The 1940's Radio Hour
| The 1940s Radio Hour |
| Written by |
Walton Jones |
| 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 |
| Date premiered |
October 7, 1979 |
| Original language |
English |
| Setting |
New York, 1942 |
| IBDB profile |
The 1940s 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.[1]
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.
- Geneva Lee Browne: The southern Belle of WOV got her start in music at age 17 performing in local Swing ballrooms around the Atlanta area.
- 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 17-year-old 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've Got a Gal In) Kalamazoo" - Clifton, Chorus
- "Pepsi Cola" - Neal, B.J., Connie, Ginger (with sounds performed by Lou)
- "Hey 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)
- "At Last" - Geneva, Band
- "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy" - B.J., Connie, Ginger
- "Blues in the Night" - Ginger, Men
- "Jingle Bells" - All (except Johnny)
- "I Got It Bad (and That Ain't Good)" - Geneva
- "You Go to My Head" - B.J.
- "The Five O'Clock Whistle" - Connie, The Band
- "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" - Ann
- "Strike Up The Band" - Full Company
- "I'll Be Seeing You" - Full Company
- "Mutual Manhattan Variety Cavalcade" - Full Company
References