The 1940's Radio Hour

Infobox Play
name = The 1940's Radio Hour


image_size =
caption =
writer = Walton Jones
chorus =
characters = Clifton Feddington
Lou Cohen
Johnny Cantone
Neal Tilden
Ann Collier
Ginger Brooks
Connie Miller
B.J. Gibson
Pops Bailey
Wally Ferguson
Biff Baker
Geneva Lee Browne
Stanley
Zoot Doubleman | setting = New York, 1942
date of premiere = October 7, 1979
country of Origin = United States
original language = English
series =
subject =
genre =
ibdb_id = 3811

"The 1940's Radio Hour" is a Play with Music by Walton Jones. Full of 1940s music, dancing and old-time sound effects the play portrays the final holiday broadcast of the Mutual Manhattan Variety Cavalcade on the New York radio station WOV in December 1942.

Plot

Fabled WOV, a seedy little New York radio station takes to the air at the beginning of World War II, this time to record a broadcast for the troops overseas.

The narrative concerns the harassed producer whose leading singer is often drunk, the delivery boy who wants a chance in front of the mic, the second banana who dreams of singing a ballad, and the trumpet-playing sound effects man who chooses a fighter plane over Glenn Miller.

Characters

*Clifton Feddington: The announcer and general manager (head of everything at WOV). He has ulcers from it all and is sometimes hysterical.
*Ann Collier The 'old standard' in the Radio show since its start in 1936. She sings like Dinah Shore, Doris Day, and Peggy Lee (all rolled into one). She is a secretary by day, and at looker by night who is dating Johnny.
*Johnny Cantone: Featured vocalist with the Cavalcade who is on Sinatra's bandwagon. He's an ex-boxer and a rough guy who drinks too much and has a voice like velvet.
*Ginger Brooks: A bubble-headed waitress-turned-singer. She has a pinup, Betty Grable look with lots of makeup and speaks with a Gracie Allen vacancy.
*Neal Tilden: Cab driver by day and singer, dancer, and choreographer at night. He is hopeful for the 'featured vocalist' slot.
*B.J. Gibson: The third of the Gibson brothers to work for the Cavalcade. He is squeaky-clean, good looking, and a preppy student at Yale.
*Connie Miller: A bobbysoxer from Ogden, Utah. She is perennially in love and runs an elevator by day.
*Pops Bailey: A crotchety, wizened stage doorkeeper who is a racing bookie on the company phone and reads hidden copies of Show Girl magazine.
*Lou Cohn: A big shot (at least in his own mind) who tries to impress the girls and is sometimes obnoxious. He runs the show and is the sound effects man.
*Wally Ferguson: Young hopeful from Altoona, Pennsylvania who came to NYC to work for his uncle at the drugstore to get his big show-biz break.
*Biff Baker: A young trumpet player with the Zoot Doubleman orchestra who will be leaving after the concert for Army duty.
*Stanley: Lugs cable and runs around a lot and otherwise lives in the control booth.
*Zoot Doubleman: WOV Orchestra Leader

List of Musical Numbers

*"I Got a Gal From Kalamazoo" - Clifton, Chorus
*"Pepsi Cola" - Neal, B.J., Connie, Ginger
*"Daddy" - Connie, The Band
*"Love Is Here To Stay" - Johnny
*"That Old Black Magic" - Ann
*"Ain't She Sweet" - Biff, All
*"How About You" - B.J., Connie
*"Blue Moon" - Neal
*"Chiquita Banana" - All Girls
*"Rose of the Rio Grande" - Geneva, Men & The Band
*"I'll Never Smile Again" - Johnny, Quintet (Neal, B.J., Ann, Ginger, Connie)
*"Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy" - B.J., Connie, Ginger
*"Blues in the Night" - Ginger, Men
*"Jingle Bells" - All (except Johnny)
*"I Got It Bad" - Geneva
*"You Go To My Head" - B.J.
*"The Five O'Clock Whistle" - Connie, The Band
*"Merry Little Christmas" - Ann
*"Strike Up The Band" - Full Company
*"I'll Be Seeing You" - Full Company
*"Mutual Manhattan Variety Cavalcade" - Full Company

References

*
*"'1940s Radio Hour' comes in loud & clear" by Klint Lowry, http://www.thenewsherald.com/stories/051204/lif_20040512004.shtml
*"Theater group dials in retro radio musical" by Carol South, Grand Traverse Herald, http://www.gtherald.com/2005/feb/23radio.htm
*http://www.cvca.net/archives/shows/1940/1940rh.html
*"'Radio' a swinging trip to '40s" by Kyle Lawson, The Arizona Republic, http://www.azcentral.com/ent/arts/articles/0115radiorev15.html
*Character List and Descriptions. http://charlestonlightoperaguild.org/1940RadioHour.htm