Florence Hanford
Encyclopedia
Florence P. Hanford (23 June 1909 - 1 July 2008) was a home economist
who was best known for her television cooking show Television Kitchen, which aired 1006 episodes between 1949 and 1969. The show was aired live at 2:30 PM Wednesdays on Channel 3 in Philadelphia, WPTZ-TV, which was the only airwave available in Philadelphia at that time, and later on Channel 6. It was sponsored by the Philadelphia Electric Company and was one of the earliest televised cooking shows, closely following that of James Beard
. She published books of television recipes in 1964 and 1969.
She grew up in Bristol, Pennsylvania, and studied home economics at Temple University
, where she earned a bachelor's degree
in education
in June 1931. She married Harry B. Hanford the same month. She worked as a substitute teacher and also taught cooking to nursing students at Temple University prior to her employment with Philadelphia Electric (now PECO). In 1947 she auditioned for a cooking show position after it was learned that the model previously selected couldn't cook. The show was called Television Matinee, which evolved into Television Kitchen.
She and her husband built a farmhouse in Glen Mills, Pennsylvania, in 1947, where she lived until shortly before her death. They raised race horses there. She also produced prize-winning needlepoint. Her husband died in 1978; they had no children.
Home Economics
Home economics is the profession and field of study that deals with the economics and management of the home and community...
who was best known for her television cooking show Television Kitchen, which aired 1006 episodes between 1949 and 1969. The show was aired live at 2:30 PM Wednesdays on Channel 3 in Philadelphia, WPTZ-TV, which was the only airwave available in Philadelphia at that time, and later on Channel 6. It was sponsored by the Philadelphia Electric Company and was one of the earliest televised cooking shows, closely following that of James Beard
James Beard
James Andrew Beard was an American chef and food writer. The central figure in the story of the establishment of a gourmet American food identity, Beard was an eccentric personality who brought French cooking to the American middle and upper classes in the 1950s...
. She published books of television recipes in 1964 and 1969.
She grew up in Bristol, Pennsylvania, and studied home economics at Temple University
Temple University
Temple University is a comprehensive public research university in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Originally founded in 1884 by Dr. Russell Conwell, Temple University is among the nation's largest providers of professional education and prepares the largest body of professional...
, where she earned a bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
in education
Education
Education in its broadest, general sense is the means through which the aims and habits of a group of people lives on from one generation to the next. Generally, it occurs through any experience that has a formative effect on the way one thinks, feels, or acts...
in June 1931. She married Harry B. Hanford the same month. She worked as a substitute teacher and also taught cooking to nursing students at Temple University prior to her employment with Philadelphia Electric (now PECO). In 1947 she auditioned for a cooking show position after it was learned that the model previously selected couldn't cook. The show was called Television Matinee, which evolved into Television Kitchen.
She and her husband built a farmhouse in Glen Mills, Pennsylvania, in 1947, where she lived until shortly before her death. They raised race horses there. She also produced prize-winning needlepoint. Her husband died in 1978; they had no children.