WELCOME TO HOLLYWOOD…for a special Alan Ladd birthday remembrance…
The Hollywood Radio Theater presentation of SHANE.
Starring Alan Ladd, Van Heflin and Ruth Hussey.
Tag: Old Time Radio
Mary Shelley’s FRANKENSTEIN (OTR)
Today would have been the birthday of one of the most influential authors who ever lived, Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley.
In tribute I post a few of the shorter radio adaptations of her perennial classic, FRANKENSTEIN.
“Beware; for I am fearless, and therefore powerful.”
Radio ad for James Whale‘s 1931 classic, FRANKENSTEIN:
“…learn from my miseries, and do not seek to increase your own.”
A classic radio, “Favorite Story” episode featuring, “Frankenstein” chosen by Fred Allen.
Frankenstein: Old Time Radio Classics starring George Edwards
Suspense radio adaptation of FRANKENSTEIN starring Herbert Marshall
A long version that stays true to Shelley’s masterwork – LibriVox recording of Frankenstein, by Mary Shelley.
Read by Caden Vaughn Clegg.
“Listen to me, Frankenstein. You accuse me of murder; and yet you would, with a satisfied conscience, destroy your own creature. Oh, praise the eternal justice of man!”
Ingrid Bergman in Casablanca and Notorious (OTR)
I celebrate what would have been the birthday of one of the most beloved stars of the silver screen with radio performances to be enjoyed for the ages. It’s Ingrid Bergman day on Once Upon a Screen with special adaptations of CASABLANCA and NOTORIOUS.
“I’ve never sought success in order to get fame and money; it’s the talent and the passion that count in success.”
Lady Esther Presents The Screen Guild Players’ adaptation of “Casablanca” from April 26, 1943 starring Humphrey Bogart, Ingrid Bergman and Paul Henreid.
From January 26, 1948 Ingrid Bergman stars alongside Joseph Cotten in a Lux Radio Theater adaptation of “Notorious.”
“I was the shyest human ever invented, but I had a lion inside me that wouldn’t shut up.”
Lux Radio Theater presents THE WIZARD OF OZ
The magical and magnificent! MGM’s THE WIZARD OF OZ premiered today in 1939 in Hollywood’s Grauman’s Chinese Theater. To commemorate the occasion, here’s the Lux Radio Theater adaptation starring Judy Garland from 1950.
Lucille Ball in Tales of Suspense
As a birthday tribute to Lucille Ball here is a collection of remarkable Tales of Suspense starring the famous redhead, radio veteran, Queen of the B’s and soon to be queen of television.
PLAYLIST:
“The Ten Grand” from June 22, 1944
“A Little Piece of Rope” from October 14, 1949
“A Shroud for Sarah” from October 24, 1945
“Dime a Dance” from January 13, 1944
“Life takes guts.” – Lucille Ball
Here’s to always loving Lucy.
Errol Flynn, The Perfect Specimen
Errol Flynn (1909-1959) would have celebrated a birthday this June 20th and I post this in tribute.
A Lux Radio Theater performance of “The Perfect Specimen,” which originally aired on January 2, 1939 with Errol Flynn and Joan Blondell reprising their roles from the Michael Curtiz-directed 1937 film of the same title.
If it’s images of Errol Flynn you enjoy most, visit a previous tribute I’d dedicated to the actor here – never a waste of time as far as I’m concerned.
“By instinct I’m an adventurer; by choice I’d like to be a writer; by pure, unadulterated luck, I’m an actor.”
The New Adventures of Sherlock Holmes – RADIO
In honor of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (1859-1930).
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The New Adventures of Sherlock Holmes was an old-time radio show which aired in the USA from October 2, 1939 to July 7, 1947. Originally, the show starred Basil Rathbone as Sherlock Holmes and Nigel Bruce as Dr. Watson. Together, they starred in 220 episodes which aired weekly on Mondays from 8:30 to 9:00pm. Bromo Quinine sponsored some of the earlier programs on the NBC Blue Network and for a period Parker Pen was the sponsor. The show first aired on the Blue Network but later moved to the Mutual Broadcasting System.
Basil Rathbone’s last episode as the famous detective was “The Singular Affair of the Baconian Cipher.” He was eager to separate himself from the cast type of Holmes, and even though the show’s sponsor Petri Wine offered him generous pay to continue, he decided to move on. Once he did, the sponsor did as well, and Tom Conway took the starring role, though Nigel Bruce got top billing and was always announced first. The new sponsor was Kreml Hair Tonic for Men, and the new series only lasted 39 episodes.
With Rathbone and Bruce, the show exhibited an interesting introduction. The sponsor’s spokesman would show up weekly at Dr. Watson’s house (then retired and living in California), and share a story about Sherlock Holmes and his adventures over a glass of Petri wine. This offered them the chance to sometimes bring in other characters to contribute to the story, and also gave Watson a chance to summarize or add additional tidbits at the end. Another interesting thing about this radio shows introductions was Watson’s anecdotes and comments about his dogs usually referred to as the “Puppies”. (Old Radio World)
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Starring Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce
“The New Adventures of Sherlock Holmes”
“Murder By Midnight”
“The Missing Bloodstain”
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“Mediocrity knows nothing higher than itself, but talent instantly recognizes genius.” – Arthur Conan Doyle
Screen Guild Theater, THE MALTESE FALCON
Live radio performance by the original film cast reprising their film roles: Humphrey Bogart, Mary Astor, Sidney Greenstreet and Peter Lorre.
Once upon a screen... 