Friday, December 1, 2017

Another 25 Days of Old Time Radio Christmas - Day 1: Candy Matson's Christmas Episodes

For the fourth time this year, I am going to celebrate Christmas episodes from Old Time Radio by showcasing a program a day (well, I will try).  I expect to have some repeats, but also some new shows featured as well.  If you have Sirius XM, you can listen to Greg Bell's Old time radio channel (#148).  Or you can see my previous OTR Christmas entries (or drop to the bottom of this message).  

I need to catch up a bit, so I am going to start out with a repeat from a short-lived series that I really enjoy.  Here are actually two from Candy Matson.  These are great fun and definitely worth a listen.


Mission San Jose (Freemont, California) - Sunday April 21, 2013

Mission San Jose (Freemont, California) - Sunday April 21, 2013

There are a number of series set in San Francisco on old time radio: Sam Spade; Pat Novak For Hire;  Have Gun, will Travel, just to name a few.  One that you need to add to that list is a West Coast series run by NBC called Candy Matson, YUkon 2-8209.  Candy Matson was voiced by Natalie Masters, who was heard in the mid 1950s on the Fibber McGee and Molly show.  Candy Matson was the brainchild of her husband, producer Monty Master.  The Digital Deli article (see the link below) cited that they never quite found the national audience and she never became a household name.  Maybe having a female lead of a detective series was ahead of the times.  Maybe it was too smart or the references were made too much to San Francisco elements that few outside the city could get (also from Digital Deli article).  In the Jack Frost episode listed below, there were three reference to Lefty O'Doul and the San Francisco Seals (of the Pacific Coast League).

And while there are only a handful of episodes that are with us, we do have two Christmas shows to share.  I need to dig around a bit, but it is interesting that in these episodes, it always starts with the phone ring and Candy giving her phone number (YUkon 2-8209).  It is just like the way that Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar would open week after week.  They both started doing that in 1949.  You know that imitation is the dearest form of flattery!  Candy is constantly joined by Mallard (a police lieutenant played by Henry Leff) and Rembrandt (a photographer played by Jack Thomas) in the adventures.  It is a great series that is very well written - shame we only have a few examples.

There are two Christmas themed episodes that are among the 14 or so recordings that survive.  On December 19, 1949, the episode "Jack Frost" aired.  It is the holidays and things are crazy at Department Store.  Candy's dear friend Myra is the Advertising Director at the store and is in a crisis when Jack Frost is missing!  Jack Frost, Santa's helper, is missing and Myra is in a pinch!  Who will the kids share their Christmas wishes with???  Candy talks her friend Rembrandt to play Jack Frost, but then they discover a plot filled with jealousy...and MURDER!


I will write up a few entries later next year on the interest in the old California Missions in Old Time Radio.  One of these episodes will be Candy Matson's holiday episode that first aired on December 18, 1950.  Candy, Rembrandt and Mallard head to San Juan Bautista to take a break from the city.  While in town, they pay a visit to the old Mission.  And while meeting a Father at the Mission, they are alerted to a tragic suicide.  But upon examining the body, they discovered that it was actually a case....or MURDER!



Here are some links to programs relating to Candy Matson:


25 Days of Old Time Radio Christmas (from 2016) 

25 Days of Old Time Radio Christmas (from 2015) & Other Links

25 Days of Old Time Radio Christmas (from 2014)
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