Hollywood Playhouse

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Hollywood Playhouse
Other namesWoodbury Hollywood Playhouse
GenreAnthology drama
Running time30 minutes
Home station
Hosted by
Original releaseOctober 3, 1937 (1937-10-03) –
December 25, 1940 (1940-12-25)

Hollywood Playhouse, also known as Woodbury Hollywood Playhouse, is a radio anthology drama series that featured adaptations of plays and short stories. Created as a showcase for Tyrone Power, the series began October 3, 1937, on the Blue Network, with Darryl F. Zanuck introducing his 20th Century-Fox star. The half-hour program aired Sundays at 9 p.m. ET until September 1939, when it was moved to the NBC Red Network Wednesdays at 8 pm ET. Woodbury Soap and Jergens Lotion sponsored the show.[1]

Charles Boyer starred in the second season. He left in 1939 to make a film in France, and briefly joined the French army when World War II broke out in Europe.[1][2] Herbert Marshall succeeded Boyer on Hollywood Playhouse for nine weeks, and he was replaced by Gale Page and Jim Ameche until Boyer returned on the January 3, 1940, broadcast.[2] Page and Ameche headed a summer version of the program titled Promoting Priscilla (July–October 1940).[1]

Weekly guest stars included Joan Blondell and Margaret Sullavan. Harry Sosnik provided the music. The series continued until December 25, 1940.[1]

Preservation status[edit]

Only one broadcast of Hollywood Playhouse – "The Sub-Lieutenant" (May 29, 1940), starring Charles Boyer and Margaret Lindsay – is known to survive in radio collections.[3]: 181 [4]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d Dunning, John (1998). On the Air: The Encyclopedia of Old-Time Radio (Revised ed.). New York, NY: Oxford University Press. pp. 324–325. ISBN 978-0-19-507678-3. Retrieved 2019-09-10.
  2. ^ a b "Boyer Returns". Broadcasting: 82. December 15, 1939. Retrieved 16 November 2015.
  3. ^ Hickerson, Jay, The Ultimate History of Network Radio Programming and Guide to All Circulating Shows. Hamden, Connecticut: Hamden, CT, second edition 1992.[ISBN missing]
  4. ^ "Woodbury Hollywood Playhouse". Jerry Haendiges Vintage Radio Logs. Retrieved 2015-11-16.