Skip to main content

Posts

December 26, 1953: Big Sister makes its final appearance

  December 26, 1953: After having been on air for seventeen years, Big Sister made his last appearance on CBS. The show revolved around Sue Evans Miller and her affiliation with her big sister, Ruth Evans. Actresses Marjorie Anderson, Alice Frost , Nancy Marshall and Mercedes McCambridge were starred as big sister Ruth over the years whereas the role of Little Sister, Sue was performed by Haila Stoddard, Fran Carlon, Peggy Conklin and Dorothy McGuire. This drama became so popular that it led to a spin off show called ' Bright Horizon ', which began airing in 1941 on CBS.

December 7, 1948: The Big Band Star-Maker

 December 7, 1948: Horace Heidt Youth Opportunity Program was launched on NBC . Dick Contino, an accordionist, became the first winner of the $5,000 prize on the talent show. The program proved to be a launching pad for many famous actors, including Art Carney, Al Hirt, Frankie Carle, Alvino Rey, Gordon MacRae, the King Sisters, Ken Berry, Dick Contino, Fred Lowrey, Ronnie Kemper, Frank DeVol, Larry Cotton, Donna and her Don Juans, Ollie O'Toole, and many more. Known as one of the first reality talent searches, this youth opportunity program was hosted by the most celebrated master of ceremonies in his time - the master showman, Horace Heidt. According to Heidt, the  show was intended not only to showcase talents, but to also level the door of opportunity to any person who wanted to try and explore their talents and improve their skills. Other than this televised talent search, Heidt was also able to search for aspiring musicians by building Musical Knights. Such achie

December 6: Happy Birthday, Agnes Moorehead

December 6: Happy Birthday,  Agnes Moorehead ! Most people think of Agnes Moorehead as the cranky witch and mother-in-law on Bewitched. What many people do not realize is that this daughter of a Massachusetts minister was a renowned actress that played so many portrayals that her laurels surpassed that of many contemporaries of her day. Ms Moorehead gained a semblance of her fame from Citizen Kane with Orson Welles . In the early days of her career, Moorehead found work doing radio programs (later to be part of the Mercury Theatre on the Air radio program ) before being discovered to handle visual art to her resume. In fact, it was acclaimed actress Helen Hayes that had a major influence on Ms Moorehead to follow her dream and become a screen actress.  Agnes Moorehead  as one of those few actresses that would transition from the screen to radio performing with ease and professionalism. Her skill was so adept that major studios were clamoring for her to come become a contract pl

December 5, 1936: Bing Crosby as "The Kraft Music Hall" new host

December 5, 1936: On this day, Jimmy Dorsey was replaced by Bing Crosby as the host of The Kraft Music Hal l . In the future, Jimmy Dorsey became a leader of the Kraft Orchestra. The Kraft Music Hall   was a variety show aired on NBC. In its 16-year run from 1933 to 1946, it featured some of show business' top entertainers. It was a two-hour radio program, unlike any other program at the time, which lasted for only 15 to 30 minutes. The show was sponsored by Kraft to promote its latest product, the Kraft Miracle Whip. The show had a lot of hosts, one of which was  Bing Crosby  during its longest running host, working from January 2, 1936 to May 9, 1946.

December 4: Happy Birthday, Cornell Woolrich

Today's entry is a birthday commemoration: on this day in 1903, author Cornell Woolrich came into the world. Woolrich's crime fiction was utterly adaptable, a favorite target for radio producers. His works You'll Never See Me Again and The Black Curtain were adapted by the radio classic Suspense . In fact, each of these was presented more than once. The first time The Black Curtain rolled on Suspense , the cast included Cary Grant and Hans Conried . Other stars of Woolrich adaptations include Joseph Cotten , Robert Young , and William Spier. Woolrich led a lonely, stark life. He lived with his mother in Harlem until her death, after which he drifted from hotel room to hotel room. To make matters worse, he suffered an infection that led to one of his legs being amputated. This life of suffering infused Woolrich's work--his characters, too suffered. Not a cheery story, perhaps, but fans of chilling tales have enjoyed hours of radio based on the work of

November 26: Happy Birthday, Eric Sevareid (WWII Radio News Correspondent)

November 26: Happy Birthday, Eric Sevareid (WWII Radio News Correspondent) He was the first to report the fall of France to the Nazis. He was shot down over Burma and rescued by a commando unit. He also reported from Paris as American troops marched through its streets triumphantly. Remembering Eric Sevareid, CBS radio news correspondent , who was born on this date 90 years ago. He was one of Murrow's Boys. Cecil Brown got torpedoed on a British ship by the Japanese and presumed dead.  Winston Burdette was a Soviet spy and his wife was murdered.  William R. Shirer tricked the Nazis and became the first correspondent to break the story of the French surrender.