Corey's Ramblings

Tuesday, December 11, 2018

25 More Days of Old Time Radio Christmas - Day 8: Gildy's Christmas Shopping on The Great Gildersleeve (1942)

Buffalo Bayou Park Cistern Tour - Buffalo Bayou Park (Houston, Texas - July 20, 2017)

Buffalo Bayou Park Cistern (source for Houston Public Water from 1926 through 2007) - Buffalo Bayou Park (Houston, Texas - July 20, 2017)

Trying to catch up - so I thought I would head to a show that has lots and lots of Christmas episodes. I might have to dig a bit to find one. Keep digging....uh oh - I hit water. And when you hit water, you think of the Water Department...and you think of Throckmorton P. Gildersleeve - or as he is better know, The Great Gildersleeve. 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 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. 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 December 20th, 1942, the episode broadcast over the NBC Radio Network starts with Gildy falling asleep at his desk while working on the annual report for the Water Department. While he nodded off, he had a bad dream that he had not gotten any of his shopping done. When he woke up, he realized that it was indeed the case. Complicating matters is that Gildy's love interest Leila heading back to Savannah for Christmas. He promised that he would spend Christmas with Judge Hooker and buy him a present. So much to do and only a day to do it all in. Off to Mr. Peavy's for some last minute gifts. I hope you enjoy this great program from 1942.

December 20th, 1942 (Christmas Program)

Here are some links to programs relating to Old Time Radio and The Great Gildersleve:

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)

Sunday, December 9, 2018

25 More Days of Old Time Radio Christmas - Day 7: A Radio Nutcracker from the Railroad Hour (1952)

Ann Arbor Dance Classics Nutcracker Rehearsal 2018 (Milan High School, Michigan)

Ann Arbor Dance Classics Production of the Nutcracker
Milan (Michigan) High School December 2018

It's Nutcracker Weekend for me in Michigan, so I will go with a repeat here that is very appropriate! What could be a better story for the holidays than the Nutcracker! Here is a gem from the Railroad Hour variety show when they broadcast their Christmas special in 1952. 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.

A ballet is a hard thing to convey via the radio. But that was just what happened in 1952 when the Railroad Hour broadcast their Christmas Party on December 22nd of that year. The Railroad Hour is a classic variety show that was sponsored by the Association Of American Railroads and was on the NBC Network. This show features great songs and music and Gordon MacRae was the longtime host. Ironically, it never was an hour (as far as I can tell). This episode is 30 minutes.

From their site - you can read that the Association of American Railroads (or AAR):

America's freight railroads operate the safest, most efficient, cost-effective, and environmentally sound freight transportation system in the world — and the Association of American Railroads (AAR) is committed to keeping it that way. Founded in 1934, AAR is the world's leading railroad policy, research, standard setting, and technology organization that focuses on the safety and productivity of the U.S. freight rail industry. AAR Full members include the major freight railroads in the United States, Canada and Mexico, as well as Amtrak. AAR Railroad Affiliate and Associate Members include non-Class I and commuter railroads, rail supply companies, engineering firms, signal and communications firms, and rail car owners.

This show is called Christmas Party and is hosted by Gordon MacRae. Included among the stars on the program (from the great RadioGOLDINdex) are: Dorothy Kirsten, Noreen Corcoran, , Marvin Miller (announcer), Carmen Dragon (conductor), Norman Luboff (choir director) and Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee as writers (pretty sure that we are not talking about THAT Robert E. Lee). This musical variety show has great Christmas carols, including the 12 days of Christmas, Silent Night, O Holy Night, among others. The reason I wanted to showcase this today was the Nutcracker portion of the Christmas party. In the second half of the program, they created a radio version of the Nutcracker, with words set to the great Tchaikovsky music. Hope you enjoy the great music from this episode. Bet you did not know that the Nutcracker had words!

Christmas Party (December 22, 1952)

Here are some links to programs relating to the Railroad Hour:

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)

Friday, December 7, 2018

25 More Days of Old Time Radio Christmas - Day 6: Juggler of Notre Dame with Nelson Eddy and Ronald Colman (1940)

93/365/2284 (September 12, 2014) - Squirrels at the University of Michigan (September 12, 2014)

Juggling Squirrel at the University of Michigan - September 12, 2014

Going to try to catch up with a repeat from my first year. But it features Nelson Eddy - so I hope I get a pass on that. And Ronald Colman is there also - so that is even better. I have wanted to share this again - so no better time like the present. The Screen Guild Theater is quite interesting. It is best summed up by the start of the article in the Digital Deli:

"The Screen Guild programs were some of Radio's longest running charity programs. Why charity? From the outset, the various Screen Guild programs were conceived, produced and broadcast for the express purpose of raising money for the Motion Picture Relief Fund. Over the years, the Motion Picture Relief Fund appeal extended to raising funds for a Country Home and Hospital for retired, ill, indigent, or destitute Motion Picture Industry artists."

This wonderful series was broadcast at CBS Radio and supported by Gulf Oil. This episode was first performed on December 22, 1940 (and repeated the following two years as The Juggler of Our Lady), this dramatization Anatole France's 1892 miracle story, Le Jongleur de Notre Dame. Brought into the performance were narrator Ronald Colman and singer Nelson Eddy. The Juggler of Notre Dame tells the story of Barnaby, a poor traveling juggler who traveled the countryside performing for children and townspeople for coins that kept him going. Barnaby did not speak in this story, but his activity was told through the narration by Ronald Colman and the songs of Nelson Eddy, playing the monk who befriended the juggler.

The monk came across Barnaby on an awful stormy evening and took him to the monastery. So taken by the warmth of the monastery, Barnaby begged to stay there and work, forsaking his the juggling that had been his vocation for all these years. As the days grew closer to Christmas, each of the monks were carefully creating a gift to celebrate the birth of the Lord. What Barnaby did was simply beautiful.

While it is a wonderful story, the piece is wonderful to listen to because of the beautiful singing Nelson Eddy provides. My wife's uncle loved Nelson Eddy, so his songs are always welcome in my home. I hope that he can bring the Christmas spirit to your home. Here is the episode:

Juggler of Notre Dame (December 22, 1940)

Here are some links to programs relating to Screen Guild Theater:

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)