Tuesday, December 18, 2018

25 More Days of Old Time Radio Christmas - Day 17: Family Theater's Daddy for Christmas (1948)


Holland-Fawcett Family Christmas Party (2017)

It's SANTA! (2017 Family Party)
Here is my second of two entries from Mutual's Family Theater that I showcased yesterday (Family Theater's Lullaby Of Christmas (1950)) and last year ( Other Wise Man on Mutual's Family Theater (1949)).  I was going to feature a different one - but lets go with a bit sappy in a Santa Suit.  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 close to Christmas.

The Mutual Family Theater is an anthology series that aired (as one might imagine) over the Mutual Network from 1947 through 1956.  The program was the idea of Father Patrick Peyton, a Roman Catholic Priest, who wanted to provide wholesome stories that the entire family could enjoy.  I came across an interesting scholarly article on the series (Phalen, Patricia F. "Profound sound: Family theater radio, 1947-1970." Journal of Radio Studies 11, no. 1 (2004): 116-130) that talked about how Father Peyton gathered up the talent to make this program.  He insisted that the stars donate their services to make the program, which kept costs down.  As they would cite during the start of the production:

The purpose of this series is to remind ourselves that there is a kind and merciful God who is always ready to help us; that we should declare our faith in him; acknowledge our obligations to Him, to our neighbors, and ourselves; tell Him our need, and ask His aid, through prayer.... The scripts will deal
with human problems in human terms. They will be simple, not ponderous; entertaining, not preachy; natural, not pretentious. (Family Theater Productions, 1947)

On December 15, 1948, the Family Theater presented the story "Daddy For Christmas". In the late 1940s, there were many family with empty seats at the table after World War II.  Thus was the world facing little Stevie and his family.  When he drags his mother to visit a department store Santa, her life changes more than she could imagine.  Stevie forgot to mention everything he wanted for Christmas, so they stepped back in.  He wanted a scooter, pony, wagon and a bicycle with three wheels (but not a tricycle).  He also wanted a daddy for Christmas. But that was the trickiest gift of all.  Later than night, they were surprised when Santa showed up with a gift for Stevie.  He could not find a chimney, so he came through the front door.  Stevie got his three-wheeled bicycle.  And in good time, he also got his other gift.  But not without struggles.  This heartwarming story stars Pat O'Brien, Bobby Driscoll, and Linda Johnson based on the Jack Lyman script.  The music was composed by Max Terr, directed by David Young and Tony La Frano served as the announcer.  The hostess for the broadcast was Shirley Temple.

Daddy for Christmas (Family Theater) - December 15, 1948
25 More Days of Old Time Radio Christmas (from 2018) & Other Links
Another 25 Days of Old Time Radio Christmas (from 2017) 
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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