Fibber McGee and Molly: Christmas Programs

Fibber McGee and Molly was an American radio comedy series that maintained its popularity over decades. It premiered on NBC in 1935 and continued until 1959, long after radio had ceased to be the dominant form of entertainment in American popular culture.

 There are people who would argue that Fibber McGee and Molly were the Golden Age of radio. This is partly because of the show's very long (1935-1959) and successful run. But more than just staying power, the show showcased terrific comic and musical talent. Throughout its run, the show was a reflection of its time in the American scene.

The genesis of the program can be traced to a local Chicago show that would become Smackout. Fibber McGee and Molly would go on to great success despite (or perhaps because of) the vaudeville sensibilities of its creators and stars, married couple Jim and Marian Jordan.

Living in the fictional Midwestern city of Wistful Vista, Fibber was an American teller of tall tales and a braggart, usually to the exasperation of his long suffering wife Molly. Life in Wistful Vista followed a well developed formula, but was always fresh. Fibber's weekly schemes would be interrupted, inspired by, and often played upon the People of Wistful Vista, a set of regular players and characters that were as beloved as the stars of the program. The program used a series of running gags that would become part of the common language, many treasures can be found in the Closet at 79 Wistful Vista.

The show began as a comic reflection of Depression Era America, but as time went on and the shadows of war came over the nation, the show again caught the mood of the country. WWII was fought on the Home front on Wistful Vista as surely as anywhere else in America, but here they had the benefit of Fibber's somewhat addled perspective.

The show was formally "The Johnson Wax show with Fibber McGee and Molly." Longtime sponsor S.C. Johnson Wax Company saw the value of saving the episodes they sponsored, thereby preserving this treasure for fans of Old Time Radio today.

One of the funniest, most cleverly written shows you will find. The show ran for an epic 24 years on the radio. The show had a huge influence on popular culture as well. Catch phrases that originated on Fibber McGee and Molly like, "Tain't funny, McGee!" "That ain't the way I heered it!" "Snooky," and "Whatsay?" were common vernacular of the time.

Recently, on an episode of NCIS, Abby Sciutto reprimanded Timothy McGee with the line "T'ain't funny, McGee" as a nod to the show.

Sources: http://www.fibbermcgeeandmolly.com/ and Fibber McGee and Molly on Wikipedia





Fibber McGee and Molly: Mailing Christmas Packages -  December 10, 1940


Fibber McGee and Molly: Fibber Cuts His Own Tree -  December 16, 1941


Fibber McGee and Molly: Looking for a Christmas Tree -  December 21, 1943


Fibber McGee and Molly: Early Christmas Presents -  December 19, 1944


Fibber McGee and Molly: Making Christmas Cards -  December 6, 1949

The Red Skelton Show: Christmas Programs!

The son of a former circus clown turned grocer and a cleaning woman, Red Skelton was introduced to show business at the age of seven by Ed Wynn, at a vaudeville show in Vincennes. At age 10, he left home to travel with a medicine show through the Midwest, and joined the vaudeville circuit at age 15. At age 17, he married Edna Marie Stilwell, an usher who became his vaudeville partner and later his chief writer and manager.

He debuted on Broadway and radio in 1937 and on film in 1938. His ex-wife/manager negotiated a seven-year Hollywood contract for him in 1951, the same year "The Red Skelton Hour" (1951) premiered on NBC. For two decades, until 1971, his show consistently stayed in the top twenty, both on NBC and CBS. His numerous characters, including Clem Kaddiddlehopper, George Appleby, and the seagulls Gertrude and Heathcliffe delighted audiences for decades.


Skelton and his wife put together an act and began to get bookings for it at some of the smaller vaudeville theaters. They somehow made their way to the Lido Club in Montreal. Despite the language barrier, the act was a success, and brought the couple theater dates throughout Canada. While in Montreal, Skelton and Edna devised the well-known "Doughnut Dunkers" routine, with Skelton's visual impressions of how different people ate doughnuts. The problem with doing this type of act was that Skelton had to eat nine doughnuts at every performance. He was performing five times a day and eating 45 doughnuts. Skelton gained almost 35 pounds rapidly and had to shelve the routine for a while until he lost the weight.

The "Doughnut Dunkers" routine also led to Skelton's first appearance on The Rudy Vallee Show on August 12, 1937. The program had a talent show segment and those who were searching for stardom were eager to be heard on it. The show received enough fan mail after Skelton's performance to invite the comedian back two weeks after his initial appearance and again in November of that year. On October 1, 1938, Skelton replaced Red Foley as the host of Avalon Time on NBC; Edna also joined the show's cast. Skelton continued as the show's host until late 1939, when he went on to begin his MGM movie career.

Skelton's success in films meant a regular radio show offer. He went on the air with his own program, The Raleigh Cigarettes Program, on October 7, 1941. The bandleader for the show was Ozzie Nelson; his wife, Harriet, who worked under her maiden name of Hilliard, was the show's vocalist and also worked with Skelton in skits.

Additional Source: IMDB




Red Skelton Show: Christmas Shopping - December 12, 1942


Red Skelton: Christmas Trees - December 25, 1945


Red Skelton Show: Christmas Stories - December 24, 1946


Red Skelton Show: Christmas Show - December 25, 1949


Red Skelton Show: The Christmas Tree - December 19, 1951


Red Skelton Show: Day After Christmas - December 26, 1951

A VINTRAD Christmas Broadcast- The Signal Returns!

For years, VINTRAD: Vintage Radio Blog existed like a faint signal on a distant frequency. Then, sometime in 2020, the transmission stopped. No sign-off. No final post. Just...silence. Whispers followed. Some said the creator, Jeff Andrews, had simply moved on. Others insisted the truth was stranger, that he vanished into the static, lost somewhere between a shadowy noir broadcast and a snow-dusted Christmas Eve drama, never to return. The archives remained, frozen in time, like recordings locked away in a forgotten studio.

Until now.

This holiday season, VINTRAD is back on the air. The lights are on, the dials are glowing once more, and the familiar crackle of old-time radio fills the room once again. Just in time for Christmas, we are delighted to return with a brand-new, Christmas-themed post celebrating the warmth, wonder, and suspense that made vintage radio so unforgettable. So pull up a chair, draw a little closer to the set, and join us as the signal comes through loud and clear once again. The mystery may not be fully solved...but the story continues.

Merry Christmas from VINTRAD: Vintage Radio Blog!

 


Fibber McGee and Molly: Mailing Christmas Packages -  December 10, 1940

Lux Radio Theatre: Miracle On 34th Street - December 20, 1948


Kraft Music Hall with Bing Crosby: Christmas Show - December 21, 1944


The Pepsodent Show starring Bob Hope w/ Bing Crosby - December 24, 1946


The Big Show starring Louis Armstrong, Bob Hope, Martin & Lewis, 

Deborah Kerr and Bing Crosby - December 17, 1950


Life Of Riley: Riley's First Christmas - December 20, 1947


Our Miss Brooks: Christmas Re-Gifting Mix-Ups - December 20, 1953


The Shadow: The Stockings Were Hung - December 24, 1939


Sherlock Holmes: The Adventure of the Christmas Bride - December 21, 1947