More on It's A Wonderful Life

Hello Hear Again Fans!

Just four more days until the Hear Again Holiday Hullabaloo! Join us all at Plays and Players this weekend to see Lux Radio Theater's It's A Wonderful Life!

Did you know that this radio episode was adapted from the classic holiday film? The film was adapted four different times into radio episodes, and every adaptation featured Jimmy Stewart, the star of the film. Three out of the four adaptations featured Donna Reed, who played Mary in the film.

Lux Radio Theater was dedicated to using the original stars in their adaptations of popular films and plays. They payed the actors $5,000 an appearance, which would be around $80,000 today!

Here's another fun fact: the radio premier of It's A Wonderful Life aired on March 10, 1947. In fact, only one of the four radio adaptations aired anywhere near the holidays (Screen Guild Theater's version aired on December 29, 1947). What we know today as a holiday classic is a good story any time of the year!

See you all this weekend!

It's a Wonderful Life

In preparation for our own Holiday Hullabaloo, where we will present Lux Radio Theater's It's a Wonderful Life, we found this article from the Washington Post about the actress who played Zuzu in Frank Capra's film. You can find the story HERE.

We hope to see you all at Plays and Players next weekend so we can share the season with you, our friends and family in radio.

Thanksgiving Specials From Radio Past

Hello America,


As you and your family are gathering for Thanksgiving, we at Hear Again Radio Project thought it might be nice to dig up a few vintage holiday specials for your listening pleasure while preparing for your holiday feast. Enjoy!


In this link you can listen to an episode of "Command Performance"  from Thanksgiving Day 1944. It was a variety/comedy show during WWII where celebrities would perform for the troops. This episode features Dinah Shore, Harry von Zell, and Wally Brown.

In the "Elgin Thanksgiving Show 7th Annual" in 1948 - Dean Martin was introduced as a "new star" and part of a night club duo with Jerry Lewis. The following year the Dean Martin And Jerry Lewis Show was on the air. The Elgin Watch Company sponsored 7 Elgin Holiday Specials for Thanksgiving from 1942 to 1948. These specials feature several celebrities. They made Christmas specials as well.

On a 1939 episode of "The Answer Man" titled "Who Ate The Most at the First Thanksgiving" Albert Carlyle Mitchell, The Answer Man, discussed some important questions about Thanksgiving. In 1939 there were two different Thanksgivings in America, and The Answer Man explains why.

As always, you can find tons of OTR content at OTRR.net

We will be back on the air on Dec 10 &11 at 4pm and 7pm with Lux Radio Theater's It's a Wonderful Life. Buy your tickets now.