The 1972 “Toys for Tots” disc was issued with two different labels. Besides Jimmy Stewart, this 1972 disc features Efrem Zimbalist, Jr. introducing the U.S. Marine Corps Band who play the Toys for Tots March, Karen Valentine, Chad Everett, Gary Owens, Glen Campbell, Florence Henderson, Clarence Williams III, Charlton Heston, Danny Thomas, Phyllis Diller, John…
Monthly Archives: December 2015
It’s a Wonderful Life After All: The George Bailey Story
Here’s a little bit of nonsense to break up the usually serious tone of this blog. Back in 2009, someone calling himself Kenoracle posted It’s a Wonderful Life After All: The George Bailey Story to YouTube. It is the story of the film, It’s a Wonderful Life, as told by Ken Steele who is reporting…
We Hold These Truths
As detailed in Jimmy Stewart on the Air, We Hold These Truths was commissioned by President Franklin D. Roosevelt to mark the 150th anniversary of the ratification of the Bill of Rights. Famed radio man Norman Corwin was the writer, producer and director of the program and Bernard Herrmann wrote the musical score. Corporal Jimmy…
Bing Crosby Show – December 14, 1949
This was Stewart’s first appearance on Bing’s show since the sponsorship was taken over by Chesterfield cigarettes. Not much had changed on the show when the new sponsor took over. It was still produced by Bill Morrow and Murdo MacKenzie. Ken Carpenter was still the announcer and John Scott Trotter was still the orchestra leader…
Lux Radio Theatre – Magic Town
Jimmy Stewart and Jane Wyman had starred in the 1947 film, Magic Town, as Rip Smith and Mary Peterman. On December 15, 1947, they reprised those roles for the Sanford H. Barnett radio adaptation for the Lux Radio Theatre. The show was produced and hosted by William Keighley and directed by Fredric MacKaye. John Milton…
Old Time Radio Christmas Collection
Released in the early 1990’s by Metacam, this was a very interesting set. Not so much for the radio shows it included, but for its packaging. There were four cassettes included in this set and they were issued in a special wooden case made to look like an antique shop decorated for the holidays. The…
Christmas Seals Update
Christmas Seals are distributed each year by the Lung Association, formerly known as the National Tuberculosis Association. Most years, celebrities recorded public service announcements which were distributed to radio stations for airplay. As described in Jimmy Stewart on the Air, Stewart appeared on several such discs. The 1958 disc has continued to elude our collection…
The Frank Sinatra Christmas Collection
Released on CD in 1998, The Frank Sinatra Christmas Collection (Déjà vu 5079-2) looks like a good source for a rare Jimmy Stewart song. Unfortunately, in this case, looks can be and are very deceiving. Not only isn’t the Stewart track included on the CD, but there are only eleven tracks, not the fourteen listed…
The Six Shooter – More Than Kin
Broadcast on December 13, 1953, this show is also known under the titles of The Actors and Barnum and the Thespians. The program received this small notice in The Times Recorder, Zanesville, OH. It was also mentioned, along with other NBC Sunday night shows, in this display ad from The Fresno Bee, Fresno, CA. The…
Desert Island Discs – December 17, 1983
Desert Island Discs is a staple of the BBC Radio in England. It has been on the air since January 29, 1942, except for 1946-1951, when it was off the air. The show was created and hosted by Roy Plomley, seen below at a BBC microphone. Plomley hosted a total of 1,791 shows over the…
