Vintage Classic Radio

Sunday Night Playhouse - Leave Her to Heaven - Gene Tierney

Vintage Classic Radio presents the Sunday Night Playhouse, where we bring to life timeless classics from the golden age of radio between the
1930s and the 1960s.
Episode Description:"Leave Her to Heaven" is a Lux radio play adapted from the novel of the same name by Ben Ames Williams. The play was broadcast on March 17, 1947, and starred Gene Tierney as the lead character, Ellen Berent.
The story follows the beautiful and possessive Ellen, who marries a successful writer named Richard Harland (played by Cornell Wilde) after a brief courtship. However, Ellen's obsession with Richard soon turns dark, as she becomes jealous of anyone who gets close to him, including his disabled younger brother (Darryl Hickman) and Ellen's own cousin (Vincent Price). Eventually, Ellen's desire for control leads her to commit a shocking act of violence.
The Lux radio play adaptation of "Leave Her to Heaven" was notable for its star-studded cast, which also included Jeanne Crain as Richard's new love interest, Mary Phillips as Ellen's mother, and Ray Collins as the district attorney. The play was directed by William Keighley and adapted for radio by Milton Geiger.
"Leave Her to Heaven" was originally released as a film in 1945, with Tierney reprising her role as Ellen Berent. The film was a critical and commercial success, and Tierney's performance was particularly praised. The Lux radio play adaptation aimed to capitalize on the popularity of the film and Tierney's star power.
Interestingly, "Leave Her to Heaven" was one of several Lux radio plays that Tierney starred in during the late 1940s. The Lux Radio Theatre was a popular radio show that adapted Hollywood films for radio, and Tierney was a frequent guest.
Broadcast date: March 17th, 1947
Home station: CBS
Cast:
Gene Tierney as Ellen Berent Harland
Cornell Wilde as Richard Harland
Jeanne Crain as Ruth Berent
Vincent Price as Russell Quinton
Mary Philips as Mrs. Berent
Darryl Hickman as Danny Harland
Ray Collins as District Attorney
Wally Maher as Detective
All actors were known for their work in film, theater, and radio during the 1940s. Gene Tierney, in particular, was a popular leading lady in Hollywood at the time, known for her beauty and talent. Cornell Wilde was a rising star who would later become a successful director, while Vincent Price became famous for his work in horror films.
The Lux Radio Theatre was known for its high production values and ability to attract top Hollywood talent, making it a popular destination for actors and audiences alike.

Friday Night Noir - The Hitchhiker - Orson Welles

Vintage Classic Radio presents Friday Night Noir where we bring to life timeless classic detective noir, mystery and
 suspense from the golden age of radio between the 1930s and the 1960s. 
Episode description: "The Hitchhiker" is a radio play written by Lucille Fletcher and directed by Orson Welles, aired on the CBS radio show "Suspense" on September 2nd, 1942. The play tells the story of a man named Ronald Adams, who is driving from Brooklyn to California when he sees a hitchhiker on the side of the road.
As the play progresses, Ronald realizes that the hitchhiker seems to be following him no matter where he goes, and that no one else can see or hear the hitchhiker. Ronald becomes increasingly anxious and paranoid, convinced that the hitchhiker is a ghost or some other supernatural being that is haunting him.
The role of Ronald Adams was played by Orson Welles himself, and the rest of the cast included Eustace Wyatt as the hitchhiker, William Alland as the voice of the radio announcer, and a small ensemble of other actors in various minor roles.
One interesting fact about the production is that it was originally broadcast just a few weeks before the infamous "War of the Worlds" broadcast, also directed by Orson Welles, which caused widespread panic among listeners who believed that a real alien invasion was happening. "The Hitchhiker" is often cited as an example of Welles' skill as a radio dramatist and his ability to create a sense of suspense and terror through the use of sound effects and other audio techniques.
Suspense was a radio drama series that aired on CBS Radio from 1940 through 1962. It was one of the longest-running and most popular radio programs of its time, known for its thrilling and suspenseful stories that kept listeners on the edge of their seats. Each episode featured a different story, ranging from crime dramas to horror tales to psychological thrillers, and often featured well-known actors and actresses of the day. The show was renowned for its use of sound effects and music to create a sense of tension and atmosphere, and many of its episodes are still considered classics of the genre. Suspense helped to define the medium of radio drama and set a high standard for storytelling that would continue to influence popular culture for decades to come.
Broadcast air date: September 2nd, 1942
Home station: CBS  
Notable Cast:
Orson Welles as Ronald Adams
Eustace Wyatt as The Hitchhiker
William Alland is the radio announcer

Sunday Night Playhouse - Private Lives - Noel Coward & Gertrude Lawrence

Every Sunday night, Vintage Classic Radio presents the Sunday Night Playhouse, where we bring to life timeless classics from the golden age of radio between the 1930s and the 1960s.
Episode description: Presented by Campbell Playhouse, the 1939 radio play, "Private Lives" starring Noel Coward and Gertrude Lawrence, broadcasted by CBS on October 22, 1939, follows the story of a divorced couple, Elyot and Amanda, who discover they are staying in adjacent hotel rooms while on their honeymoons with their new partners. Despite the misunderstandings and complications that arise, the two ultimately re-establish their deep love for one another.
Broadcast date: October 22nd 1939
Home station: CBS
Notable Cast:
Noel Coward as Elyot Chase 
Gertrude Lawrence as Amanda Prynne 
Adele Dixon as Sybil Chase 
Peter Gravesas Victor Prynne 
Mabel Constanduros as Louise 
Claud Allister as The Waiter 

Friday Night Noir - Double Indemnity - Barbara Stanwyck & Fred MacMurray

Every Friday night, Vintage Classic Radio presents Friday Night Noir where we bring to life timeless classic detective noir, mystery and suspense from the golden age of radio between the 1930s and the 1960s.
Episode description: Lux Radio Theatre's broadcast of Double Indemnity, starring Barbara Stanwyck as Phyllis Dietrichson, Fred MacMurray as Walter Neff and Edward G. Robinson as Barton Keyes, aired on May 3, 1948. The story follows Neff and Dietrichson as they plot to kill her husband and collect on an insurance policy.
Broadcast air date: May 3rd, 1948
Home station: CBS
Notable Cast:
Barbara Stanwyck as Phyllis Dietrichson
Fred MacMurray as Walter Neff
Edward G. Robinson as Barton Keyes
Jean Heather as Lola Dietrichson
Frank Orth as Mr. Jackson

Sunday Night Playhouse - Casablanca - Humphrey Bogart & Ingrid Bergman

Every Sunday night, Vintage Classic Radio presents the Sunday Night  Playhouse, where we bring to life timeless classics from the golden age  of radio between the 1930s and the 1960s.
The Screen Guild Theater's 1943 radio adaptation of Casablanca is a faithful recreation of the classic 1942 movie of the same name. It follows the same storyline, with Rick Blaine (Humphrey Bogart) as a former freedom fighter and Ilsa (Ingrid Bergman) and Victor Laszlo (Paul Henreid) as two people desperate for help to flee Nazi-occupied Morocco. Along the way, complications arise due to a love triangle between Blaine and the two refugees, as well as a sinister plot by the police captain Renault (Hans Conried). Amidst the chaos, Rick must make a difficult decision about whether to help Ilsa and Laszlo or to remain in Casablanca and protect his own interests.
This production featured a talented cast of actors and a musical score composed and conducted by Max Steiner.
Broadcast air date: August 2nd, 1943
Home station:
Notable cast:
Humphrey Bogart as Rick Blaine
Ingrid Bergman as Ilsa
Paul Henreid as Victor Laszlo
Hans Conried as Renault the Police Captain
Maurice Moscovitch as Ugarte
Lucille Ball as Yvonne
S.K. Mailoux as Carl
George Coulouris as Ferrari
Edward G. Robinson as Sam

Friday Night Noir - Angels with Dirty Faces - James Cagney & Pat O’Brien

Every Friday night, Vintage Classic Radio presents Friday Night Noir where we bring to life timeless classic detective noir, mystery and suspense from the golden age of radio between the 1930s and the 1960s. 
Lux Radio Theatre's 1939 adaptation of "Angels with Dirty Faces" stars James Cagney and Pat O'Brien. The story follows Rocky Sullivan and Jerry Connolly, two childhood friends from the wrong side of the tracks. Rocky has become a gangster, while Jerry has gone straight and become a priest. Rocky is eventually arrested and sent to prison, while Jerry tries to protect him from the other inmates. When Rocky's parole hearing comes up, Jerry pleads with the parole board to release him, but ultimately Rocky is denied. In the film's climax, Jerry uses his influence to help Rocky escape prison and start a new life.
Broadcast air date: May 22nd, 1939
Home station: CBS Radio Network
Full Cast and Roles include:
James Cagney as Rocky Sullivan
Pat O'Brien as Father Jerry Connolly
Humphrey Bogart as "Crow"
Ann Sheridan as Laury Ferguson
The Dead End Kids as Their Gang
Billy Halop as Tommy Gordon
Bobby Jordan as Spit
Leo Gorcey as Bim
Gabriel Dell as T.B.
Huntz Hall as Scuffy
Bobby Stone as Swipes

Tuesday Night Detectives - Sam Spade (The Maltese Falcon) & Sherlock Holmes (The Adventure of the Missing Submarine Plans)

Tune in every Tuesday night for Vintage Classic Radio's popular Tuesday Night Detectives, as we present a double bill of the best old-time radio detective serials from the 1930s to the 1960s.
First up tonight is The Adventures of Sam Spade in, "The Maltese Falcon", a classic crime drama adapted from the 1930 novel by Dashiell Hammett. It follows the story of a private detective, Sam Spade, as he is hired to locate a valuable statuette known as the Maltese Falcon. He takes on the case, only to discover that it is much more convoluted than what was initially presented. Spade is then driven to solve the mystery of the falcon, leading him to uncover a web of lies and treachery. Ultimately, with his quick wit and deductive skills, he is able to discover the truth and complete the case. The radio adaptation of The Maltese Falcon was originally aired in the Academy Award Theatre. It starred Humphrey Bogart as Sam Spade and Mary Astor as Brigid O'Shaughnessy.
Other cast members in, "The Maltese Falcon" included:
Les Tremayne as District Attorney Bryan
Walter Kingsford as Casper Gutman
Elliott Lewis as Wilmer Cook
Lawrence Dobkin as Joel Cairo
Howard Duff as Detective Tom Polhaus
Lurene Tuttle as Effie Perrine
William Conrad as Sergeant Dundy
Vic Perrin as the voice of the falcon
William Johnstone as Lieutenant Dundy
Parley Baer as the voice of the narrator
Next up is The New Adventures of Sherlock Holmes in "The Adventure of the Missing Submarine Plans", starring Basil Rathbone as Sherlock Holmes, and Nigel Bruce as his trusty sidekick Dr. Watson. The episode "The Adventure of the Missing Submarine Plans" first aired on October 30th, 1939. In this episode, Sherlock Holmes and Doctor Watson investigate the theft of secret documents by foreign spies related to a new submarine. The spies will stop at nothing to obtain the plans. It's up to Sherlock Holmes and Doctor Watson to find the missing plans before it is too late.
The full cast and roles of this episode are:
Basil Rathbone as Sherlock Holmes
Nigel Bruce as Doctor John Watson
Harry Bartell as Maximilian
Edwin Max as Count von Schwabing
Joseph Kearns as Professor Moriarty
Joseph N. Weber as Eustace
Trudy Wroe as Hilda von Schwabing
Lou Krugman as Dr. Leslie
Wally Maher as Captain Baron von Heimlich
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Further series information below.
Sam Spade is an American radio detective show created by Dashiell Hammett and adapted to the radio by Phillips H. Lord. It follows the adventures of private detective Sam Spade and his partner Miles Archer in their investigations of various cases. The show features a no-nonsense approach to crime detection and a wry sense of humor. It was created by Dashiell Hammett and was adapted for the screen in 1941 as The Maltese Falcon. The show was also an influence on the hard-boiled detective school of crime fiction. The show aired from 1930 to 1932 and was one of the earliest radio detective shows.
The New Adventures of Sherlock Holmes was a radio adaptation starring Basil Rathbone as Sherlock Holmes and Nigel Bruce as Doctor John Watson. This series ran from 1939-1947, beginning October 2nd 1939.

Sunday Night Playhouse - Suspicion - Cary Grant & Ann Todd

Every Sunday night, Vintage Classic Radio presents the Sunday Night Playhouse, where we bring to life timeless classics from the golden age of radio between the 1930s and the 1960s.
Episode description: Suspicion, an Academy Award Theatre production starring Cary Grant and Ann Todd, is a radio play inspired by Alfred Hitchcock’s 1941 film of the same name. It aired on October 27th, 1946. The plot follows a young woman named Lina who becomes increasingly suspicious of her wealthy new husband, Johnny, when she discovers he has a shady past. She fears that he may be a murderer and goes to great lengths to uncover the truth.
Original release: October 27th, 1946
Home station: NBC Radio
Cast:
Cary Grant as Johnnie Aysgarth
Ann Todd as Lina McLaidlaw
Donald Stuart as Inspector Tanty
Clifford Mollison as General McLaidlaw
Marjorie Westbury as Mrs. McGinty
Hugh Burden as Mr. Stewart

Sunday Night Playhouse - The Thirty Nine Steps - Orson Welles

Every Sunday night, Vintage Classic Radio presents the Sunday Night Playhouse, where we bring to life timeless classics from the golden age of radio between the 1930s and the 1960s.
Description:  The Thirty-Nine Steps was a 1938 radio play, broadcast as part of Mercury Theatre on the Air, a CBS Radio series hosted by actor and director Orson Welles. The play was an adaptation of the 1915 novel of the same name by John Buchan and was first broadcast July 11, 1938. The play follows the story of Richard Hannay, an unsuspecting British gentleman who is falsely accused of murder and embarks on a continent-spanning adventure to clear his name. Along his journey, he discovers an international conspiracy, and romantic entanglements, that threaten his freedom and safety. 
Original release: August 1st, 1938
Home station: CBS
Cast:
Orson Welles as Richard Hannay
Ray Collins as Professor Jordan
Elmer Gantry as the Clerk
Carlton KaDell as Sir Walter Bullivant
Agnes Moorehead as Mrs. Jordan
Edgar Barrier as Mr. Memory.

Sunday Night Playhouse - The Philadelphia Story - Katherine Hepburn, Cary Grant & Jimmy Stewart

Vintage Classic Radio presents the weekly Sunday Night Playhouse, where we play classics from the golden age of radio from the 1930s to the 1960s.
Description:  The 1947 radio adaptation of The Philadelphia Story by the Screen Guild Theater was an entertaining and well-crafted production that drew on the original story by Philip Barry. It featured a stellar cast of actors, including Cary Grant, Jean Adair, and Shirley Booth, who brought the characters to life with their skillful performances. The story follows Tracy Lord, a socialite who finds herself at the centre of a romantic drama involving her ex-husband, a tabloid reporter, and a penniless playboy. The production captures all the wit and charm of the original story, while adding a few delightful touches of its own. It is an engaging and delightful adaptation of an American classic that still captivates audiences today.
Original release: March 17, 1947
Home station: CBS (until 1949)
Notable Cast:
Katharine Hepburn as Tracy Lord
Cary Grant as C.K. Dexter Haven
Jimmy Stewart as Mike Connor
Marjorie Hoshelle as Liz Imbrie
Bette Davis as Margaret Lord
Richard Denning as George Kittredge
Alan Reed as Macauley
Charles Smith as Uncle Willie
Martha Wentworth as Aunt Martha.