Curtain Time (radio program)

For the record album of the same name, see Curtain Time.

Curtain Time
GenreAnthology
Running time30 minutes
Country of originUnited States
Language(s)English
Home stationWMAQ
WGN
SyndicatesMutual
ABC
NBC
CBC
StarringOlan Soule
Harry Elders
Nannette Sargent
Beverly Younger
AnnouncerDon Gordon
Myron (Mike) Wallace
Directed byBlair Walliser)
Harry Holcomb
Norman Felton
Original releaseJuly 22, 1938 – March 29, 1950

Curtain Time was 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

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

Pre-network

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

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

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

References
  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. ""Along Came Lett" to Be Curtain Time Play Today". Chicago Tribune. December 29, 1935. p. Part 3-Page 4. Retrieved 31 January 2016.
  4. "Curtain Time to Offer 'Shadow of the Crown'". Chicago Tribune. October 24, 1937. p. Part 3-Page 6. Retrieved 31 January 2016.
  5. "More for Korn Kix" (PDF). Broadcasting. July 15, 1938. p. 20. Retrieved 30 January 2016.
  6. "Network Accounts" (PDF). Broadcasting. October 15, 1938. p. 73. Retrieved 31 January 2016.
  7. 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. Curtain Time, romantic drama.
  8. "Behind the Mike" (PDF). Broadcasting. October 1, 1939. p. 50. Retrieved 30 January 2016.
  9. 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.
  10. "Network Accounts" (PDF). Broadcasting. July 30, 1945. p. 70. Retrieved 31 January 2016.
  11. "Network Changes" (PDF). Broadcasting. December 16, 1946. p. 64. Retrieved 31 January 2016.
  12. "Mars Switch" (PDF). Broadcasting. June 3, 1946. p. 73. Retrieved 31 January 2016.
  13. "Agencies" (PDF). Broadcasting. December 24, 1945. p. 54. Retrieved 31 January 2016.
  14. "Production" (PDF). Broadcasting. February 18, 1946. p. 62. Retrieved 1 February 2016.
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