Lux Summer Theatre

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Lux Summer Theatre
GenreRadio programs
Running time1 hour
Country of originUnited States
Home stationCBS Radio
AnnouncerKen Carpenter, Don Wilson
Directed byNorman Macdonnell
Produced byNorman Macdonnell
Original releaseJune 1 (1953-06-01) –
August 31, 1953 (1953-08-31)
No. of series1
No. of episodes14
Audio formatmono

Lux Summer Theatre is a CBS Radio (Columbia Broadcasting System) anthology series which ran during the summer of 1953 in the Lux Radio Theatre's regular one-hour timeslot. Fourteen episodes aired from June through August of that year.

This weekly series differed from its parent show in several ways, starting with it being the first version of Lux Radio Theatre since 1936 to air during the summer.[1] Norman Macdonnell was brought in from the Gunsmoke radio series to take on the job of director-producer.[1] Ken Carpenter continued as the show's announcer, with Don Wilson filling in for him when on vacation. This summer series had a significantly smaller budget than its parent show, with each episode budgeted at $4250[1] (by contrast, when Lux Radio Theatre aired its first show from Hollywood in 1936 that show's budget was a reported $17,000).[2] Because of the budget constraints, only a single major star headed-up each episode of the summer series.

Another difference involved the source materials which were used for the series. While about half of the shows were still the traditional movie adaptations, the series also presented several original scripts, with three of them written by Kathleen Hite.[3] In addition, one program was an adaptation of Daphne du Maurier's horror story "The Birds".[4]

As with its parent show, the series was broadcast live, but this series was a CBS studio broadcast, as opposed to its having previously been performed in the CBS Radio Playhouse theater on Vine Street in Hollywood.[1]

List of summer 1953 episodes[edit]

First broadcast Title Starring Citations and notes
1953-06-01 High Tor William Holden [5]
1953-06-08 China Run Virginia Mayo [6]
1953-06-15 The Lady and the Tumblers Fred MacMurray [7]
1953-06-22 The Fall of Maggie Phillips Dorothy McGuire [8]Scripted by Kathleen Hite[3]
1953-06-29 One More Spring Jeanne Crain [9]
1953-07-06 Cynara Joseph Cotten [10]
1953-07-13 Physician in Spite of Himself Robert Young [11]
1953-07-20 The Birds Herbert Marshall [4]
1953-07-27 One Foot in Heaven Dana Andrews [12]
1953-08-03 Romance, to a Degree Joseph Cotten [13] Scripted by Kathleen Hite[3]
1953-08-10 Leave Her to Heaven Joan Fontaine [14]
1953-08-17 Edward, My Son Walter Pidgeon [15]
1953-08-24 The Affairs of Susan Anne Baxter [16]
1953-08-31 One Last September Claire Trevor [17] Scripted by Kathleen Hite[3]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d Billips, Connie J.; Pierce, Arthur (1995). "The 1953 Summer Series". Lux Presents Hollywood –A Show-by-Show History of the Lux Radio Theatre and the Lux Video Theatre, 1934-1957. McFarland & Company. pp. 38–40. ISBN 089950938X. Retrieved 2023-03-17.
  2. ^ Dunning, John (1998). "Lux Radio Theatre". On the Air: The Encyclopedia of Old-Time Radio. Oxford University Press, Inc. p. 418. ISBN 978-0-19-507678-3. Retrieved 2023-03-17.
  3. ^ a b c d "Television and Radio Scripts of Kathleen Hite". Wichita State University Libraries. p. Box 8. Retrieved March 17, 2023.
  4. ^ a b "Features". The Pittsburgh Press. 1953-07-20. p. 27. Retrieved 2023-03-17.
  5. ^ "Radio Highlights". Toledo Blade (Ohio). 1953-06-01. p. 4 (Peach Section). Retrieved 2023-03-17.
  6. ^ "Radio Highlights". Toledo Blade (Ohio). 1953-06-08. p. 4 (Peach Section). Retrieved 2023-03-17.
  7. ^ C. E. Butterfield (1953-06-15). "Ford's 50th Anniversary Show to Cost $500,000 on TV". The Reading Eagle. p. 18. Retrieved 2024-03-09.
  8. ^ "Radio Highlights". St. Petersburg Times (Florida). 1953-06-22. p. 22. Retrieved 2024-03-12.
  9. ^ "Radio Highlights". Toledo Blade (Ohio). 1953-06-29. p. 4 (Peach Section). Retrieved 2023-03-17.
  10. ^ "Radio Highlights". Toledo Blade (Ohio). 1953-07-06. p. 4 (Peach Section). Retrieved 2023-03-17.
  11. ^ Crosby, John (1953-07-13). "Radio and Television". The Portsmouth Times (Ohio). p. 24. Retrieved 2024-03-13.
  12. ^ "Radio Highlights". Toledo Blade (Ohio). 1953-07-27. p. 4 (Peach Section). Retrieved 2023-03-17.
  13. ^ Finch, Ray (1953-08-03). "Radio is Still Popular in TV Listening Areas". Youngstown Vindicator (Ohio). p. 14. Retrieved 2023-03-17.
  14. ^ Childress, Nancy (1953-08-10). "Plan Theater TV Shows Of Notre Dame's Games". Youngstown Vindicator (Ohio). p. 7. Retrieved 2023-03-17.
  15. ^ "Radio and Television – American Stations". The Montreal Gazette. 1953-08-17. p. 31. Retrieved 2023-03-21.
  16. ^ "Monday High Spots". The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. 1953-08-24. p. 27. Retrieved 2023-03-17.
  17. ^ "Radio Highlights". The Brooklyn Daily Eagle. 1953-08-31. p. 18. Retrieved 2024-02-10.
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