Peter MacArthur Born:  September 23, 1884 Died:  September 27, 1940 WHO Iowa Barn Dance Frolic KFLV Rockford, IL WHO Des Moines, IA WOC Davenport, IA

About The Artist Peter MacArthur was from Glasgow, Scotland in the UK. Around 1929 and 1930, he was the radio announcer and managing director as KLFV in Rockford, IL. After that stint, he went to Davenport to join the Central Broadcasting company as supervisor of announcers and program director for WOC (Davenport, IA) and WHO (Des Moines, IA). He took on those new roles on November 3, 1930. Mr. MacArthur had actually worked with WOC for 8 years prior to his stint at the Rockford station. He started his radio career in 1921 Peter MacArthur was a long time producer of the show set in Sunset Corners, WHO Iowa Barn Dance Frolic. A souvenir program booklet indicates that the show was created through the efforts and ideas of several people. There was Col. B. J. Palmer, president of the Central Broadcasting Company. He had been a pioneer in the creation of programs with the midwest audience as its target. The show took Colonel Palmer's ideas, Joe Maland's success with other Barn Dance broadcasts mixed in with Peter MacArthur's showmanship. Ed Feller's played a role in getting and keeping sponsorship. Peter got into the "theatrical major leagues" when he filled in for Harry Lauder in a stage show. He came to radio in 1921 after spending nearly 20 years doing musical comedies and operettas. It was said his Scotch poetry and songs made him a name as the "Bobby Burns of the Air." He created special Barn Dance production numbers and ensuring the entire broadcast 'clicked' for both the over the air and in house audiences. Credits & Sources Souvenir Program WHO Barn Dance Frolic; WHO; 1939; Des Moines, IA WHO Des Moines 1938 Picture Book; WHO; 1938; Des Moines, IA Peter MacArthur; October 24, 1930; The Daily Times; Davenport, IA To Return To WOC-WHO Staff; October 24, 1930; Quad-City Times; Davenport, IA First Program in Recital Series Will Be Today; May 21, 1937; The Des Moines Register; Des Moines, IA Five Recitals Will Given During Week; May 30, 1937; The Des Moines Register; Des Moines, IA To Entertain This Friday; December 13, 1937; Des Moines Tribune; Des Moines, IA WHO Discovers New Radio Personality; March 19, 1937; Carroll Daily Herald; Carroll, IA

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