis

Return to the 1932 WLS Family Album index page

QUICK ACCESS LINKS:
Introduction and main index to this site
WMAQ radio history | "Amos 'n' Andy" | "Fibber McGee and Mollie" | "The Breakfast Club"
Dick Kay | Television at the Merchandise Mart | 1970 television facilities tour | Channel 5 turns 20
The "Chicago School" of television | "Kukla, Fran and Ollie" | Dave Garroway | Mary Hartline
"Lights Out" | Sound effects | 1930 studio tour | WLS | "Empire Builders" | Barry Bernson
Floyd Kalber | The Queen of Love and Beauty | "Today's Children" | Staff announcers | Carol Marin
Ron Magers | Studs Terkel l "Chicago Tonight" | Channel 5 News scrapbooks |Roger Miller recalls
Zoo Parade | Clifton and Frayne Utley | Val Press | Len O'Connor | Johnny Erp | Bill Ray | Daddy-O
Experimental Television: 1930-1933 | Bob Deservi | Kermit Slobb | Ding Dong School | Quiz Kids
Bob Lemon | The Korshak Chronicles | KYW: The Chicago Years | WENR | O.B. Hanson | Renzo
Jack Eigen | Ed Grennan | The World's Best Cup of Coffee | Glenn Webster | Mr. Piano | Hawkins Falls
Chicago Television for Kids |
Radio Hall of Fame |The NBC News Night Report: 23 February, 1967
Audio and video downloads
About the Curator

Comments or suggestions? click here to send them to Rich Samuels

Created by Rich Samuels (e-mail to rich@richsamuels.com)