Armstrong's Theatre of Today

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Armstrong's Theatre of Today
Other namesThe Armstrong Theater of Today
GenreRomantic drama
Running time30 minutes
Country of originUnited States
Language(s)English
SyndicatesCBS
StarringHollywood stars
AnnouncerGeorge Bryan
Tom Shirley
Bob Sherry [1]
Directed byIra Avery
Al Ward
Produced byIra Avery
Original releaseOctober 4, 1941 –
May 22, 1954
Sponsored byArmstrong Cork Company
Cream of Wheat

Armstrong's Theatre of Today is a news and romantic drama radio program which was broadcast at noon on Saturdays by CBS Radio from October 4, 1941, to May 22, 1954. The 30-minute series was sponsored by the Armstrong Cork Company (Armstrong Quaker Rugs and Linoleum) and Cream of Wheat (1953-54). [2]

The announcers were Bob Sherry, [3] George Bryan and Tom Shirley. The program opened with Bryan reporting the news, followed by Hollywood film actors in original dramas. Ira Avery and Al Ward directed with Avery producing. James Rinaldi provided the special effects. [2] Commercials were read by the Armstrong Quaker Girl (Elizabeth Reller, Julie Conway). [4]

Harold Levey was the musical director. [5]

Featured actors included Joan Alexander, [6] Sandy Becker, [7] Ralph Bellamy, [8] Jeanne Cagney [9] Madeleine Carroll, [8] Cathleen Cordell [10] Kenny Delmar, [11] Ellen Drew, [12] Madge Evans, [13] Geraldine Fitzgerald, [14] Helen Hayes, [8] Vinton Hayworth, [15] Edward Everett Horton, [16] Teri Keane, [17] John Larkin [18] Francis Lederer, [19] Grace Matthews, [20] Karen Morley, [21] Pat O'Brien, [22] Vincent Price, [23] Bill Quinn, [24] Rosalind Russell, [25] Marian Shockley, [26] Franchot Tone, [21] Mary K. Wells, [27] and Bill Zuckert. [22]

Stars over Hollywood , another anthology program, also began in 1941, and when Armstrong began it immediately followed Stars on the air. That combination "gave CBS the edge in the Saturday dramatic derby for thirteen years." [28]

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References

  1. ↑ "Televise, Air Gavilan Title Bout Tonight". Battle Creek Enquirer. September 18, 1953. p. 18. Retrieved May 27, 2024.
  2. 1 2 Dunning, John (1998). On the Air: The Encyclopedia of Old-Time Radio (Revised ed.). New York, NY: Oxford University Press. pp. 40–41. ISBN   978-0-19-507678-3 . Retrieved 2019-10-11.
  3. ↑ "Radio and Television; CBS to Audition Amsterdam's New Show -- Three WOR Programs Shift Air Time" . The New York Times. December 27, 1948. p. 32. Retrieved November 11, 2024.
  4. ↑ Terrace, Vincent (1999). Radio Programs, 1924-1984: A Catalog of More Than 1800 Shows. McFarland & Company, Inc. ISBN   978-0-7864-4513-4. P. 27.
  5. ↑ "Radio Talent: New York". Billboard. March 7, 1942. p. 7. Retrieved February 11, 2015.
  6. ↑ Haller, Marie (July 1953). "Vacations Are More Fun Than Anything". Radio-TV Mirror. p. 51. Retrieved January 6, 2025.
  7. ↑ Ball, Elizabeth (June 1953). "The Happy Beckers—And How They Live". Radio-TV Mirror. p. 42. Retrieved January 6, 2025.
  8. 1 2 3 "Timely Drama". The Philadelphia Inquirer. September 3, 1942. p. 9. ProQuest   1833114326. RALPH BELLAMY ... you are the star on the CBS 'Theater of Today' next Saturday at noon, appearing in an original drama by CAMERON HAWLEY. The following week HELEN HAYES will star, with MADELEINE CARROLL slated to follow.
  9. ↑ "Followup Comment". Variety. December 22, 1943. p. 38. Retrieved January 6, 2025.
  10. ↑ "Radio Highlights". The Tampa Times. December 15, 1950. p. 22. Retrieved January 6, 2025.
  11. ↑ "From the Production Centres: In New York City". Variety. March 24, 1954. p. 34. ProQuest   963180014. Kenny Delmar (Senator Claghorn) on CBS 'Theatre of Today' Saturday (27).
  12. ↑ "From the Production Centres: In New York City ...". Variety. February 25, 1942. p. 30. Retrieved January 6, 2025.
  13. ↑ "Timely Drama". The Daily Home News. October 16, 1941. p. 27. ProQuest   2264629106. Stage and screen star Madge Evans, above, plays the leading role Saturday in a romantic drama on 'Armstrong's Theatre of Today' over WABC.
  14. ↑ Hilton, Chuck (December 8, 1944). "On the Beam". Globe-Gazette. p. 2. Retrieved January 6, 2025.
  15. ↑ "On the Radio: Afternoon". The New York Times. May 6, 1950. p. 15. ProQuest   112031238. 12:00-WNBC–News Reports; WOR–Man on the Farm; WJZ–101 Ranch Boys–Western Variety; WCBS–Theatre of Today: A Wonderful Guy, with Vinton Hayworth and Joan Alexander
  16. ↑ Van Pelt, Rita (October 2, 1948). "Hear Southern Cal Battle Buckeyes; The Prized Maid". The Atlanta Constitution. p. 8. ProQuest   1536186854. A timid insurance man and church organist (played by Edward Everett Horton) enters a radio slogan contest and wins a full year's attendance by 'The Prized Maid' in today's domestic comedy scheduled for WAGA-CBS' 'Theater of Today' at 12 noon.
  17. ↑ "Programs on the Air: Afternoon". The New York Times. March 4, 1950. p. 28. ProQuest   111495408. 12:00-WNBC–News, Charles F. McCarthy; WOR–Man on the Farm; WJZ–Home Gardener–Phil Alampi; WCBS–Theatre of Today: Second Best, With Teri Keane, Bill Quinn
  18. ↑ "Programs on the Air: Afternoon". The New York Times. August 13, 1949. p. 24. ProQuest   105735268. 12:00-WNBC–News, Charles F. McCarthy; WOR–Man on the Farm; WJZ–Girls Corp–Variety; WCBS–Theatre of Today: See Mary Bates, With Leslie Woods, John Larkin
  19. ↑ Doran, Dorothy (March 17, 1944). "Around the Dial: Sugden Conducts Service Band; Ether Notes". The Akron Beacon Journal p. 8. Retrieved January 6, 2025.
  20. ↑ Haller, Marie (February 1953). "Grace Matthews' Road of Life". Radio-TV Mirror. p. . Retrieved January 6, 2025.
  21. 1 2 "Radio Highlights". The Ithaca Journal. December 6, 1941. p. 13. ProQuest   2041174303. Screen actor Franchot Tone is scheduled to contribute heavily to radio during the coming week. [...] Friday night he will appear in 'Petrified Forest' at 9 over CBS. Then the following noon he will co-star with Karen Morley in a radio play on CBS' Theater of Today program.
  22. 1 2 "From the Production Centres: In New York City". Variety. October 7, 1942. p. 28. Retrieved January 6, 2025.
  23. ↑ "Are Ya Listenin?; Theater Time". Mason City Globe-Gazette. March 13, 1942. p. 2. Retrieved January 6, 2025.
  24. ↑ Eye, Glen G.; Lane, Willard R. (1956). The New Teacher Comes to School New York: Harper & Brothers. p. 275. OCLC   187468.
  25. ↑ Jones, Paul (September 16, 1950). "Dr. Black Bows In as Harpsichordist". The Atlanta Constitution. p. 10. ProQuest   1613027888. Rosalind Russell, one of filmdom's most popular leading ladies, will star as an impulsive bride-to-be in the original radio drama, 'A House for Elizabeth,' where an ex-fiancee is employed by the groom-to-be to supervise building plans of a dream house. The show will be airwaved during WAGA-CBS' Theater of Today at 12.
  26. ↑ "New Voice". The Press of Atlantic City. p. 12. Retrieved January 6, 2025.
  27. ↑ "At Lakewood: Mary K. Wells". Kennebec Journal. p. 10. Retrieved January 6, 2025.
  28. ↑ Dunning, John. (1976). Tune in Yesterday: The Ultimate Encyclopedia of Old-Time Radio, 1925-1976. Prentice-Hall, Inc. ISBN   0-13-932616-2. p. 39-40.

See also

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