Radio Reader's Digest
Radio Reader's Digest is an American anthology radio program that was broadcast on CBS from September 13, 1942, to June 3, 1948.[1] Beginning on January 13, 1946, it was known as Reader's Digest-Radio Edition.[2]
Overview
[edit]Content of Radio Reader's Digest came from issues of the Reader's Digest magazine, with much of the material dealing with memorable people or heartwarming stories. The initial host, Conrad Nagel, introduced segments and narrated them. Other hosts and narrators included Richard Kollmar, Les Tremayne,[1] Quentin Reynolds,[3] and William Harrison.[4] Orchestra leaders included Van Cleave,[4] Lyn Murray and Jack Miller.[1] On March 4, 1945, Burl Ives began performing on the show each week.[5] His 13-week stint had him doing an eight-minute segment each week with content based on his role in the Broadway musical Sing Out Sweet Land.[6] Guest editors included Lowell Thomas[7] and Edwin C. Hill.[8] In September 1946 the show's format was changed, "being given over to one dramatization instead of a lot of this-and-that".[9]
The continuing cast of Radio Reader's Digest was similar to a theatrical stock company in that actors had to be versatile, able to take any role from the lead to a bit part. Directors sometimes recast roles during rehearsals if a person proved not right for his or her designated part. Actors in the company included Peter Donald, Barry Kroeger, Ed Latimer, Craig MacDonald, James Monks, Claire Niesen, and Vicki Vola.[10] Episodes featured guest stars in dramatizations.[11] They included Cedric Hardwicke, Eva Le Gallienne,[12] Paul Muni, Alexander Woollcott,[13] Shirley Booth, Stanley Ridges,[14] Brian Aherne, Robert Benchley,[15] Raymond Massey, Joseph Calleia,[16] and Edward G. Robinson.[17]
Problems
[edit]CBS and the United States Department of War received "severe censure from Catholic periodicals" with regard to the program's January 21, 1945, broadcast.[18] The episode told of a Catholic soldier who made a confession to a rabbi when no Catholic priest was available. The Catholic Review, based in Baltimore, said that the War Department (which cleared the program for airing) needed more intelligence in its public relations division. The Tablet, based in Brooklyn, said, "It is difficult to find any excuse to justify the Columbia Broadcasting System for permitting its facilities to be used to distort and falsify a doctrine of the Catholic Church ..."[18] The Tablet added that it had been contacted by many Catholics who had "registered their indignation with the radio station and the sponsors".[18]
One episode of the program led to a lawsuit. Donald Q. Coster, a former colonel in the Army, sued CBS and the program's producers (Rayshow, Incorporated, and Foote, Cone & Belding) for $250,000 in New York's supreme court. The suit said, "plaintiff was made out ... to be a liar, a braggart and a fool, and held up to public ridicule, scorn and contempt."[19] The complaint also said that Coster was impersonated by an actor and that the episode implied that he either wrote the story or approved it.[19]
Production
[edit]From September 13, 1942, through September 30, 1945, the program was broadcast on Sundays at 9 p.m. Eastern Time. Campbell Soups sponsored it over that span.[1] Its competition included Manhattan Merry-Go-Round and Walter Winchell's program.[20] Hallmark Cards ended its sponsorship of Charlotte Greenwood's program on ABC and began sponsoring Radio Reader's Digest[21] beginning with the January 13, 1946, episode and continuing through the program's end on June 3, 1948. It was initially heard on Sundays at 2 p.m. E. T. Beginning September 12, 1946, it was moved to Thursdays at 10 p.m. E. T.[1] The Hallmark sponsorship brought a change in the show's name to Reader's Digest-Radio Edition. The budget during Hallmark's sponsorship was $10,000 per week.[2] William Spier was the initial director.[22] Other directors included Tony Leader,[4] Robert Nolan, and Marx Loeb.[1]
Critical response
[edit]A review of the premiere episode in the trade publication Billboard called the broadcast "an almost perfect example of good material hamstrung and ruined by childish production and direction".[23] The review commended selection of articles used and Nagel's readings, but it said that the scripts "seemed aimed at backward three-year-olds", in addition to which "The 'acting' was preposterously overdone ..." [23]
After Reynolds became the program's host, the trade publication Variety said, "Reynolds' presence apparently indicates a change in program content, with future emphasis to be placed on more timely material".[24] It added that although Reynolds's voice had dramatic, compelling characteristics, the pace of his delivery was not suited to the program's format.[24]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e f Dunning, John (1998). On the Air: The Encyclopedia of Old-Time Radio (Revised ed.). New York, NY: Oxford University Press. p. 565. ISBN 978-0-19-507678-3. Retrieved July 10, 2025.
- ^ a b "Reader's Digest-Radio Edition". Variety. January 16, 1946. p. 28. Retrieved July 29, 2025.
- ^ "Quentin Reynolds Edits Air's Radio Reader's Digest on CBS". Billboard. December 9, 1944. p. 6. Retrieved July 10, 2025.
- ^ a b c "'Shangri-La' Heroine on 'Radio Reader's Digest' Tonight at 8 0'Clock". The Shreveport Times. August 5, 1945. p. 19. Retrieved July 10, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Lohman, Sidney (March 4, 1945). "Radio Row: One Thing and Another". The New York Times. p. X 7. Retrieved July 10, 2025.
- ^ "Burl Ives' 'Americana'". Variety. February 28, 1945. p. 24. Retrieved July 27, 2025.
- ^ "From the Production Centers: In New York City ..." Variety. July 26, 1944. p. 24. Retrieved July 27, 2025.
- ^ "'Radio Reader's Digest' Presents Edwin C. Hill As Second Guest-Editorl". The Shreveport Times. August 6, 1944. p. 17. Retrieved July 11, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Radio Reader's Digest". Variety. September 18, 1946. p. 26. Retrieved July 27, 2025.
- ^ "Stock Cornpany Technique Is Being Revived by Radio". Lincoln Sunday Journal and Star. June 20, 1943. p. D 8. Retrieved July 26, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Little, Mary (March 14, 1943). "Airglances: Radio Reader's Digest Renews for Another Series of Broadcasts". Des Moines Sunday Register. p. 20. Retrieved July 10, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Radio Highlights". St. Petersburg Times. November 1, 1942. p. 12. Retrieved July 21, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Paul Muni and Alexander Woollcott To Share Honors". The Sunday Courier and Press. Indiana, Evansville: November 8, 1942. p. 2 D. Retrieved July 21, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Stanley Ridges, Shirley Booth On 'Radio Reader's Digest'". Harrisburg Telegraph. November 14, 1942. p. 24. Retrieved July 21, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Little, Mary (November 22, 1942). "Airglances". Des Moines Register. p. 34. Retrieved July 21, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Little, Mary (December 6, 1942). "Airglances". Des Moines Sunday Register. p. 9. Retrieved July 21, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Choice for Today". Times Herald. District of Columbia, Washington. April 18, 1943. p. 8 D. Retrieved July 10, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b c "War Dept., CBS Draw Severe Censure From Catholics on Religious Issue". Variety. February 7, 1945. pp. 1, 47. Retrieved July 27, 2025.
- ^ a b "Ex-Colonel Sues on 'Reader's Digest' Airer". Variety. July 2, 1947. p. 32. Retrieved July 27, 2025.
- ^ "Shows on NBC Fight Compete Or Else —". Billboard. November 4, 1944. p. 6. Retrieved July 10, 2025.
- ^ "Hall Bros. Dropping Charlotte Greenwood; Reviving CBS 'Digest'". Variety. December 12, 1945. p. 31. Retrieved July 26, 2025.
- ^ Little, Mary (September 13, 1942). "Airglances". The Des Moines Sunday Register. p. 9. Retrieved July 21, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b Burr, Eugene (September 26, 1942). "Radio Reader's Digest". Billboard. p. 8.
- ^ a b "Follow-up Comment". Variety. January 10, 1945. p. 32. Retrieved July 27, 2025.