Friday, December 8, 2017

Another 25 Days of Old Time Radio Christmas - Day 7: Nineteen Santa Clauses from The Saint (1950)

I am falling behind - but I will catch up next week.  Seems to me that Santa could say the same thing about delivering all those presents on a single night.  While Europe and the States slow him down - he can pick up some time over the Atlantic Ocean.  Speaking of Santa....this is one of my favorite episodes from one of my favorite series, The Adventures of the Saint.

 Seems like a great way to celebrate the holidays this year.  As you know, I am highlighting a different 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).

My Antique Radio
My 1937 Detrola Radio - Made in Detroit!

There were a number of actors who brought Leslie Charteris' great character Simon Templar to the air.  But none of them can hold a candle to the best of them all.  From 1947 through the early 1950s, Vincent Price provided the voice for The Saint.  With this great role, Price brought a wit and charm to the role that was not captured by any of the other radio actors who played the part.  One of the funny things about The Saint is that they often repeated stories, with slightly different names.  He was joined in the cast by Lawrence Dobkin who plays Simon's favorite cabbie Louie.

The funny thing about The Saint is that there are often two or three names for each episode.  So the Christmas episode has been called "Santa Claus is No Saint," "Christmas Eve Problems" and "Nineteen Santa Clauses."  And while there might be some confusion about the title, there is none when it comes to the best actor to play Simon Templar.  That distinction goes to Vincent Price, who had a great career on radio as well as television and the movies.  He brought a wit and charm to the role that was not captured by any of the other radio actors who played the part.

Price is fantastic in the "Santa Claus is No Saint" episode.  In the episode, Simon starts off getting ready for a charity event where he will dress up like Santa.  But in the process, he gets confused with a hood named "Fats" Boylan.  But as you might have guessed, Fats is anything but.  So what did this skinny crook hide in his Santa suit.  Listen to the episode and find out.  Here is a link right to the episode:

Santa Claus is No Saint or Nineteen Santa Clauses (December 24, 1950)

Here are some links to programs relating to The Saint on Radio and the work of Leslie Charteris:
Another 25 Days of Old Time Radio Christmas (from 2017) & Other Links

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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