The Chronic Rift Network

I like to start off the new year with these adaptations by "The Lux Radio Theater."  We're going to get a little spooky this year.  "Rebecca" was first a great psychological thriller novel by Daphne de Maurier in 1938, then a great film directed by Alfred Hitchcock in 1940, and eventually this great, though a little shorter, radio adaptation for "Lux."  Though the Hitchcock film is visually stunning – it won two Oscars, one for Best Picture and another for Best Cinematography – this adaptation has the benefit of two of the best actors in Hollywood – actually in England, with Sir Laurence Olivier reprising his role as Maxim de Winter from the film and his real-life wife, Vivian Leigh, as the otherwise un-named new Mrs. de Winter. Episode The Lux Radio Theater November 6, 1950 "Rebecca" 2:11

It's Episode 201 of "Presenting the Transcription Feature" and time for some more Christmas Old Time Radio. First off, on "Fibber McGee and Molly," the McGees are working at a local department store a few weeks before Christmas. They run the returns department where "the customer is always right." Then on "The Jack Benny Program," Jack is hosting a big Christmas Eve bash at his place, Thanksgiving left-overs and all. Episodes Fibber McGee and Molly December 5, 1939 "McGees Are Adjusters at Bonton Dept Store" 2:00 The Jack Benny Program December 24, 1939 "Christmas Open House at Jack's House" 33:08

It's Episode 200 of "Presenting the Transcription Feature" and Christmas in the land of Old Time Radio.  On "The Jack Benny Program," Jack and company are visiting New York in December.  This allows him to try shopping in a Manhattan department store, which provides a little variety.  Then, on "The Great Gildersleeve," will the members of the Jolly Boys Club turn a charitable project into an exercise in egos, or will the true spirit of Christmas win out? Episodes The Jack Benny Program December 11, 1938 "Christmas Shopping in New York" 3:04 The Great Gildersleeve December 23, 1953 "Selling Trees for Needy Children's Party"31:13

It's been a long time since we checked in with that loveable con man Harry Lime, in the person of Orson Welles.  Not quite the psychopathic murderer he was in the movie "The Third Man," where he originated the role, radio's Harry was more of a ne'er-do-well criminal.  In this episode, of "The Lives of Harry Lime," Harry is on the Orient Express, hoping to work a counterfeit scam when someone tries to scam him.  Then, on "The Bob Hope Show," Bob is broadcasting from the campus of USC just before a game against UCLA.  Now that the war is over, he's leaving behind the military-themed jokes, and this episode is just packed with delightful college cliches and slang. Episodes The Lives of Harry Lime February 22, 1952 "It's In The Bag" 1:54 The Bob Hope Show November 27, 1945 "Guests:  Peggy Ryan and Red Skelton" 31:18

We start off tonight with another episode of that great quiz show, "Information Please."  Are you up on babies and their guardians, military insignia, and devils in literature?  Then, since it's almost time for Easter, here's the Fred Flintstone and Barney Rubble of OTR: Phil Harris and Elliot Lewis.  "The Phil Harris-Alice Faye Show" starred actual married couple, Phil Harris, who was the band leader on "The Jack Benny Program," and popular film star Alice Faye.  Tonight, Phil and his band's guitarist, Elliot, attempt to use a drugstore chemistry set to color Easter eggs.  What could possibly go wrong? Episodes Information Please March 13, 1944 "Guest:  Quentin Reynolds" 2:11 The Phil Harris-Alice Faye Show April 5, 1953 "Coloring Easter Eggs Phil's Way" 32:46

We start off tonight with an episode of "The Bob Hope Show."  It's December of 1945, and the war is over.  Hope had spent much of it broadcasting from military bases, but now he is back at the NBC studios in Hollywood.  His guest, Jimmy Durante, promises to take Bob to a swanky party, but is Bob ready for Society, and vice-versa?  Then, time for that excellent quiz show, "Information Please."  It's an Armed Forces recording, which means the original was transcribed and then all the ads were taken out.  Are you up on literary in-laws, animal gestation periods, and places to climb? Episodes The Bob Hope Show December 4, 1945 "Guest:  Jimmy Durante" 3:48 Information Please April 24, 1944 "Guests:  Deems Taylor and Irene Dunne" 35:02

For our New Year's treat, here's "The Lux Radio Theater" adaptation of the classic 1947 film "The Ghost and Mrs. Muir."  The film is an unconventional romance of sorts starring Rex Harrison and Gene Tierney as the title characters.  She's a vibrant young widow, and he's the ghost of a rollicking sea captain.  The captain isn't French, so I'm not sure why they cast Charles Boyer in the role, except that he does have sonorous voice.  Madeleine Carroll takes on Tierney's role. Episode The Lux Radio Theater December 1, 1947 "The Ghost and Mrs. Muir" 2:30

More Christmas here on "Presenting the Transcription Feature."  "Author's Playhouse" was an anthology radio drama that ran from 1941 to 1945 on various networks.  It featured adaptations of popular short stories by authors like James Thurber, W.W. Jacobs, and, in this case, O. Henry.  The story you are about to hear first appeared in his 1907 collection "Heart of the West," a collection of western tales.  Here, the setting is a mining town during the gold rush, and I love the incredibly ornate way the miners speak.  Reminds me of "Guys and Dolls."  Then we finish off with "The Jack Benny Special Christmas Show," a 40-minute-long special that Jack did in the mid-1950s.  It's got all the usual holiday high jinks plus some special guest stars. Episodes Author's Playhouse December 21, 1941 "Christmas By Injunction" 2:04 "The Jack Benny Special Christmas Show" December 2, 1956 32:03

Welcome to December on "Presenting the Transcription Feature."  That means Christmas-themed episodes all month.  We'll start off with George Burns and Gracie Allen in the eponymous "The Burns and Allen Show."  Christmas is fast approaching, and George has no idea what to get his wife.  Then "The Great Gildersleeve" himself is in a very good mood as he goes holiday shopping and plans a party for friends and family. Episodes The Burns and Allen Show December 18, 1947 "Gracie's Last Minute Christmas Gift" 2:32 The Great Gildersleeve December 24, 1944 "Twas the Night Before Christmas"   34:05

"The Couple Next Door" was one of the many 15-minutes-a day, five-days a week programs that used to fill the airwaves.  It was, like "Vic and Sade" a show about "nothing."  It lacks the absurdism of "Vic and Sade," and that may have made it easier for its audience to relate to.  The show was the creation of one woman, Peg Lynch, who wrote and co-starred in every episode.  Tonight, we present two representative episodes depicting late 1950s suburban American life.  Then, who better to spend Thanksgiving with than the hard-boiled cast of "The Adventures of Sam Spade, Detective"?  Someone is trying to kill a man -- a man named Tom Turkey.  Episodes The Couple Next Door January 27, 1958 "Is The Couple Married" October 3, 1960 "Living Room Wired For Stereo" 4:10   The Adventures of Sam Spade, Detective November 24, 1950 "The Terrified Turkey Caper" 33:35