Episodes
Wednesday Jul 23, 2008
Guest Star - Pgm 443, Sept 18, 1955, Portrait by Cupid with Vincent Price
Wednesday Jul 23, 2008
Wednesday Jul 23, 2008
"Guest Star" was a series with hundreds of episodes released to radio stations in the 1940s and through the early 60s to promote the sales of US Savings Bonds. The program is more well-known for musical guests, but, on occasion, an actor or comedian would be given a turn at the microphone. In program 443, dated September 18, 1955, we hear Vincent Price in a short drama called "Portrait by Cupid" that involves a talented painter, counterfeiting and, of course, love. It's not the best-known or best work in Price's long career, but it's fun to hear him in this setting. The fifteen minute format didn't allow for much character or plot development, so the script is a little simplistic; that's probably why they didn't try this format often for the series.
The show, in near hi-fi quality, was transferred from an original Treasury Department transcription in almost mint condition. This comes from a period when the discs were pressed extra-thin - if you saw it and you were a knowledgeable record collector, it might remind you of RCA's "dynaflex" albums from the 1970s.Friday May 23, 2008
Treasury Star Parade - Pgm 254, Sept 11, 1943
Friday May 23, 2008
Friday May 23, 2008
We heard another show in this series featuring Fibber McGee and Molly a few weeks ago on the blog. In this post, "Treasury Star Parade", program 254 from September 11, 1943. Produced by the Treasury Department to promote the sale of War Bonds during WWII, the series morphed into "Guest Star", which was used to promote US Savings Bonds well into the late 50s.
This episode features Freddy Martin and His Orchestra performing "Isn't It Love" with a vocal by Gene Walsh, "Holiday for Strings", and "In My Arms". The show also includes the radio premiere of a war-themed tune, "Bells of Victory", again with a vocal by Gene Walsh.Wednesday Apr 16, 2008
Treasury Star Parade - Pgm 253
Wednesday Apr 16, 2008
Wednesday Apr 16, 2008
"Treasury Star Parade" was a fifteen minute program released to radio stations as a public service to promote the sale of War Bonds. The programs generally featured musical stars, but would occasionally have comedians or dramatic actors. The show was quite successful and was continued at least through the late 1950s as "Guest Star", promoting the sale of Savings Bonds.
This episode, program 253, was released for broadcast on September 10, 1943 and features Fibber McGee and Molly in a kind of "reduced" version of their half-hour sitcom. In the show, Molly and Doc Gamble try to get Fibber to water the lawn. It also has a song, "The Man in the Big Sombrero", by the Kings Men and Harlow Wilcox on board announcing. Don Quinn and Thelma Ritter were the writers.