AMOLAD on the radio
See also
Lux Theater broadcasts and The Hedda Hopper Show
See also the Live TV broadcast on NBC
We have found information about "Stairway to Heaven" being
broadcast as part of the Screen Director's Playhouse series
on American radio (NBC).
These were broadcasts of popular films or stage shows adapted to
the radio broadcast between 1934 and 1955. They ran for 1 hour
with a few breaks for ads (or "A Message From Our Sponsor").
Well I've listened to the "Stairway to Heaven" CD and they've
taken quite a few liberties - but it just about works.
I've had to guess at the spelling for all the people's names.
Screen Director's Playhouse
Broadcast on 26th July 1951 by NBC
It is introduced as being "Directed by Emeric Pressburger and
Michael Powell" - but I'm sure they didn't have anything to do
with this broadcast, that was just a (not very explicit) reference
to the film.
The announcer, Jimmy Wallington, does the introduction and then
introduces George Sidney, president of the Screen Director's Guild.
Then, a word from our sponsor:
An ad for Chesterfield cigarettes by Bob Hope & Hy Averback (sp?)
A mention of the other sponsors, Anacin headache pills and
RCA Victor TVs & radios.
On with the show:
Stairway to Heaven, starring Robert Cummings and Julia Adams
Act 1:
Tour of the galaxy. Narrator sounds different to the announcer.
Not as reassuring as the one in the film.
Peter Carter in the burning bomber. Cummings puts on an English
accent (a bit dubious). No poetry & he calls June "darling"
from the start. He mentions heaven a lot (as did the narration)
- the film is careful not to.
Into the reception area, audience laughter as the USAF check in.
Bob is much more like a cockney and uses the word "ruddy" a lot.
Peter on the beach (no naked goat herd). June sees him and calls
to him. As she approaches, Peter determines that she looks lovely
and so must be an angel. But then recognises her uniform is
American - so it can't be heaven (some laughter).
It's played in this light comedy vein quite a lot (too much).
Looking up his details Cummings is best know for his light
comedy roles, certainly not as a romantic lead.
Peter & June are in a meadow, falling in love. Conductor 71
appears & stops time. Tries to get Peter to come with him, uses
the word "ruddy" to prove he's met Bob. Peter refuses to go
& appeals.
End of Act 1 - dramatic music - applause.
Ad for Anacin
Act 2:
Too much comedy for my liking. e.g. when June introduces Peter
& Frank ...
June: Peter darling, this is Frank
Frank: Hello Peter darling (laughter)
Some coughing from audience.
Frank does the tests on Peter. Unspecified where they are but
there's no Shakespeare going on. Peter fixes is eyes on June's legs
when told to look ahead.
End of Act 2
ad for RCA Victor TVs
ad for Chesterfield cigarettes
ad for Anacin
Pause for Station ID to be plugged in
Welcome back - title, stars, sponsors named
Act 3
At Frank's cottage
Frank & June play table tennis, Conductor 71 visits again.
He tells Peter that the prosecutor will be Abraham JONES.
(what was wrong with the name Farlan?)
Frank explains some of his diagnosis to June.
Goes to see American doctors, explains about arachnoid adhesions
and the olfactory nerve.
Peter was given an injection so goes for a ride on the staircase.
The first defending counsel that Conductor 71 suggests is Clarence
Darrow (Scopes "Monkey Trial"). Interesting choice in 1951.
Peter runs down stairs, Frank realises it's getting urgent so
goes for the ambulance (not so much comedy now).
Ambulance arrives & they tell June the bad news.
Frank arrives & is greeted by Conductor 71. Frank meets Bob &
Bob finally says "What ho" although it sounds odd from a Londoner.
Peter gets to hospital & is "put under". The trial starts.
Bob takes the stand & says Peter had many girlfriends.
"Aha" says Abraham Jones. "Not so fast" says Frank.
Frank asks if Peter had ever declared his love for a woman.
"Yes he had" says Bob.
"Aha" says Abraham Jones. "Not so fast" says Frank.
"Which woman?" asks Frank. "His mother" says Bob
Not much of a trial scene although they did manage a dig at
"the horrors of the British Broadcasting Corporation" after
the one about Punch.
Then they take the stairway down to the operating theatre.
The denouement isn't quite as dramatic as in the film (how
could it be). They only use half of the good lines, but it's
still pretty good.
End of Act 3 - loud applause
The stars are brought out for a chat with the announcer as a
postscript - with the emphasis heavily on the "script".
Credits are read out:
Robert Cummings as Peter
Julia Adams as June
Other parts played by:
Tony Barrett, Ben Wright, Norma Varden (almost certainly the
recording angel role), Don Morrison, Rye Billsbury, Jerry Hausner
and Ramsey Hill.
Adaptation by Richard Allan Simmons
Production supervised by Howard Wiley
Director Bill Kern
The incidental music included what I suspected was a Theramin
(early electronic instrument - heard on The Beach Boys "Good
Vibrations") and sure enough they announced:
Theramin performed by Dr Samuel Hawthorne
All in all a very interesting piece. Nowhere near as good as
the film of course (how could it be?), but well worth a listen.
Available from Audio Classics Archive at
http://www.audio-classics.com/screendirector.html
it's the last one on their list, CDS10516.
They charge US$7.00 plus postage and are quite happy to send
it around the world.
Very good quality CD. As good as it could ever have been heard
on the radio (if not better).
Running time: a few seconds shy of one hour
This production was available as an MP3 download from ThenRadio.com but alas is no longer available, along with the Lux Theater production
