Tales of Fatima

Last updated
Cross-promotion of sponsor and radio series Fatimanew.jpg
Cross-promotion of sponsor and radio series

Tales of Fatima is an old-time radio transcribed show that was broadcast on CBS from January 8, 1949, to October 1, 1949. [1]

Contents

Basil Rathbone starred as himself in the program, with Francis DeSales portraying Lieutenant Farrell [1] and Agnes Young portraying Lavender, Rathbone's assistant and wardrobe woman. [2] Princess Fatima was a "sultry woman" who inspired Rathbone as she spoke to him in dreams. [3] At the beginning of each episode, Princess Fatima (in a voice that was altered by an echo chamber) gave the audience an "obscure tidbit" as a clue to help listeners solve that night's mystery. [4]

Adventurous situations were played for broad comedy. References to the sponsor, Fatima Cigarettes, were embedded in the storylines, and Rathbone delivered the commercials. [1]

Early publicity said that the show would be based on "actual experiences encountered by Rathbone during his adventurous life", from his younger years in South Africa to his worldwide travels. [5] That concept ended after about 10 episodes, when the series changed to what critic John Crosby described as "more orthodox lines, which is to say the plots are downright fantastic." [6] Another change in format occurred beginning on August 27, 1949. Each episode featured a guest star, and Rathbone played varied roles rather than being heard as himself. [7] Guest stars included John Garfield, Rex Harrison, Bela Lugosi, and Lilli Palmer. [4]

Others actors heard on the program included Frances Chaney, Tony Barrett, Betty Lou Gerson, and Ed Begley. [8] Michael Fitzmaurice was the program's announcer. and Harry Ingram directed the program. [1] Orchestra directors were Carl Hoff and Jack Miller. [3] Gail Ingram was the writer. [8]

The series ended with the October 1, 1949, episode as Fatima sponsorship was shifted to Dragnet on NBC effective October 6, 1949. [9]

Critical reception

A review of the premiere episode in the trade publication Variety described the program as "a weird combination of hard and often taut dramatics", with the mood often broken up by Rathbone's interactions with Fatima. [8] It concluded, "According to the debut stanza, the show's elements are too diverse to jell." [8]

Crosby wrote that on this program Rathbone came off badly in comparison to his portrayal of Holmes and in comparison to his portrayal of Inspector Burke in the Scotland Yard radio series. Crosby wrote, "He just blunders through each case, exhibiting only ordinary intelligence . . ." [6]

Related Research Articles

The New Adventures of Sherlock Holmes is a radio drama series which aired in the USA from 1939 to 1950, it ran for 374 episodes, with many of the later episodes considered lost media. The series was based on the Sherlock Holmes stories by Arthur Conan Doyle. Some of the surviving episode recordings may be found online, in various audio quality condition.

The Alan Young Show is an American radio and television series presented in diverse formats over a nine-year period and starring English-born comedian Alan Young.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Walker Edmiston</span> American radio, television actor (1926–2007)

Walker Edmiston was an American actor and puppeteer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bob Hastings</span> American actor (1925–2014)

Robert Francis Hastings was an American actor. He was best known for his portrayal of Lt. Elroy Carpenter on McHale's Navy and voicing Commissioner James Gordon in the DC Animated Universe.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Carleton G. Young</span> American actor (1907–1971)

Carleton Garretson Young was an American actor in radio, film and television.

The Big Story is an American radio and television crime drama which dramatized the true stories of real-life newspaper reporters. The only continuing character was the narrator, Bob Sloane.

Just Plain Bill was a 1932-1955 15-minute American radio drama program heard on CBS Radio and NBC Radio. It was "a story of people just like people we all know.”

<i>Our Man Higgins</i> American TV situation comedy series (1962–1963)

Our Man Higgins is an American sitcom that aired on ABC from October 3, 1962, to May 17, 1963.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stephen Dunne (actor)</span> American actor, radio personality and disc jockey

Francis Michael Dunne was an American actor, radio personality and disc jockey. He was active in television and films from 1945 to 1973, and was also credited as Steve Dunn, Michael Dunne, Stephan Dunne, and Steve Dunne.

The Chevrolet Tele-Theatre is an American anthology series that aired live on NBC Mondays at 8 pm EST from September 27, 1948 to June 26, 1950. The program presented both news headlines and live dramatic performances of either original plays or works adapted for television from the stage. Sometimes the show was referred to as Chevrolet on Broadway or The Broadway Playhouse; particularly when the program was presenting an adapted stage work from New York City's theatre scene.

<i>Telephone Time</i> American TV dramatic anthology series (1956–1958)

Telephone Time is an American anthology drama series that aired on CBS in 1956, and on ABC from 1957 to 1958. The series features plays adapted from short stories by John Nesbitt who hosted the first season. Frank C. Baxter became the host effective with the September 10, 1957, episode. He hosted the 1957 and 1958 seasons. A total of 81 episodes aired from April 1956 to March 1957 on CBS, and from April 1957 to April 1958 on ABC. The Bell Telephone System sponsored the series.

The Amazing Mr. Malone is an American radio crime drama series based on the John Malone series of mystery novels by Craig Rice. The series ran on ABC from January 11, 1947, through September 24, 1950, and was broadcast on NBC Radio from May 25, 1951, through July 13, 1951.

Volume One is a 30-minute American television anthology series produced, written, and hosted by Wyllis Cooper. It was a short-lived series that featured mystery and suspense stories. Six episodes aired on the American Broadcasting Company's WJZ-TV Channel 7 in New York City in 1949.

The Bob Burns Show was an American old-time radio comedy program that starred comedian Bob Burns. The program derived from a character Burns performed for five years on Bing Crosby's Kraft Music Hall entitled "The Arkansas Traveler".

<i>John Steele, Adventurer</i>

John Steele, Adventurer was a radio drama during the end the Golden Age of Radio. It was reminiscent of the action magazines of the time such as All-Story and Argosy.

Your Lucky Clue is an American television game show that was broadcast on CBS from July 13, 1952, until August 31, 1952, at 7:30 p.m. Eastern Time as a summer replacement for This Is Show Business.

<i>Easy Aces</i> (TV series) American TV comedy series (1949–1950)

Easy Aces is an American comedy television program that was broadcast on the DuMont network from December 14, 1949, until June 14, 1950. It was also syndicated during its time on the network.

Inside U.S.A. With Chevrolet is an American television revue-style variety program that was broadcast on CBS September 29, 1949 - March 16, 1950. The program was not related to the book with that title or the Broadway revue of the same title.

Hogan's Daughter is an American radio situation comedy that was broadcast on NBC from June 21, 1949, until September 14, 1949.

The Amazing Mr. Tutt is an American radio "lighthearted legal drama" that was broadcast on CBS from July 5, 1948, through August 23, 1948.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Dunning, John (1998). On the Air: The Encyclopedia of Old-Time Radio (Revised ed.). New York, NY: Oxford University Press. p. 652. ISBN   978-0-19-507678-3.
  2. ↑ Terrace, Vincent (June 8, 2015). Radio Program Openings and Closings, 1931-1972. McFarland. p. 227. ISBN   978-1-4766-1223-2 . Retrieved January 2, 2023.
  3. 1 2 Terrace, Vincent (September 2, 2015). Radio Programs, 1924-1984: A Catalog of More Than 1800 Shows. McFarland. p. 325. ISBN   978-1-4766-0528-9 . Retrieved January 2, 2023.
  4. 1 2 Cox, Jim (August 20, 2010). Radio Crime Fighters: More Than 300 Programs from the Golden Age. McFarland. p. 246. ISBN   978-0-7864-4324-6 . Retrieved January 2, 2023.
  5. ↑ "Star's Experiences Will Be Basis Of New Radio Series". The Indianapolis Star. January 2, 1949. p. Section 4 - Page 11. Retrieved January 2, 2023– via Newspapers.com.
  6. 1 2 Crosby, John (May 9, 1949). "Radio In Review". The Charlotte News. p. 2. Retrieved January 2, 2023– via Newspapers.com.
  7. ↑ "Radio and Television: CBS Plans Video Revue Based on 'The Little Show,' Broadway Hit of the Twenties" . The New York Times. August 16, 1949. p. 42. Retrieved January 2, 2023.
  8. 1 2 3 4 "Tales of Fatima". Variety. January 12, 1949. p. 22. Retrieved January 2, 2023.
  9. ↑ "Radio and Television: City Political Candidates to Air Their Views Weekly" . The New York Times. September 23, 1949. p. 46. Retrieved January 2, 2023.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.