Experience the Golden Age of Radio in Chicago

Last Wednesday, October 8, 2014, I had the opportunity to enjoy live re-creations of two classics from the Golden Age of Radio.  Under the direction of Mercita DeMonk, the SAG-AFTRA Senior Radio Players presented The Great Gildersleeve and The Great McGinty.  The free event took place from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Chicago Cultural Center’s Claudia Cassidy Theater, 78 East Washington Street.

The SAG-AFTRA Senior Radio Players started in 1997 when the Seniors Committee of the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists and the Screen Actors Guild formed the AFTRA/SAG Radio Players.

I have to admit I wasn’t quite sure what to expect, but I was completely enthralled by the evening's performances.  The professional voice actors used scripts (when it was on radio, nobody could see them holding the scripts).  It was interesting to watch how some of the actors would use the whole body in the performance and others would mostly use the voice.  Again, remembering this was originally radio, all facial expressions, body movements, and clothing would have been left to the imagination.  The live sound effects delivered by a two-member team and the timely tunes played by the pianist were invaluable.

I especially enjoyed listening to the announcers, Don Ferris and Gene Lawrence.  These two gentlemen have the perfect voices for this and are so smooth in their delivery!  Each announced one show and the commercials for that show.  Being that The Great Gildersleeve was originally broadcast March 28, 1943, and The Great McGinty on April 20, 1946, it was fun listening to the commercials and hearing what products were advertised.  Some of the products I had never heard of.  However, I recognized Kraft Foods and Parkay.  Both Kraft Foods and Parkay are still around today, although Parkay is now made by ConAgra Foods.

These performances made me think back to what was happening when the original broadcasts took place, in relation to my small world and to the larger world.  On March 28, 1943, my father would have been two years old.  On April 20, 1946, my father would have been five years old and my mom would have been one year old.  In the 1940s, World War II was changing the world.  Some of the commercials referred to the rationing that took place during the war and how women could get the most from their ration books by buying the products advertised.  The director noted how important these radio shows were in providing entertainment and laughter to people during this time.

The next performance by the SAG-AFTRA Senior Radio Players will be on December 10, 2014, at the Chicago Cultural Center’s Claudia Cassidy Theater.  They will present The Holiday Radio Ho, Ho, Ho!