Audition Recordings of Unrecognized Old-Time Radio Programs

Audition Recordings of Unrecognized Old-Time Radio Programs rograms rograms

L Maupin

The programs constitute a set because they are all audition shows of old-time radio series that almost nobody has ever heard of. Not a single one of them achieved success nationally, but some were associated with particular radio stations which may have aired a number of episodes locally. They should be of interest to old-time radio enthusiasts who enjoy hearing something new and hoping to find hidden treasure there. Some of the programs are primarily of interest because they are associated with specific radio stations on which they made their debut or intended to do so. "Farm Fresh," for example, was originated by KTAR-Phoenix; "Columbia's Country Caravan" by KRLD-Dallas; "The Tommy Sosebee Show" by WSM-Nashville; and The Phil Regan Show" from the Marine Base at Camp Pendleton, California with Pepsi Cola as a sponsor. It was carried on NBC, and a number of episodes appear to have been planned. The "Coronet Cigarette Program" originated in Southern California, and one of its co-producers had been a broadcaster during his years in the Navy on KTV-Honolulu. "Frontier Theater" was carried on ABC and the audition episode was a radio play based on the motion picture "The Virginian." It is very good, and more episodes were planned but may never have been aired. This is one of several series in the set that a listener wishes had lasted longer so that more episodes could be heard today. Finally, "The Cases of Mr. Ace" was a detective show starring movie actor George Raft and was set in New York City. It has an interesting plot and is steeped in local color of the era. In my opinion the two best episodes are "The Story of Holiday Wilde" and "The World of Rosalind Marlowe." The former has a broadcast date of 1947 (no day or month indicated), and is entitled "Mr. Fortune and the Court of Shanghai." The cast includes Gloria Blondell in the title role, Gerald Mohr as Lucien Courtney, Bea Benedaret as Irena and Ben Wright as a police inspector. Summary: Holly travels to China to look for her missing father, She encounters an unsavory group of people, is arrested for murder, escapes and ultimately goes to Hong Kong to continue her search. I think the best thing about the program is the rich, seemingly authentic local color. Shanghai is portrayed as a thriving city which has a heavy volume of trade. Holly's first stop is at the Sou Chou Importing Company. She also finds herself in a curio shop on Nanking Road. Her father was reportedly a recent guest at the Empress Hotel. On two or three occasions a gong sounds from the Riverfront Fire Watch. Note: At the conclusion the announcer states "Holiday Wilde comes to you from Hollywood. This is the Mutual Broadcasting System." "The audition recording of "The World of Rosalind Marlowe" was broadcast on May 15, 1946, and it is a soap opera that is so obscure that it is not even mentioned in the most important bibliographies of the period such as John Dunning's "On the Air." Summary: Rosalind awakes in a London hospital, where she was sent after an accident sent her through the windshield of a Red Cross vehicle. She has amnesia, and soon learns that she had been employed as a secretary by Chase Associates in New York City, but had been assigned with overseas personnel of the American Red Cross. She receives a letter from Michael Wayne, who claims to be her husband. Three months after the accident, her employer Mary Chase visits her in the hospital in New York. All Rosalind remembers is a haunting melody, which is "Free Jacques," an old French nursery rhyme. She has a letter from Deborah Marlowe whom Mary tells her was her aunt, now deceased, who raised her. Then Michael Wayne comes in, but Rosalind does not remember him at all. Notes: (1) Deborah Marlowe's home, in which Rosalind grew up, is called Glenhaven Estate; (2) At the time of the accident Rosalind was in a Red Cross Clubmobile preparing donuts and coffee. IIn many cases these audition recordings are the only surviving episodes of the series with which they are associated, and to many that may make them interesting in and of itself. I will just add that some have excellent musical numbers such as "A New Mood in Music" which features the beautiful "Meditation From Thais" from the opera by French composer Jules Massanet. Others are very humorous, and some are dramatically engrossing. I hope that many visitors to the collection will enjoy hearing them. Larry Maupin