Episodes featured performances of current popular songs in a concept derived from the American series Your Hit Parade.
Austin Willis hosted the series with regular performers Joyce Hahn, Wally Koster, Phyllis Marshall, and singing group the MCs.
Rock songs were occasionally included on Cross-Canada Hit Parade which were attractive to youth viewers but rejected by adult audiences.
[5] In 1959, CBC financial figures released to the Commons Broadcasting Committee revealed that each week's episode of Cross-Canada Hit Parade typically cost $30,132 of which $8,214 represented expenses for talent.
[10] For the 1959-60 season, the series was rebranded as Music '60 Presents the Hit Parade, airing on alternate Mondays but lengthened to an hour.
[11] The season debut on 12 October 1959 featured guest performances from The Everly Brothers and Hermione Gingold and introduced a larger studio space.