Movies For Your Ears!
One genre of old time radio that I really enjoy, is movies for your ears! At least that's what I call them. These are radio play treatments from movies of the period. Not to be confused with sound tracks from movies. But full scale reproductions, and scripts of popular period movies, often times staring the actors reprising their role from the film. Sometimes the radio plays are better than the movie! At least in my humble opinion. Below is a brief description of some of what's playing.
The Lux Radio Theatre. Aired December 3, 1951. CBS net. "Strangers On A Train". Sponsored by: Lux. A man comes up with a plan of murder! Ray Milland, Ruth Roman, Frank Lovejoy, Patricia Hitchcock (daughter of Alfred Hitchcock, who directed the film).
The Lux Radio Theatre. Aired January 4, 1954. CBS net. "The Day The Earth Stood Still". A alien from space gives mankind a final chance to achieve world peace. Director Earl Ebi has been quoted as saying that this is "one of the most interesting and unusual shows we've done in a long time." Michael Rennie, Jean Peters, Irving Cummings (host), Ken Carpenter (announcer), Rudy Schrager (music director), Paul Frees (narrator).
The NBC University Theatre. Aired January 9, 1949. NBC net. "The Grapes Of Wrath". Sustaining. The classic drama of the Depression, the Okies and their search for the promised land in California. Jane Darwell, Jerry Farber, John Dehner.
Screen Directors' Playhouse. Aired December 9, 1949. NBC net. "Call Northside 777". Sustaining. A crusading reporter frees a man in jail for eleven years who was convicted of killing a cop. Jimmy Stewart, William Conrad, Stacy Harris, Paul Frees.
The Screen Guild Theatre. Aired September 7, 1950. ABC net. "Twelve O'Clock High". Sustaining. The start of the show's fourteenth year on the air. Gregory Peck, Ward Bond, Reed Hadley, Millard Mitchell, John Kellogg, Hugh Marlowe.
The Lux Radio Theatre. Aired December 25, 1950. CBS net. "The Wizard Of Oz". Sponsored by: Lux. The adventures of Dorothy in the land of Oz. William Keighley (host), John Milton Kennedy (announcer), Judy Garland, Hans Conried, Herb Vigran, Edwin Max, Herb Butterfield, Betty Lou Gerson, Noreen Gammill, William Johnstone, Ruth Perrott, Gil Stratton, Charles Smith, Charles Woolf, Jay Novello, Marion Richman, Edward Marr, Norman Field, David Light (as a dog).
Screen Directors' Playhouse. Aired November 16, 1950. NBC net. "Lifeboat". Sponsored by: Anacin, RCA, Chesterfield. A well-done radio adaptation of the superb movie. Sheldon Leonard does fine in the role made famous by William Bendix. Guest screen director Alfred Hitchcock introduces the story and speaks with the stars after the drama. Alfred Hitchcock, Anne Diamond, Barbara Eiler, Roy Glenn, Sheldon Leonard, Tallulah Bankhead.
