MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Originally broadcast on WDCB
Saturday, December 25, 2004

Christmas Day in 1944:

* CAVALCADE OF AMERICA (12-25-44) “America for Christmas” starring Waite! Huston. A group of soldiers, sailors and ma rines celebrate the holiday on a small island in the Pacific as a USO troupe presents a Christ mas show about America. Special songs by Woody Guthrie, arranged by Earl Robinson and sung by the Sportsmen Quartet. DuPont, NBC. (29 min)

* CHRISTMAS PARTY (12-25-44) Don Ameche hosts the third annual holiday special for servicemen and women around the world (via short wave) and all the folks at home. An all-star two-hour show with Ginny Simms, Bob Hope, George Burns and Gra­cie Allen, Bing Crosby, Carmen Miranda, Jack Benny, Vera Vague, the Army Air Forces “Swing Wing,” Charioteers, violinist Joseph Szigeti, Eddie “Rochester” Anderson, Les Paul and his trio, Louis Silvers and the orchestra and chorus. Elgin Watch Co., CBS. (60 min & 60 min)

MAYOR OF THE TOWN (12-25-44) Instead of the usual “Mayor of the Town” story, Li­onel Barrymore stars as Ebenezer Scrooge in the annual presentation of Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol.” The program is rebroad­cast by the Armed Forces Radio Service un­der the title “Globe Theatre.” (30 min)

LUM AND ABNER (12-25-44) Chester Lauck and Norris Goff present their traditional Christ­mas story, first performed in 1933. Lum, Abner and Grandpappy Spears are headed east out of Pine Ridge to bring supplies to a young couple staying the night in a barn on an abandoned farm while awaiting the birth of their child. Miles Laboratories, BLUE Net­work. (15 min).