The Wizard of Oz
Lux Radio Theater
"I don't think we're in Kansas anymore, Toto." Judy Garland's journey to Oz and home again is dear to the hearts of millions of young and old alike. Who among us cannot see parts of themselves in one or more of this little band of determined but touchingly flawed heroes as they travel the yellow brick road in search of the Wizard. The battle to become whole, to become healed, to become real. Ah yes, we cheer them on; as cheer we must, for many of us know this battle all too well ourselves.
This splendid radio version of the film was first broadcast on December 25th, Christmas of 1950. Judy was never better. This is a full blown musical and song reproduction of the original. The Munchkins are in great form. In its own way, it's every bit as enjoyable as the movie. This one plays wonderfully on the movie screen of our memories. "There's no place like home."
WHAT IS "LUX RADIO THEATER?"
Before the days of television, radio was king. Lux Radio Theater was one of the brightest diamonds in the king's crown. Originally it featured adaptations of stage shows, and later specialized in adaptations of popular movies.
The program always began with an announcer proclaiming, "Ladies and gentlemen, Lux presents Hollywood!" Cecil B. DeMille was the host of the series each Monday evening from June 1, 1936, until January 22, 1945.
Lux Radio Theater strove to feature as many of the original stars of the original stage and film productions as possible, usually paying them $5,000 an appearance to do the show. It was when sponsor Lever Brothers (who made Lux soap and detergent) moved the show from New York City to Hollywood in 1936 that it eased back from adapting stage shows and toward adaptations of films. The first Lux film adaptation was The Legionnaire and the Lady, with Marlene Dietrich and Clark Gable, based on the film Morocco.
Many of the greatest---or, at least, the most legendary---names in stage and film appeared in the series, most in the roles they made famous on the screen, including Abbott and Costello, Lauren Bacall, Lucille Ball, Ethel Barrymore, John Barrymore, Lionel Barrymore, Ingrid Bergman, Humphrey Bogart, Charles Boyer, James Cagney, Claudette Colbert, Ronald Colman, Gary Cooper, Joseph Cotten, Joan Crawford, Bing Crosby, Bette Davis, Dan Duryea, Frances Farmer, Errol Flynn, Ava Gardner, Cary Grant, Lillian Gish, Charlton Heston, Bob Hope, Vivien Leigh, Agnes Moorehead, Paul Muni, Vincent Price, Donna Reed, Ginger Rogers, Frank Sinatra, Ann Sothern, Barbara Stanwyck, James Stewart, Shirley Temple, Gene Tierney, Spencer Tracy, John Wayne, Jane Wyman, Orson Welles, Loretta Young, and Robert Young, among numerous others.
The last radio production was "Edward, My Son" starring Walter Pidgeon and Frances Robinson. It was broadcast on June 7th, 1955.
With the advent of television, Lux Video Theatre premiered on 10/02/50 and ran for seven seasons ending 09/12/57.
NOTE: Most of the above information was gleaned from the Wikipedia page, found here.
Lux Radio Theater
SCREEN DIRECTOR'S PLAYHOUSE and THE SCREEN GUILD THEATER
Two of our Classic Radio programs are from Screen Director's Playhouse (The Fugitive) and The Screen Guild Theater. (The Bells of St. Mary's)
Both shows produced quality film adaptations for radio in the same vein as Lux Radio Theater.
PUBLIC DOMAIN
To the best of our knowledge, these recordings are believed to be out of copyright and in the public domain. If you believe that an error has been made, contact us with your documentation and we will remove them from all future publications.
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