Although The Packard Hour was heard in several formats and timeslots, the 1936-37 series with Fred Astaire drew most of the critical attention. Astaire had no sooner signed a contract with Packard ("ask the man who owns one") when he began to fret. How does one dance on radio? He missed his own premiere, letting guests Jack Benny and Ginger Rogers carry the show. Astaire arrived for the second week He pulled young soprano Trudy Wood out of the chorus for an on-air duet, and she went on to become the headliner when Astaire, costar Charlie Butterworth, and the rest of the company broake for the summer June1. Rumors spread along Radio Row that Astaire and Butterworth were imconpatible: Butterworth was reportedly annoyed with Astaire's habit of stepping on his laughs. For whatever reason, Astaire never returned, and when the show opened in the faill it was with Lanny Ross in the spotlight, and with a new name, Mardi Gras._{John Dunning}