Some Absolutely Staggering Facts About American Idol You Should Know Before You Start Watching Again

Deep Origins Of The Show Go Back To 1930

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As I mentioned previously in the article, the TV directly ripped off Pop Idol, Simon Cowell’s UK version of the singing contest. But, long before that, there was a 1930s radio show called the Major Bowes Amateur Hour.

The competition radio series introduced the world to the Hoboken Four, aka Frank Sinatra and the Three Flashes. The show had many of the same components as Idol as listeners voted for their favorite contestants by phone and postcard and Bowes would end up sending the most successful and ‘liked’ contestant on a tour.