THIS DAY, THAT YEAR

Originally broadcast on WDCB
Saturday, April 1, 2006

BOB HOPE SHOW (April 1, 1941) Guest Kate Smith joins regulars Jerry Colonna, Brenda and Cobina (Blanche Stewart and Elvia Allman), announcer Bill Goodwin, Skinnay Ennis and the orchestra. Kate accepts some “fat” jokes with good humor and kids Skinnay about being so thin. Hope talks about April Fool’s Day and comments on the FCC-man­dated change of radio frequencies. Pepsodent, NBC. (29 min)

ESCAPE (April 1, 1954) “The Return” starring Lawrence Dobkin. You are standing at the entrance of a walled Arab town, while behind you, coming slowly through the night, are the shuffling footsteps of a blind beggar, who will lead you into a harrowing world of darkness and terror.” Cast includes Edgar Barrier, Paul Dubov, Jeanne Bates, Howard Culver, Lou Krugman. Sustaining, CBS. (30 min)

COMIC WEEKLY MAN (April 1, 1951) Lon Clark (radio’s Nick Carter, Master Detective) is the Comic Weekly Man, who dramatizes selected Sunday funnies for the boys and girls listening and “Miss Honey” in the studio. Today he reads Hopalong Cassidy, Prince Valiant, Donald Duck, Blondie, Roy Rogers, Flash Gordon and others. Puck, the Comic Weekly; syndicated. (28 min)

BLONDIE (April 1, 1940) Penny Singleton and Arthur Lake star as Blondie and Dagwood Bumstead, with Hanley Stafford as Mr. Dithers. There are jokes a-plenty on April Fool’s Day, the day that Dagwood has also chosen to cel­ebrate his birthday. Camel Cigarettes, CBS. (27 min)

COMMAND PERFORMANCE #6 (April 1, 1942) The “old professor” Kay Kyser is emcee with singer Bea Wain, comedian Lou Holtz, singer Ella Logan and special guest Eddie Cantor reciting ‘The Ballad of the Leatherneck Corps.” AFRS. (30 min)