Corey's Ramblings: 2015

Friday, December 25, 2015

25 More Days of Old Time Radio Christmas: Day 25 - Christmas with Don Ameche and the Elgin Watch Company

Last night, we watched the Netflix special A Very Murray Christmas starring Bill Murray and directed by Sofia Coppola. Maybe we were not in the right mood - but we did not enjoy it. I suppose it was making fun of the old Christmas specials that have been a staple of TV for many years. But lets kick is back for Day 25 of my 25 MORE days of Old Time Radio. Its another repeat - but I think you will enjoy it.

When I think of Christmas radio specials, I immediately think of the great Elgin Watch Christmas Specials from the 1940s. The Elgin Watch Company sponsored two hour specials on Thanksgiving and Christmas and they served as the beginning and closing of the Christmas shopping season. Two years ago, I wrote about the Thanksgiving Specials (there are two that are still available). There are three Christmas specials that are available now. I hope to write more about these wonderful specials...someday! But these are some of my favorite shows for Christmas Day.

This is the second year I have showcased different Old Time Radio programs for Christmas. Here is a link to all the 2014 OTR Christmas entries. If you have Sirius/XM, you can listen to Greg Bell's Old time radio channel (#148). He does a great job of showcasing great holiday themed episodes, especially now that we are days away from Christmas.

197/365/1658 (December 25, 2012) - Flapjack Christmas Morning (2012)

Flapjack my beagle - Christmas 2012

One of the really cool shows I stumbled onto a few years back were the Elgin Seasonal Specials for Thanksgiving and Christmas in the 1940s. These were also known as Elgin's "2 Hours of Stars." The shows were sponsored by the Elgin Watch Company of Elgin, Illinois. Starting in 1942 for the soldiers overseas, the Elgin Holiday Specials were two hour programs that featured the brightest stars in radio and the movies. Heard on these programs is Bing Crosby, Mario Landa, Jimmy Durante, Bob Hope and were all hosted by Don Ameche. The Internet Archives has five total shows (see the link below). One of the real treats takes place one hour into the show from 1945. Jack Benny gave a twisted performance of Sorry Wrong Number, one of the most iconic episodes of Suspense. Also, given that the program runs 2 hours, these are not commonly played on current radio programs like XM 148.

As a great variety show that lasts two hours, it is a perfect thing to have on your radio (or computer) as you cook the Christmas meal. It has been on the radio in my kitchen these last few years over the holidays. Though we are not cooking for Christmas this year, it is a regular for me and will be my go-to Old Time Radio program for both Christmas and Thanksgiving. I hope some day to write up something more in-depth on this program.

Here are links right to the Elgin's Christmas Shows:

Elgin's 3rd Annual Christmas Show (December 25, 1944)

Summary: The show features and all star list of radio and movie actors including: Ginny Simms, Eddie Anderson, Jack Benny, Louis Silvers and His Orchestra, Manny Klein, The Swing Wing, The Charioteers, George Burns, Gracie Allen, Carmen Miranda, Joseph Szigeti, The Les Paul Trio, Barbara Jo Allen, Bob Hope, and Bing Crosby. The great Don Ameche served as the master of ceremonies. I think it is totally great to hear any early performance by Guitar great Les Paul and his Trio! Bing Crosby also went off the Christmas script and sang "Don't Fence Me In." The routine between Bob Hope and Bing Crosby was fantastic as well.

The shows have great Christmas music, and some pretty funny comedy bits. I particularly enjoy the long skit between singer Ginny Simms, Jack Benny and Eddie Anderson about how they were rehearsing for this song on the Elgin special. The performance also by guitar great Les Paul is fantastic.

In the Variety Radio Reviews of the program (which appear in the December 27, 1944 issue - page 28):

This third annual Elgin Watch Christmas Day star-studded show was a boff companion piece for the company-sponsored Thanksgiving program-and that's another way of saying that you'll probably have to wait a long time (until, perhaps, Elgin shoots the works on another ultra-package) to match the 120 minutes of entertainment that went out over the CBS network from 4 to 6 p.m. And like the Thanksgiving show, this one not only went into the homes of the nation's Yuletide celebrants, but circuited the global warfronts.

Here was a Xmas package that couldn't but help momentarily gladden the hearts of those GIs holding down the battle line forts. As such it will stand as a tribute to Bob Hope-Bing Crosby-Jack Benny & Co. (and with due acknowledgement to the whole supporting cast); to the top scripting job sparked by Carroll Carroll and overall Tony Stanford production that combines a properly tempoed humor and hilarity with a complete awareness of the sensitivities involved in justifying a gay, laughing-at-home mood in contrast to the misery and tragedies that the boys overseas are encountering. It was to a large measure, that sensitively-wrought portion that helped make the show memorable, particularly in the treatment it was given by Don Ameche, who emceed the show (there ought to be a Society of the Promotion of Ameche as Permanent Emcee for Such Occasions), and in the Crosby windup spiel.

The show was well paced and marked by a proper integration of drama, comedy, music (both in the hot and longhaired idiom), all with dignity and, for the most part, in good taste, but essentially it was a show build for laughs - laughs to hypo GI spirits and those at home with a stake in the war via concern for sons, fathers, brothers, sweethearts. It was comedy with a purpose, and in paying the freight, Elgin contributed its own generous portion of extending the season's greetings.

Not that the program was without its imperfections. In keeping with that overall good-will-toward-men theme, those Elgin pitches could have been soft-pedalled; similarly the multiplicity of plugs to fie in the products of the guestars were overworked. There was, too, a middle-portion boggin down in which Carmen Miranda, in particular, came off second best.

But add up that wham Crosby-Hope latter portion routine with its spontaneity and warm, infections quality; that Jack Benny-Rochester-Ginny Simms fiddle accomp comedy stretch; the latter's sock renditions of "Hallelujah" and "Wish You Were Waiting for Me"; add, too, the Burns & Allen-Don Ameche laugh-packed skit, the Charioteers singing "Poor Little Jesus Boy," the Les Paul Trio doing "Danger - Men At Work," the hot routine of the Swing Wing (Mannie Klein) musical combo from the Santa Ana Army Air Base Band, the change in pace via Joseph Szigeti's flawless violinistics, and it's easy to understand why this Christmas package couldn't miss.

I was not familiar with Carroll Carroll....but he was a comedy writer who died in 1991. Here are his writing credits from the RadioGOLDINdex.

Elgin's 4th Annual Christmas Show (December 25, 1945)

Summary: The show stars Don Ameche as the masters of ceremonies and a all star cast including: Jack Benny, Bob Hope, Ginny Simms, Red Skelton, Bob Crosby and The Bobcats, Barbara Jo Allen (as "Vera Vague"), Allan Jones, Artur Rubinstein, Ella Logan, Alan Reed, General Omar Bradley, The Charioteers, Larry Storch, and The Elgin Orchestra conducted by Louis Silvers.

Elgin's 7th Annual Christmas Show (December 25, 1948)

Summary: The show stars Don Ameche as the masters of ceremonies and a all star cast including: Sandra Berkova. Lauritz Melchior, Al Jolson, Danny Thomas, Red Ingle, Jack Kirkwood, Jo Stafford, Edgar Bergen, Sandra Berkova (a 15 year-old violinist), Cass Daley, Ozzie Nelson, Harriet Hilliard, Robert Armbruster and His Orchestra, and Jane Morgan.

I hope you have a Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays and enjoy these wonderful recordings!

Here are some links to programs relating to the Elgin Watch Specials:

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

25 Days of Old Time Radio Christmas (from 2014)

Thursday, December 24, 2015

25 More Days of Old Time Radio Christmas: Day 24 - Big Little Jesus from Dragnet

Its Christmas Eve and I think it is time to have another repeat from last year's list - but for a good reason. This might be my single favorite Christmas episode on Old Time Radio and one that gets me every time I listen to it. Going back to 1953 and the show that Jack Webb made famous - or the show that made Jack Webb famous - Dragnet. They have two great Christmas episodes - that were often repeated during the holidays. For the purposes of this blog - I will focus on the more upbeat one - "Big Little Jesus" and share the true story that became this episode.

This is the second year I have showcased different Old Time Radio programs for Christmas. Here is a link to all the 2014 OTR Christmas entries. If you have Sirius/XM, you can listen to Greg Bell's Old time radio channel (#148). He does a great job of showcasing great holiday themed episodes, especially now that we are days away from Christmas.

Nativity Scene at Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church (Saline, Michigan)

Nativity Scene - Saline, Michigan - 2013

I was not a huge fan of Dragnet from the start - even though it was one of the most famous radio and early television programs out there. But over the past year, I have enjoyed the great series and I have become definitely a fan. They have two stories related to Christmas that among the sweetest and saddest stories I can remember. I would like to focus on the sweet side today!

Visit to Mission San Buenaventura (Ventura, California) - Friday November 1, 2013

First broadcast on December 22, 1953, "Big Little Jesus," shows how a much nicer side of Christmas. Sergeant Joe Friday and his partner Frank Smith receive a called about a missing religious statue of the baby Jesus from the Mission church in Los Angeles. While it is not a huge crime, they move forward looking at every lead and pawn shop to find this item before Christmas. Eventually, it turns up in the sweetest way possible. It can be kinda corny, but is one of those radio episodes that really hits home with the true meaning of Christmas. I invite everyone to take 30 minutes, go back in time, and recapture the meaning of the holidays.

Jack Webb is Joe Friday and Ben Alexander plays Frank Smith, his partner. The program also became part of the television series. According to an article in the Atlanta Constitution on December 22, 1955 (p20), the story was based on a true incident that too place in the 1930s in San Francisco. The New York Times published an article in 1933 about this 'theft" (thanks ProQuest Historical Newspapers):

Thief-Hunting Priest Bows to Boy's Faith
Christmas Bargain Explains San Francisco Church's Loss of Christ Child Figure
New York Times December 27, 1933 (page 14)

Special to the New York Times
San Francisco, Dec. 26. - This is a story of Christmas time, of a missing figure of the Christ Child and of a boy and his coaster.

It happened today at the Church of Our Lady of Victory. The Christ Child had been stolen from the manger-crib in the nativity scene in the church. The discovery caused consternation. Priests, sextons and sacristans joined in a frantic search of the premises with no results. The little figure could not be found.

A thief was blamed and the priests were about to call police headquarters, when one of them saw the missing figure in a coaster wagon which a small boy was towing up the hill behind him. For a moment the priest was speechless. He looked down in amazement at Master Georgie Potter, aged 7.

"Why, my son!" the priest exclaimed. "Do you realize that yo uhave the Christ Child there'"

"Yes. Father," said Georgie, quite blandly.

"Did you take the figure from the church?"

"Yes, father." answered Georgie. The lad's face fell as the priest sought further explanation. Yes, he had taken it, but he really had not meant to steal it.

"I-I wanted a wagon for Christmas," he explained.

The priest could not quite understand.

"A wagon for Christmas, my boy-yes-but why did you take the statue of Jesus?"

"You see, Father," was the reply, "I told he Christ Child that if he'd let me have a red wagon for Christmas I'd give him a ride in it twice around the block. He did his part, so now I'm just doing mine."

So as Paul Harvey would say, now you know the rest of the story. I love how the story grew as a Dragnet episode. Maybe that was their trick - develop something small that happened into a whole story. And such a great one this is. I hope you enjoy it.

Big Little Jesus (Deccember 22, 1953)
Script from the Generic Radio Workshop Library

Here are some links to programs relating to Dragnet:

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

25 Days of Old Time Radio Christmas (from 2014)

Wednesday, December 23, 2015

25 More Days of Old Time Radio Christmas: Day 23 - The Messiah from Theater of Romance

There may be but a few classical music pieces that are as well known as the Hallelujah chorus from George Frideric Handel's Messiah. In many ways, it is the anthem of the Christmas season. And while its fame has grown over the years, its origins are not that well known. But in this account of how this moving piece came to be, the Theater of Romance provided a dramatic reenactment of how Handel wrote this iconic piece. This is my entry for today's Old Time Radio Christmas blog.

This is the second year I have showcased different Old Time Radio programs for Christmas. Here is a link to all the 2014 OTR Christmas entries. If you have Sirius/XM, you can listen to Greg Bell's Old time radio channel (#148). He does a great job of showcasing great holiday themed episodes, especially now that we are days away from Christmas.

2014 Annual Cathy Heifetz Memorial Concerts - University of Chicago Symphony Orchestra and Combined Chiors (Sunday June 1, 2014)

University of Chicago Symphony Orchestra and Combined Choirs - June 2014

There are hundreds and hundreds of Christmas themed Old Time Radio shows that have been preserved and are available for us to enjoy today, many years after they first broadcast over the airwaves. Recently, I listened to one I had not heard before on my way into work, listening to Greg Bell's Old time radio channel (#148). It was Colgate's Theater of Romance and their presentation of how Handel wrote his most famous work, "The Messiah." It was broadcast on December 25, 1945, the first Christmas in many years that was free of war in the United States. A welcome state indeed.

Jean Holloway provided a great script for this Colgate sponsored show. The script weaves beautifully between the life of George Frederick Handel, the story of the Nativity, and the music of The Messiah. It is really quite wonderful and perfect for the holidays. Movie star Edward Arnold plays Handel. He might be best known for two roles as the bad guy in Frank Capra movies: Jim Taylor in the 1939 Mr. Smith Goes to Washington and D.B. Norton in the 1941 Meet John Doe. Joining Arnold in the cast is Cathy Lewis, Lou Merrill, Jack McCarthy, and Lud Gluskin and His Orchestra. The annoucer is one of my favorites - Detroit born Frank Graham who I featured last year as we recognized the centennial of his birth.

This wonderful program is sure to get you in the Christmas spirit! I hope you enjoy.

The Messiah (December 25, 1945)

Here are some links to programs relating to Theater of Romance:

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

25 Days of Old Time Radio Christmas (from 2014)

Tuesday, December 22, 2015

25 More Days of Old Time Radio Christmas: Day 22 - Fibber McGee and Molly's Phonograph (1940)

Yesterday, I featured a Christmas episode from The Great Gildersleeve. This did not feature the original Gildy - but his replacement, Willard Waterman. So it is only fitting that today, I feature one of the many, many, many Christmas episodes from the series that spun off Gildersleeve - Fibber McGee and Molly. And this one features Harold Peary in the role that he created - Fibber McGee and Molly's neighbor - Gildersleeve! This series is one of the all-time classic radio comedies, running from 1935 through the fifties. From the WMAQ studios in Chicago, Jim and Marian Jordan starred in over 1600 shows as their alter egos, though only a fraction survive today. During the early years, they were sponsored by Johnson Wax, headquartered in nearby Racine, Wisconsin. They were a staple of the NBC Network and one of the most famous voices from Old Time Radio.

This is the second year I have showcased different Old Time Radio programs for Christmas. Here is a link to all the 2014 OTR Christmas entries. If you have Sirius/XM, you can listen to Greg Bell's Old time radio channel (#148). He does a great job of showcasing great holiday themed episodes, especially as we get closer to Christmas and the end of December. I actually heard this driving the other week as part of the Frank Sinatra blocks that he setup to celebrate the centennial of his birth.

Old Albums (sorry - vinyl) at my brother's house.

They had one of the most famous addresses in all of popular culture. 79 Wistful Vista was their home for the entire run. I heard that they never bothered to give Fibber McGee or Molly a job - so they could use artistic freedom to put them in any scenario possible! That did not prevent them from getting an expensive item for the holidays - which is just what they did on this episode dating from Christmas Eve, 1940.

The story opens with Fibber McGee and Molly enjoying the time right before Christmas. The cards were sent, the tree was up, the presents were wrapped...when something came to the door. A package, addressed to their neighbor - one Throckmorton P. Gildersleeve. Against Molly's better judgement, Fibber opened the package to discover that it was a combination radio and photograph player (probably similar to what families are getting this year with the re-discovered love of vinyl albums). They tried it out - and Fibber immediately broke it. What to do...what to do!

So off to the department store to buy Gildy a replacement. They braved the crowds, the confused store walkers (played by the wonderful Mel Blanc), the salesman setting up payments (played by Gale Gordon) and Tenny (played also by Marian Jordan) who was hoping to get a bit of money from Fibber for a doll. With the replacement in hand, they headed home to square everything with Gildersleeve!

Also on the show were Billy Mills and his orchestra and the King's Men singing Christmas songs. A wonderful Christmas comedy from 1940. I hope if electronics are under your Christmas tree, they last longer than one playing.

The Radio Phonograph (December 24, 1940)

Here are some links to programs relating to Fibber McGee and Molly:

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

25 Days of Old Time Radio Christmas (from 2014)

Monday, December 21, 2015

25 More Days of Old Time Radio Christmas: Day 21 - Great Gildersleeve and Leroy Alone for Christmas (1952)

One of the great radio comedies is The Great Gildersleeve, with the character created by Harold Peary for the Fibber McGee and Molly show. Since I have already featured Harold Peary is his other show earlier in December, I thought I would showcase an episode featuring Willard Waterman in his stint as Gildy. This is a great Christmas episode about all the panic and rush at the end of the Christmas season, and what really matters most of all (awwwww....).

This is the second year I have showcased different Old Time Radio programs for Christmas. Here is a link to all the 2014 OTR Christmas entries. If you have Sirius/XM, you can listen to Greg Bell's Old time radio channel (#148). He does a great job of showcasing great holiday themed episodes, especially as we get closer to Christmas and the end of December. I actually heard this driving the other week as part of the Frank Sinatra blocks that he setup to celebrate the centennial of his birth.

Holland-Fawcett Family Christmas Party (2015)

Who is coming to your house for Christmas?

The Great Gildersleeve is not only a great radio comedy, it has two aspects that really makes it a series way ahead of their time. First, it was a spin-off program, having had its main character originally on a different series. In this instance, the main character of Throckmorton P. Gildersleeve was originally on the Fibber McGee and Molly show. According to the Wikipedia entry (please see the link below), the character was introduced on October 3, 1939 (my birthday - not year!). The Great Gildersleeve debuted on the NBC Network on August 31, 1941. Second, the actor to play Gildersleeve (or Gildy) was replaced after a contract dispute. Harold Peary originated the role and played Gildy until a contract dispute moved him off the show. He was replaced by Willard Waterman in September 1950. Harold Peary would star in the The Harold Peary Show, often known as Honest Harold.

The Great Gildersleeve is the story of Throckmorton P. Gildersleeve - played by Harold Peary. Gildy is the self-important Water Commissioner in their town of Summerfield. A bachelor who was constantly on the look for that someone special, he lived in a house with his niece, Marjorie (played by radio great Lurene Tuttle) and nephew, Leroy (played by child voice star Walter Tetley). They are joined by Birdie (played by Lillian Randolph) as housekeeper and cook at the home. She is one of the more prominent African-American voice actors from these days of radio programming. One of Gildy's great nemeses is Judge Hooker, who plays a nearly constant foil for whatever they are trying to do. I have gone hot and cold on Gildersleeve over the years, but the more I listen to these episodes, the more I like them. I love hearing the Kraft ads (from the early years) and I am trying to listen to more of them.

On Christmas Eve, 1952, Gildy finds the house mostly empty with just he and his nephew Leroy there with Bertie, their housekeeper. Marjorie with her husband and their twins are away for Christmas and everyone felt how empty the house felt. As was the norm, they were busy decorating the Christmas tree on the 24th when Gildersleeve realized what could make up for the quiet. Why he will go to the store and get Leroy one more gift. Upon arriving at the store, Gildy discovered that Leroy had the same idea. But in the end, they did get the best gift of all. The episode features some lovely choral numbers from The Kraft Choristers. I hope your house is full this holiday season - enjoy.

Alone for Christmas (December 24, 1952)

Here are some links to programs relating to The Great Gildersleve:

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

25 Days of Old Time Radio Christmas (from 2014)

Sunday, December 20, 2015

25 More Days of Old Time Radio Christmas: Day 20 - Dressing up as Santa on the Phil Harris-Alice Faye Show

If you are a fan of Jack Benny, you are likely a fan of Phil Harris. Or maybe you loved the Disney animated movies like the Jungle Book or Robin Hood that featured his voice talent. Or maybe you like Alice Faye from radio and movies. If any of these are true - you are in for a treat. Today's entry in the Christmas blog is from a 1952 show from the Phil Harris-Alice Faye show.

This is the second year I have showcased different Old Time Radio programs for Christmas. Here is a link to all the 2014 OTR Christmas entries. If you have Sirius/XM, you can listen to Greg Bell's Old time radio channel (#148). He does a great job of showcasing great holiday themed episodes, especially as we get closer to Christmas and the end of December. I actually heard this driving the other week as part of the Frank Sinatra blocks that he setup to celebrate the centennial of his birth.

Views from Marshall, Michigan (Friday September 28, 2012)

Hemmingsen Rexall Drugs - Marshall, Michigan - September 2012.

The Phil Harris-Alice Faye show was on the NBC Network from 1948 through 1954. The show featured fictionalized versions of Phil and Alice. Among the co-stars were Elliott Lewis as his buddy Frank Remley and Walter Tetley as the obnoxious child Julius, who was a constant foil for Phil and Frankie! These are fun shows, you get some great music and some very funny moments.

In the Christmas episode from December 21, 1952, the story opens with Phil and his brother-in-law decorating the exterior of the house for Christmas. If that did not Phil in the holiday spirit, then what Alice did certainly should have. She volunteered Phil to play Santa Claus in the Women's Club Christmas party and play for children. At first, Phil refused to put on the suit, but upon seeing himself as the big man, he felt that it was a definitely the right thing to do! But it was finally a young kid who put him in the mood for the holidays.

Par for the course, the show features some great songs from the stars. Alice Faye sang "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus" and Phil Harris sang "Jingle Bells." Hope you enjoy these great comedies!

Women's Club Santa Claus (December 21, 1952)

Here are some links to programs relating to Phil Harris-Alice Faye Show:

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

25 Days of Old Time Radio Christmas (from 2014)