The Carnation Milk Company sponsored The Contented Hour when it premiered over the NBC Blue network on January 4, 1932; later the same year the show was switched to the Red network where it enjoyed a long run. Host Gene Arnold, together with The Fireside Singers, inaugurated what would go on to become an impressive list of regular and guest performers. During 1935 an added feature was a weekly cribside report from Canada by Charles Jennings on the progress of the Dionne quintuplets. Everett Mitchell was the announcer.

In 1946 the program's point of origination was moved from Chicago to New York and at the same time altered its format with more emphasis on guest stars.

After a seventeen year association with NBC, The Contented Hour moved to the CBS network beginning the new fall season on October 2, 1949.

Over the years, some of the talent enjoyed by listeners to the show included Josephine Antoine, Richard Bonelli, Buddy Clark, The Continental Quartet, Jayne Cozzens, Opal Craven and Louise King as The Lullaby Lady, The Ken Darby Singers, Vivian Della Chiesa, The Doring Sisters, Tony Martin, Lucille Norman, Dinah Shore, The Sons of the Pioncers, Jo Stafford, Gladys Swarthout, and Margaret Whiting. The orchestras were under the direction of Frank Black, Ted Dale, Morgan L. Eastman, Percy Faith, Josef Pasternack, Roy Shield, Bob Strong, Marek Weber, and Victor loung. The announcing staff consisted of Nelson Case, Jean Paul King, Claude Kirchner, Bret Morrison, Vincent Pelletier, and Jimmy Wallington.

The final Contented Hour was broadcast in 1951.