Curtain Time (radio program)
| Genre | Anthology |
|---|---|
| Running time | 30 minutes |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Language(s) | English |
| Home station | WMAQ WGN |
| Syndicates | Mutual ABC NBC CBC |
| Starring | Olan Soule Harry Elders Nannette Sargent Beverly Younger |
| Announcer | Don Gordon Myron (Mike) Wallace |
| Directed by | Blair Walliser) Harry Holcomb Norman Felton |
| Original release | July 22, 1938 – March 29, 1950 |
Curtain Time is a radio anthology program in the United States. It was broadcast on ABC, CBS Mutual, and NBC during the old-time radio era, beginning in 1938 and ending in 1950.[1]
Format
[edit]Curtain Time was much like The First Nighter Program[2] in that it simulated a theatrical environment "where listeners were invited to attend the evening's performance."[1]
Versions
[edit]Pre-network
[edit]In 1935, Curtain Time was carried on WMAQ in Chicago, Illinois.[3] By October 1937, it had moved to WGN, also in Chicago.[4] An item in the trade publication Broadcasting in 1938 noted, "[I]t is understood that the show may be extended nationally in late summer."[5]
1938–1939
[edit]Beginning October 14, 1938, Curtain Time was carried on the Don Lee network as well as on WGN. An item in Broadcasting reported that General Mills had begun a 52-week sponsorship of Curtain Time for its Korn Kix cereal.[6]
Olan Soule, who later starred in a similar show, The First Nighter Program, usually had the male lead in this season's episodes. The female leads varied, but they included Betty Lou Gerson and Louise Fitch.[7] Other cast members included Alice Hill.[8] Don Gordon was the announcer, and Blair Walliser was the director. Henry Weber directed the music.[7]
1945–1950
[edit]Harry Elders was the regular male lead,[7] with Beverly Younger[9] and Nannette Sergeant splitting durites as female leads in this iteration of Curtain Time, which was sponsored by Mars, Incorporated. It was carried on ABC July 4, 1945 – June 27, 1946, and on NBC July 13, 1946 – March 29, 1950.[7] The program was also heard in Canada via 29 CBC Trans-Canada stations.[10] During the 1946–1947 season, Canadian coverage moved "from 28 CBS Trans-Canada stations to 44 Dominion stations."[11]
Others often heard in the cast were Betty Winkler, George Cisar, Beryl Vaughn, Sunda Love, Sidney Ellstrom, Maurice Copeland, and Michael Romano. Hosts included Patrick Allen,[7] Vincent Pelletier,[12] and Lew Valentine.[13] Mike Wallace (billed as Myron Wallace) was the announcer.[7] Norman Felton[9] and Harry Holcomb were directors.[7] Porter Heaps and Burt Farber were music directors.[14]
See also
[edit]
References
[edit]- ^ a b Terrace, Vincent (1999). Radio Programs, 1924–1984: A Catalog of More Than 1800 Shows. McFarland & Company, Inc. ISBN 978-0-7864-4513-4. p. 89.
- ^ Sies, Luther F. (2014). Encyclopedia of American Radio, 1920–1960, 2nd Edition, Volume 1. McFarland & Company, Inc. ISBN 978-0-7864-5149-4. p. 173.
- ^ ""Along Came Lett" to Be Curtain Time Play Today". Chicago Tribune. December 29, 1935. p. Part 3-Page 4. Retrieved 31 January 2016.
- ^ "Curtain Time to Offer 'Shadow of the Crown'". Chicago Tribune. October 24, 1937. p. Part 3-Page 6. Retrieved 31 January 2016.
- ^ "More for Korn Kix" (PDF). Broadcasting. July 15, 1938. p. 20. Retrieved 30 January 2016.
- ^ "Network Accounts" (PDF). Broadcasting. October 15, 1938. p. 73. Retrieved 31 January 2016.
- ^ a b c d e f g Dunning, John (1998). On the Air: The Encyclopedia of Old-Time Radio (Revised ed.). New York, NY: Oxford University Press. pp. 187–188. ISBN 978-0-19-507678-3. Retrieved 2019-10-10.
- ^ "Behind the Mike" (PDF). Broadcasting. October 1, 1939. p. 50. Retrieved 30 January 2016.
- ^ a b Dunning, John. (1976). Tune in Yesterday: The Ultimate Encyclopedia of Old-Time Radio, 1925–1976. Prentice-Hall, Inc. ISBN 0-13-932616-2. p. 151.
- ^ "Network Accounts" (PDF). Broadcasting. July 30, 1945. p. 70. Retrieved 31 January 2016.
- ^ "Network Changes" (PDF). Broadcasting. December 16, 1946. p. 64. Retrieved 31 January 2016.
- ^ "Mars Switch" (PDF). Broadcasting. June 3, 1946. p. 73. Retrieved 31 January 2016.
- ^ "Agencies" (PDF). Broadcasting. December 24, 1945. p. 54. Retrieved 31 January 2016.
- ^ "Production" (PDF). Broadcasting. February 18, 1946. p. 62. Retrieved 1 February 2016.