GOOD NEWS OF 1939 {THE WIZARD OF OZ} (RADIO)
Summary
One in this series of weekly entertainment programs produced by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer to showcase the stars, the upcoming films, and behind-the-scenes activities of the famed Hollywood studio. In this installment the program salutes MGM's musical "The Wizard of Oz," due to be released in August. Meredith Willson's orchestra begins with an overture based on the film's songs. Next, Baby Snooks waxes jealous of the new infant boy in her home and convinces Daddy to take her to a studio preview of "The Wizard of Oz" to make up for recent neglect of his older child. The two conclude their section of the program with a few bars of "We're Off to See the Wizard." Next, the program shares some of the behind-the-scenes magic of making the film. First, Judy Garland reenacts her excitement at being cast in the part of Dorothy by producer Mervyn LeRoy (played here by an actor). Next, "Good News" regular Frank Morgan recreates his casting as the wizard of the film's title. Composer Harold Arlen and lyricist E.Y. Harburg reenact the day on which they introduced the film's signature ballad "Over the Rainbow" to Garland, and portions of the song are sung by both Arlen and Garland. Finally, the program recalls a rehearsal by choreographer Bobby Connolly (portrayed by an actor) of the song "Ding-Dong! The Witch Is Dead!" After a reenactment of the successful first sneak preview of the film, the program moves to the present, sharing an MGM party for the film with its audience. At the party Garland sings "Over the Rainbow" with a little help from the chorus, and Ray Bolger and Bert Lahr sing "If I Only Had a Brain" and "If I Only Had the Nerve," joined by Young with "If I Only Had a Heart" as the song's originator, Jack Haley, is out of town. Young then introduces special guest Fred Stone, who starred with his partner Dave Montgomery in the 1904 Broadway production of "The Wizard of Oz." Stone offers congratulations to all of the film's performers, particularly Bolger, who is playing Stone's own role of the Scarecrow. Frank Morgan joins the conversation with a bogus tale of having starred in the Broadway production himself, and Morgan and Young banter. The program concludes with more songs from the film: "Come Out, Come Out" and "Ding-Dong! The Witch Is Dead" by the chorus; Lahr's "If I Were King of the Forest"; Morgan in "The Merry Old Land of Oz"; Garland with a snatch of "Over the Rainbow"; Bolger and Lahr with fragments of "If I Only Had . . ."; and everyone with "We're Off to See the Wizard" and "Over the Rainbow." Includes a brief commercial and a promo; other commercials are deleted.
Details
- NETWORK: NBC
- DATE: June 29, 1939 Thursday 9:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 0:55:00
- COLOR/B&W: N/A
- CATALOG ID: R89:0114
- GENRE: Radio - Music/Variety
- SUBJECT HEADING: Comedy; Motion pictures; Music, Popular (Song, etc.)
- SERIES RUN: NBC - Radio series, 1937-1940
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Bill Bacher … Producer
- Sam Moore … Writer
- Phil Rapp … Writer
- Meredith Willson … Conductor, Music (Misc. Credits), Music Director
- Willson, Merideth and his Orchestra … Music Group
- Maxwell, House Singers, The … Choir/Chorus
- Robert Young … Host
- Warren Hull … Announcer
- Harold Arlen … Guest
- Ray Bolger … Guest
- Judy Garland … Guest
- E.Y. Harburg … Guest
- Bert Lahr … Guest
- Fred Stone … Guest
- Fanny Brice … Cast, Baby Snooks
- Frank Morgan … Cast
- Hanley Stafford … Cast, Daddy
- Bobby Connolly
- Jack Haley
- Mervyn LeRoy
- Dave Montgomery