Lux Radio Theater, one of the genuine classic radio
anthology series (NBC Blue Network (1934-1935); CBS (1935-1954);
NBC (1954-1955)) adapted first Broadway stage works, and then (especially)
films to hour-long live radio presentations. It quickly became the
most popular dramatic anthology series on radio, running more than
twenty years. The program always began with an announcer proclaiming,
"Ladies and gentlemen, Lux presents Hollywood!" Cecil
B. DeMille was the host of the series each Monday evening from June
1, 1936, until January 22, 1945. On one occasion, however, he was
replaced by Leslie Howard.
Lux Radio Theater strove to feature as many of the original stars
of the original stage and film productions as possible, usually
paying them $5,000 an appearance to do the show. It was when sponsor
Lever Brothers (who made Lux soap and detergent) moved the show
from New York City to Hollywood in 1936 that it eased back from
adapting stage shows and toward adaptations of films. The first
Lux film adaptation was The Legionnaire and the Lady, with Marlene
Dietrich and Clark Gable, based on the film Morocco. That was followed
by a Lux adaptation of The Thin Man, featuring the movie's stars,
Myrna Loy and William Powell.
Many of the greatest names in film appeared in the series, most
in the roles they made famous on the screen, including Abbott and
Costello, Lauren Bacall, Lucille Ball, Ingrid Bergman, Humphrey
Bogart, Charles Boyer, Claudette Colbert, Gary Cooper, Joseph Cotton,
Bing Crosby, Dan Duryea, Ava Gardner, Cary Grant, Bob Hope, Vivien
Leigh, Agnes Moorehead, Vincent Price, Donna Reed, Frank Sinatra,
Ann Sothern, Barbara Stanwyck, James Stewart, Gene Tierney, John
Wayne, Jane Wyman, Orson Welles and Loretta Young.
This collection of Lux Radio Theater Greats includes
465 different shows and appearances for a total of 434+ hours of
listening enjoyment.
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