Lux Radio Theatre

Lux Radio Theatre was an American radio program that was broadcast from 1934 to 1955, airing for most of its run over the CBS radio network.
Sponsored by Lever Brothers, the makers of Lux soap, the Lux Radio Theatre presented live, one-hour dramatizations of recent Hollywood movies, broken into three acts. Original cast members often reprised their screen roles, while other roles were recast due to either scheduling or contractual conflicts. Famed director Cecil B. DeMille produced and hosted the program from 1934 to 1945.
Five installments of the Lux Radio Theatre presented adaptations of Disney feature films:
*Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs was broadcast on December 26, 1938. Reprising their roles were Roy Atwell as Doc, Billy Gilbert as Sneezy, Moroni Olsen as the Magic Mirror, and Stuart Buchanan as the Huntsman; the latter also replaced Pinto Colvig as Grumpy. The rest of the cast included Thelma Hubbard (Snow White), James Eagles (Prince), Rolfe Sedan (Happy), Jack Smart (Bashful), Lou Merrill (Sleepy), Paula Winslowe (Queen) and Gloria Gordon (Witch). Walt Disney was also featured as an special guest and was interviewed by DeMille during intermissions.
*Pinocchio was broadcast on December 25, 1939, more than one month before its release. Nearly the entire voice cast reprised their roles for the show such as Walter Catlett (Honest John the Fox), Stuart Buchanan (Gideon the Cat and Barker Number Two at Pleasure Island), Dickie Jones (Pinocchio), Charles Judels (Stromboli and The Coachman), Frankie Darro (Lampwick), Cliff Edwards (Jiminy Cricket), Christian Rub (Geppetto), Evelyn Venable (Blue Fairy). The rest of the cast included Grace Nielson (singing voice of Blue Fairy), Earl Hodgins (Barker Number One), Florence Gill (Cuckoo and Figaro), Joe Pennario (Alexander), Clarence Straight (Donkey and Barker Number Three), Ernest Carlson, Jean Forsyth, Eric Burtis Jr. and Jackie Morrison.
*Treasure Island was broadcast on January 29, 1951. Bobby Driscoll reprised his role as Jim Hawkins; James Mason appeared as Long John Silver (replacing Robert Newton), and Nigel Bruce as Squire Trelawney (replacing Walter Fitzgerald). the rest of the cast included Charles Davis (Narrator), Ben Wright (Dr. Livesay), Bill Johnstone (Captain), Herb Butterfield, Bill Conrad, Jay Novello, Eric Snowden, Ed Max, Norman Feld, Lou Krugman, Eddie Marr and Dorothy Lloyd. Kathryn Beaumont appeared as a special guest at intermission to promote her role in Disney's upcoming animated feature Alice in Wonderland.
*Alice in Wonderland was broadcast on December 24, 1951. Most of the main cast reprised their roles, save for the Caterpillar (played by Gale Gordon instead of Richard Haydn) and Tweedles Dee and Dum (played by Gil Stratton, Jr. instead of J. Pat O'Malley). It included Ed Wynn (Mad Hatter), Kathyrn Beaumont (Alice), Jerry Colonna (March Hare), Sterling Holloway (Cheshire Cat), Bill Thompson (White Rabbit), Verna Felton (Queen of Hearts), Joe Kearns (Doorknob), Jack Kruschen, Doris Lloyd, Norma Varden, Jonathan Hole, Margie Liszt, Marion Richmond, Leone Ledoux, Eddie Marr and David Light. Adriana Caselotti, the voice of Snow White, appeared as a special guest.
*Peter Pan was broadcast on December 21, 1953. Reprising their roles were Bobby Driscoll as Peter Pan, Kathryn Beaumont as Wendy, and Bill Thompson as Mr. Smee; John Carradine appeared as Captain Hook and Mr. Darling (replacing Hans Conried). The rest of the cast included Herb Butterfield (Narrator), Christopher Cook (John), Richard Beals (Michael), Mary Flynn (Mrs. Darling), Billy Bletcher (Indian Chief), Michael Miller (Cubby), Stuffy Singer (Foxy), Earl Keen (Nana), Shep Menken and Eddie Marr as pirates. Caselotti was again the special guest.
For the Snow White and Pinocchio adaptations, Walt Disney insisted that the program not destroy the illusion of the films' animated characters; as a result, the casts wasn't credited and there was no studio audience present (instead utilizing recorded applause). In addition, Disney appeared as an intermission guest on September 28, 1936 (where he was joined by Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck) and on December 20, 1937.
==Gallery==
Lux Radio Theatre - Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs|Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
Lux Radio Theatre - Pinocchio|Pinocchio
Lux Radio Theatre - Treasure Island|Treasure Island
Lux Radio Theatre - Alice in Wonderland|Alice in Wonderland
Lux Radio Theatre - Peter Pan|Peter Pan
== External links ==
* "Disney on Lux Radio Theater – Part One" (Cartoon Research)
* "Disney on Lux Radio Theater – Part Two" (Cartoon Research)
Category:Radio
Category:Audio drama
Category:Non-Disney
Category:Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
Category:Peter Pan
Category:Mickey Mouse
Category:Donald Duck
Category:Pinocchio
Category:Treasure Island
Category:Alice in Wonderland