December 08, 2024

Saturday Matinee - Our Miss Brooks (Magic Christmas Tree), The Aldrich Family (Christmas Program) & Jack Benny (Decorating the Christmas Tree)

1 hour 23 minutes

This Saturday on Vintage Classic Radio's "Saturday Matinee," we begin with the charming "Our Miss Brooks" in the episode "Magic Christmas Tree." In this delightful holiday special from December 25, 1949, Connie Brooks, played by the incomparable Eve Arden, experiences the magic of Christmas when she discovers a talking Christmas tree that grants wishes. The cast also includes Gale Gordon as the irritable Principal Osgood Conklin, Richard Crenna as the earnest student Walter Denton, and Jane Morgan as the lovable landlady Mrs. Davis.

Following that, we will enjoy "The Aldrich Family" in their "Christmas Program" episode, which first aired on December 23, 1948. Here, teenager Henry Aldrich, brought to life by Ezra Stone, becomes hilariously entangled in the chaos of organizing a school Christmas play. His misadventures cause endless trouble for his family and friends, featuring Jackie Kelk as Homer Brown and Katharine Raht as his ever-patient mother, Alice Aldrich.

Lastly, we wrap up with "The Jack Benny Show" in the episode titled "Decorating the Christmas Tree," from December 23, 1951. Jack Benny, along with his valet Rochester, portrayed by Eddie Anderson, and his pianist Dennis Day, attempts to decorate his house for Christmas, leading to a series of comic missteps and witty banter. Mary Livingstone adds to the merriment with her sharp wit, while Phil Harris contributes his usual boisterous charm.

Each episode offers a glimpse into the holiday spirit of the late 1940s and early 1950s, filled with laughter, mishaps, and the warmth of the season, performed by a stellar cast of radio's golden era.

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