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Arnold Grimm's Daughter

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Arnold Grimm's Daughter is an American radio soap opera that was broadcast from July 5, 1937, until June 26, 1942, first on CBS and later on NBC.[1]

Premise

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After Connie Grimm eloped with Dallas Tremaine[2] (her childhood sweetheart) her tyrannical father, Arnold,[1] opposed the marriage so much that he disowned Connie,[3] while Dal's mother ("a schemer") "disliked Connie and plotted against her".[1] Connie found second-hand furniture and an old house in which to set up their home while artist Dal never finished the pictures that he began painting.[2] She also provided financial support by operating a business in partnership with French lingerie dealer Madame Babette.[1] At one point Dal took all of the money from Connie's purse and used it on a fling in Chicago. She forgave him when he returned, but he continued to brood over their poverty.[2]

Gladys Grimm was Arnold's wife. Jimmy Kent was a designer and Bill Hartley was Arnold Grimm's business partner. Judy was Connie's outspoken and sometimes funny maid. Mr. Tweedy was a lovable, good man. Sonia Kirkoff was a loyal friend to Connie.[1]

As the series progressed, Connie became pregnant. Before Little Dal was born, Dal died while saving a child from being hit by a fire engine. After her husband's death, Connie's attention turned to helping her father and his struggling business.[1]

Cast

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Cast of Arnold Grimm's Daughter
Character Actor(s)
Connie Grimm Tremaine Margarette Shanna[1]
Betty Lou Gerson[1]
Luise Barclay[1]
Dal Tremaine Ed Prentiss[1]
Robert Ellis[1]
Arnold Grimm Don Merrifield[1]
Sonia Kirkoff Genelle Gibbs[1]
Madame Babette Jeanne Juvelier[1]
Jimmy Kent Frank Dane[1]
Bill Hartley Verne Smith[1]
Judy Mento Everett[1]
Dal's mother Gertrude Bondhill[1]
Dal's father Orson Brandon[1]
Gladys Grimm Jeanne Dixon[1]
Bonita Kay[1]
Mr. Tweedy Butler Mandeville[1]

Production

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Arnold Grimm's Daughter began as a local program on WGN radio in Chicago on April 19, 1937.[4] Frank and Anne Hummert produced the series.[1] Margaret Sangster was the writer.[4] W. P. Wright was the production manager. Directors included Wright[5] and Edwin H. Morse was the director. The theme song was "Modern Cinderella".[1]

The program replaced Modern Cinderella when it debuted on CBS.[6] Sponsored by Softasilk, it was broadcast daily at 1:30 p.m. Eastern time from July 5, 1937, until May 27, 1938. It was moved to NBC, where it was broadcast daily at 2:15 p.m. E. T. from May 30, 1938 until March 1941. It was moved to 2:45 p.m. E. T., where it stayed through its last broadcast on June 26, 1942.[1] It was replaced on NBC by Lonely Women.[7]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y Dunning, John (May 7, 1998). On the Air: The Encyclopedia of Old-Time Radio. Oxford University Press. p. 42. ISBN 978-0-19-977078-6. Retrieved October 27, 2023.
  2. ^ a b c "The Radio Playbill: This Week — Arnold Grimm's Daughter". Radio Guide. September 17, 1938. pp. 8–9. Retrieved October 28, 2023.
  3. ^ Cox, Jim (21 May 2003). Frank and Anne Hummert's Radio Factory: The Programs and Personalities of Broadcasting's Most Prolific Producers. McFarland. pp. 158–159. ISBN 978-0-7864-1631-8. Retrieved October 27, 2023.
  4. ^ a b "Chicago". Radio Daily. April 20, 1937. p. 6. Retrieved October 27, 2023.
  5. ^ Thompson, Dan (October 1940). "Who Are the Men Behind the Microphone?". Radio Varieties. p. 12. Retrieved October 28, 2023.
  6. ^ "NBC to Broadcast O'Neill - A Screen Idol in Radio". The Indianapolis Star. July 4, 1937. p. 22. Retrieved October 27, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ "Serials Won't Dry Those Tears". Billboard. June 27, 1942. p. 6. Retrieved October 27, 2023.