Old Radio

We wish a Merry Christmas to all our readers, and, simultaneously, a happy birthday to the mysterious, urbane songstress, Marlene Dietrich .  As Marie Magdalene Dietrich , she entered the world on this day in 1901. While her icy stare may not have played well on the radio, her voice certainly did.  She turned in sensuous and beguiling performances in such episodes of Lux Radio Theater as "Song of Songs," "Manpower," and "The Legionnaire."  She also appeared on Martin and Lewis and Burns and Allen . An anti-Nazi voice and USO participant, Dietrich died in Paris at the age of 90.

Today marks the day on which, in 1907, " What's My Line " regular Arlene Francis was born. Francis was a New York native and a Finch College graduate, who achieved a relatively painless entry into show business. Her first big play appearance was when she was a mere 21, and she would go on to act in 25 Broadway plays. Radio-wise, the fetching starlet joined the cast of the intelligent and challenging game show " What's My Line ?"  The show was hosted by John Charles Daly and featured, along with Francis, high-brow personages such as Bennett Cerf and Dorothy Kilgallen . One thing to recall about " What's My Line ?" is that in addition to the main guessing game, the panelists also attempted to divine the identity of a mystery guest at the show's end.  MG's included Jimmy Stewart , Orson Welles , Marlene Dietrich and a host of others. Thanks for the memories, Arlene!

  June 1, 1936: On this day, The NBC Blue network's program host, Cecil B. DeMille, introduced Clark Gable and Marlene Dietrich in "The Legionnaire and The Lady" and The Lux Radio Theater radio show  moved from New York City to Hollywood. The Lux Radio Theater   was one of the longest-running classic radio dramas . During its first season, they were performing Broadway stage plays. The program, which lasted for hours, was performed before a live audience. When their sponsor moved the show from New York to Hollywood,  The Lux Radio Theater    also shifted from using Broadway plays into adopting movies. Enjoy  The Lux Radio Theater 's  first ever movie adaptation, "The Legionnaire and the Lady", which aired on this date, 1936