Classic Television - Prime Time

Evening at Pops

Original channel

PBS

Original run

July 5, 1970 – 2005

Evening at Pops was an American concert television series produced by WGBH-TV. It was one of the longest-running programs on PBS. The program was a public television version of a variety show, performed by the Boston Pops Orchestra. It was taped at Symphony Hall in Boston, Massachusetts.

Most shows featured a guest star, usually a well known singer or musician, most commonly within popular music or sometimes rock, folk, jazz or other musical genres. After one or two opening numbers by the Pops, the guest would be brought onstage. Usually the guest would sing several their own hits or songs associated with them, with accompaniment by the Pops. After concluding their set, the guest artist would leave the stage, and the Pops would play one or two closing numbers. The three men who served as Boston Pops Conductor during the show's run -- Arthur Fiedler (1970–79), John Williams (1979–95) and Keith Lockhart (1996–2005) -- appeared. Gene Galusha provided narration and announced most of the pieces played.

The long-running show ended after its 2004-2005 season because the Pops' parent organization, the Boston Symphony Orchestra, did not want to continue funding the nearly $1 million production cost of each episode.