This next stop is to two and one-half years later, Thursday December 22, 1949, to listen to Eddie Cantor in a rare dramatic role. He will star in an episode of Suspense. By this time, Cantor had finished hosting the Pabst Blue Ribbon Show and was the emcee of Take It or Leave It.
Cantor started recording records in 1917, both comedy and popular songs. In 1934, he introduced the song “Santa Claus is Coming To Town.” It had been turned down by other well-known singers as silly and childish. The song 100, 000 copies of the sheet music the day after it debuted. Cantor was also a composer with his most famous song seldom attributed to him. It is “Merrily We Roll Along.”
Cantor made numerous film appearances, many performing his Follies songs and comedy routines. He was offered the lead in “The Jaz Singer” after George Jessel turned it down. He turned it down as well and the role went to Al Jolson. Can tor became a leading man with the film version of the play “Whoopie.”
I am resetting the time portal’s radio dial to Thursday, December 22, 1949 for the episode of Suspense title “The Double Entry” starring Eddie Cantor.
Cantor was the second President of the Screen Actors Guild. He invented the phrase “The March of Dimes” for donation campaign for Infantile Paralysis to combat polio.
Cantor met his wife, Ida, in 1913 and they married in 1914. They had five daughters which became fodder for his comedy act, as was shown in the first stop to listen to the Pabst Blue Ribbon show. He was only person on the TV show “This is Your Life” to know in advance. Cantor was recovering from a heart attack and it was felt that the shock might harm him. He passed away of a heart attack on October 10, 1964 at age 72.
Cantor was one of the first hosts of TV show that had revolving hosts. Think you can name that TV show? I give the answer next week before I start the journey.
That ends our journey back to The Golden Age of Radio for this week. But, I make this trip back every week at this same time on this same station. Do you have a favorite program from the Golden Age of Radio that you would like to hear? Let me know. Send your requests to radiotheater@wbnj.org; . At the same time, tell me your answer to the question asked at the end of the journey. Even if you have no special request at this time, maybe you have some comments about the show. At the very least, email me the answer to the question.
This is Mike Alexander for The Unforgettable Radio Theater asking you to join me next week for another trip back to the Golden Age of Radio. I’ll be right here waiting to set your radio dial and guide you through the time portal.
