December Bride (radio program)
 | |
| Country of origin | United States |
|---|---|
| Language(s) | English |
| Syndicates | CBS |
| TV adaptations | December Bride |
| Starring | Spring Byington Doris Singleton Hal March Hans Conried Alan Reed |
| Announcer | Johnny Jacobs |
| Created by | Parke Levy |
| Written by | Parke Levy |
| Directed by | Parke Levy |
| Original release | June 8, 1952 – September 6, 1953 |
December Bride is an American old-time radio situation comedy. It was broadcast on CBS from June 8, 1952, to September 6, 1953,[1] replacing Jack Benny's program.[2] CBS television broadcast a version of the program 1954–1959.[3]
Format
[edit]In On the Air: The Encyclopedia of Old-Time Radio, John Dunning described Lily Ruskin, the program's main character, as "the precise opposite of the stereotypical mother-in-law. A widow, Lily was a dear lady in every aspect."[1] Other main characters in the program were Ruth Henshaw, Lily's daughter; Matt Henshaw, Ruth's husband; and their next-door neighbor, Pete Porter.[1]
Lily wrote an advice column for a newspaper, and Matt was an architect.[4]
In August 1952, December Bride was one of four sustaining CBS radio programs (along with the Steve Allen Show, Gunsmoke, and Horatio Hornblower) carried over into the fall "to test further their commercial potential."[5]
Personnel
[edit]The cast of December Bride is shown in the table below.
| Character | Actor |
|---|---|
| Lily Ruskin | Spring Byington |
| Ruth Henshaw | Doris Singleton |
| Matt Henshaw | Hal March |
| Pete Porter | Hans Conried Alan Reed[6] |
Source: On the Air: The Encyclopedia of Old-Time Radio[1] (except as noted)
Johnny Jacobs was the announcer, and Wilbur Hatch provided the music.[4] The program was created and directed by Parke Levy.[7]
Promotion
[edit]In December 1952, December Bride held a letter-writing contest with the topic "Why I like my Mother-in-law". The prize was a week's vacation for two to Palm Springs, including being the guests of Spring Byington while there.[8]
Critical response
[edit]A review in the trade publication Variety described the show's dialog as "zany" and said that Byington was "her usual delightful self as the mother-in-law".[9] It summarized the premiere episode as "unpretentious hot-weather fare".[9]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d Dunning, John (1998). On the Air: The Encyclopedia of Old-Time Radio (Revised ed.). New York, NY: Oxford University Press. p. 196. ISBN 978-0-19-507678-3. Retrieved 2019-09-04.
- ^ "'Paula Stone Show' Premieres On Mutual". Tampa Bay Times. Florida, St. Petersburg. June 8, 1952. p. 98. Retrieved April 11, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Terrace, Vincent (2011). Encyclopedia of Television Shows, 1925 through 2010 (2nd ed.). Jefferson, N.C.: McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers. p. 247. ISBN 978-0-7864-6477-7.
- ^ a b Terrace, Vincent (1999). Radio Programs, 1924-1984: A Catalog of More Than 1800 Shows. McFarland & Company, Inc. p. 97. ISBN 978-0-7864-4513-4.
- ^ "4 of 5 CBS AM Sustainers Get Fall Rides". Billboard. August 30, 1952. p. 6. Retrieved 14 June 2023.
- ^ "Delmar to Return to Radio; Jergens To TV Net, Grass Nixes 'Noodle'". Billboard. March 7, 1953. p. 8. Retrieved 25 July 2017.
- ^ "(untitled brief)" (PDF). Broadcasting. September 15, 1952. p. 75. Retrieved 25 July 2017.
- ^ "Mother-in-law contest" (PDF). wpbc. December 22, 1952. p. 86. Retrieved 25 July 2017.
- ^ a b "December Bride". Variety. June 11, 1952. p. 26. Retrieved February 28, 2024.
External links
[edit]Logs
[edit]- Log of December Bride episodes from Jerry Haendiges Vintage Radio Logs
- Log of December Bride episodes from Old Time Radio Researchers Group
- Log of December Bride episodes from radioGOLDINdex