Victory Theater (radio series)
| Genre | Radio programs |
|---|---|
| Running time | 1 hour or 30 minutes |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Home station | CBS Radio |
| Hosted by | Cecil B. DeMille |
| Original release | July 20 – August 31, 1942 |
| No. of series | 1 |
| No. of episodes | 7 |
| Audio format | mono |
Victory Theater is a CBS Radio network series that aired during the summer of 1942.[1] The series was created in collaboration with the U.S. government's Office of Facts and Figures,[2] which was then in the process of being consolidated under the Office of War Information.[3] During the summer a similar series, titled Victory Parade, was also created for NBC Radio. Both of these series were produced as part of the World War II war effort and were designed to unite American citizens in their support for the war and to persuade the public to buy war bonds.
Each week Victory Theater presented a special episode of one of CBS's popular nighttime programs. The actors and crew volunteered their services for free, and the programs ran under government sponsorship, instead of under the usual commercial sponsorship. For their efforts, artists on both shows received a silver "V-for-Victory" pin.[4] Victory Theater aired in the Lux Radio Theatre's traditional timeslot (initially as a one-hour program, subsequently as a half-hour program followed by an unrelated music program). Lux's Cecil B. DeMille was the host of Victory Theater, speaking for the sponsoring United States government.
While eight episodes were initially planned,[5] only seven were ultimately produced. The eighth program, originally intended for September 7th, was to have featured comedian Fred Allen.[6]
List of episodes
| Broadcast date | Participating program | Length | Citations and notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1942-07-20 | Lux Radio Theatre [5] | 60 minutes | One-hour adaptation of the film The Philadelphia Story, featuring the original stars Katharine Hepburn, James Stewart and Cary Grant |
| 1942-07-27 | Your Hit Parade [7] | 30 minutes | Featuring Joan Edwards, Barry Wood, Martin Block, and Mark Warnow’s Orchestra |
| 1942-08-03 | Major Bowes' Amateurs [8] | 30 minutes | Christina Carroll, coloratura soprano singer, joined by amateur sailors and soldiers |
| 1942-08-10 | The First Nighter Program [9] | 30 minutes | “Nest of Eagles”, starring Les Tremayne and Barbara Luddy |
| 1942-08-17 | Big Town [10] | 30 minutes | “What America Means to You”, starring Edward G. Robinson |
| 1942-08-24 | Amos 'n' Andy [11] | 30 minutes | "Love Comes to Andy Brown" starring Charles Correll and Freeman Gosden, with guests Victor Moore and Edward Arnold
Note: This was the first time the program was presented in an expanded half-hour form. Initial plans for this date were for a presentation by musician and humorist Bob Burns[6] |
| 1942-08-31 | The Screen Guild Theater [12] | 30 minutes | Thirty-minute adaptation of the film Joe Smith, American, featuring original star Robert Young, with Ruth Hussey |
Instead of the previously planned September 7th episode featuring comedian Fred Allen, CBS ran the final episode of Norman Corwin's summer series An American in England, moving it up one hour to fill the Victory Theater's timeslot. Some contemporary newspaper listings and other sources, however, incorrectly show Victory Theater as still airing an eighth episode on this date. Ironically, Corwin's shortwave broadcast ended up being badly compromised by atmospherics.[13]
References
- ^ Dunning, John (1998). "The Victory Parade and The Victory Theater". On the Air: The Encyclopedia of Old-Time Radio (Revised ed.). New York, NY: Oxford University Press. p. 703. ISBN 978-0-19-507678-3. Retrieved August 15, 2025.
- ^ "Set Show Lineup for NBC, CBS Victory Series". Billboard. June 13, 1942. p. 6. Retrieved August 15, 2025.
- ^ "Weekly News Analysis". Lafayette Ledger (Minnesota). Western Newspaper Union. June 26, 1942. p. 8. Retrieved August 15, 2025.
- ^ "Radio Day By Day". The Reading Eagle. July 15, 1942. p. 16. Retrieved August 15, 2025.
- ^ a b "Victory Theater Premiere Stars Hepburn, Stewart, Grant Tonight". The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. July 20, 1942. p. 4 (Daily Magazine). Retrieved August 15, 2025.
- ^ a b Si Steinhauser (July 14, 1942). "Radio Stations Seek Records For Soldiers". The Pittsburgh Press. p. 27. Retrieved August 15, 2025.
- ^ "Features Today". The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. July 27, 1942. p. 4 (Daily Magazine). Retrieved August 15, 2025.
- ^ "Heifetz Will Present All-Russian Concert". Youngstown Vindicator (Ohio). August 3, 1942. p. 19. Retrieved August 15, 2025.
- ^ ""Great Artists Series" To Star James Melton". Youngstown Vindicator (Ohio). August 10, 1942. p. 11. Retrieved August 15, 2025.
- ^ "Edward Arnold to Play Lead on 'Cavalcade' Drama". Youngstown Vindicator (Ohio). August 17, 1942. p. 17. Retrieved August 15, 2025.
- ^ "Amos 'n' Andy to Be Featured in War Show". Berkeley Daily Gazette. August 24, 1942. p. 14. Retrieved August 15, 2025.
- ^ "Features Today". The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. August 31, 1942. p. 4 (Daily Magazine). Retrieved August 15, 2025.
- ^ Dunning, John (1998). "An American in England". On the Air: The Encyclopedia of Old-Time Radio (Revised ed.). New York, NY: Oxford University Press. pp. 26–27. ISBN 978-0-19-507678-3. Retrieved August 15, 2025.