RADIO IN 1936 – Part 4

Originally broadcast on WNIB
Saturday, June 22, 1996

A sound picture of radio as it was sixty years ago, in 1936.

LITTLE ORPHAN ANNIE (June 1936) Isolated episode in the long-running kids’ adventure series.  Annie and Joe try to save a friend’s show boat!  Shirley Bell stars as Annie.  Announcer Franklin MacCormack urges listeners to send in names for “Billy’s airdale dog.” Fifty dogs will be given away!

JACK BENNY PROGRAM (10-11-36) Jack stars with Mary Livingstone, Phil Harris and the orchestra, singer Kenny Baker.  The cast does their version of Warner Bros. hit film of 1936, “Anthony Adverse” with Jack in the title role.

CAVALCADE OF AMERICA (9-2-36) A musical Cavalcade “tracing the tuneful development of American operetta and musical comedy from the turn of the century to this very moment.”  Don Voorhees and the orchestra.  Music by Victor Herbert, Rudolf Friml, Jerome Kern, Irving Berlin, Cole Porter, George and Ira Gershwin.

RUDY VALLEE SHOW (12-3-36) The Vagabond Lover stars in his big-time variety show with guests Noel Coward and Gertrude Lawrence, Ed Wynn, Eddie Peabody, the Don Cossacks singing organization and author John Guenther. Music by Rudy’s Connecticut Yankees.

DEATH VALLEY DAYS (8-27-36) “Outlaw Sam Bass.”  The Old Ranger narrates the true story of Sam Bass, called by some the “Robin Hood of the Old West.”

LEO IS ON THE AIR (December, 1936) A “cavalcade of musical hits” starring hit tunes from MGM musicals of 1936, including “You” from “The Great Ziegfeld,” “Did I Remember” from “Suzy,” and “I’ve Got You Under  My Skin” from “Born to Dance.”