Those We Love is an American radio soap opera that began on January 4, 1938, and ended on April 1, 1945.[1]

Background

Those We Love replaced Husbands and Wives, beginning January 4, 1938.[2] The manufacturers of Ponds Cream sought, via the company's advertising agency, "a prime-time serial that would depict the contemporary American domestic scene".[1] Agnes Ridgway, who had written one-act dramas for the Rudy Vallee Hour was signed to write the program's scripts. Nan Grey, the 24th actress to audition for the lead role, was selected to portray Kathy Marshall.[3] Grey's signing was the first time a radio program's sponsor obtained the services of an actor or actress directly via a film studio. (Universal had an exclusive contract with Grey.)[4] Grey's agent, three attorneys, Ponds representatives, and Universal representatives worked a day and a night to come up with a nine-page, single-spaced contract for Grey.[3]

Premise

Those We Love focused on the Marshall family in Westbridge, Connecticut. Attorney and widower John Marshall headed the family. Daughter Kathy and son Kit were twins in their early 20s. Marshall hoped that Kit would become a part of his law firm, but the son had more interest in flying. Kathy's main love interest was Dr. Leslie Foster, but their relationship was complicated when Foster's wife (who had been thought to be dead) returned but was killed trying to kidnap his daughter.[5]

Other characters in the program included

  • Aunt Emily Mayfield, sister of the dead Mrs. Marshall, who managed the family home.[6]
  • Allen McCree, who was a prospective husband for Kathy until his character flaws emerged[5]
  • Amy Foster, the doctor's daughter[5]
  • Elaine Dascomb, who worked for Foster and was almost killed by his wife.[5]
  • David Adair, an architect who is one of Kathy's suitors[5]
  • Ed Neely, who was at odds with John Marshall, primarily because of suspicions that he committed real-estate fraud[5]

The show's theme song was "Weeping Willow".[7]

Personnel

Actors and actresses on Those We Love included those shown in the table below.

Characters and Actors on Those We Love
CharacterActor
Kathy MarshallNan Grey[8]
Dr. Leslie FosterDonald Woods[9]
Elaine DascombHelen Wood[9]
Jean Rogers[1]
MarthaVirginia Sale[9]
Mr. FairweatherHerman Waldman[10][11]
Aunt EmilyAlma Kruger[9]
KitRichard Cromwell
Bill Henry[1]
John MarshallPedro de Cordoba
Hugh Sothern
Oscar O'Shea
Francis X. Bushman[1]
AmyPriscilla Lyon
Ann Todd[1]
Allen McCreaOwen Davis Jr.[1]
David AdairRobert Cummings[1]
Ed NeelyLou Merrill[1]
Lydia DennisonAnne Stone[1]
Jerry PayneVictor Rodman[1]
Mrs. EmmettMary Gordon[1]

Listener dissatisfaction

Those We Love developed a group of loyal listeners who became dissatisfied as sponsors changed days and times of broadcasts, changed networks, and sometimes took the program off the air with no notice.[12] After CBS canceled the program "because of supposed low ratings",[13] listeners let their feeling be known by putting their protest in written form to the extent that "the studio and sponsors found themselves delubed with protesting mail from fans and embroiled in a feud with the people".[12] Threats of contacting the Federal Communications Commission were also expressed. As a result, the program returned to the air for a year, but by the end of five years from its debut it had been on for a total of three years.[12]

Schedule and sponsors

Broadcast Schedule and Sponsors for Those We Love
Beginning DateEnding DateTimeDayNetworkSponsor
January 4, 1938March 19388 p.m.TuesdayBluePonds Cream[1]
March 1938March 27, 19398:30 p.m.MondayBluePonds Cream[1]
October 5, 1939March 28, 19408:30 p.m.ThursdayNBCRoyal Gelatin[1]
September 16, 1940June 23, 19418 p.m.MondayCBSTeel dentifrice[1]
July 1, 1942*September 23, 19429 p.m.WednesdayNBCSal Hepatica[1]
October 11, 1942May 30, 19432 p.m.SundayCBSGeneral Foods[1]
June 6, 1943**October 3, 19437 p.m.SundayNBCGrape Nuts[1]
October 10, 1943June 22, 19442 p.m.SundayNBCGeneral Foods[1]
June 29, 1944***August 24, 19448 p.m.ThursdayNBCGeneral Foods[1]
October 8, 1944April 1, 19452 p.m.SundayNBCSanka coffee[1]

*Summer replacement for Eddie Cantor's program.[14]
**Summer replacement for Jack Benny's program.[1]
***Summer replacement for Maxwell House Coffee Time[1]

Critical reception

A review in the trade publication Variety described the program as "distinctly night-time in caliber", which it attributed to the quality of "writing that supplies the lines with lift".[15] It added, "Miss Ridgway's Scripting has always been as superior as the ozone ever offered".[15]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 Dunning, John (1998). On the Air: The Encyclopedia of Old-Time Radio (Revised ed.). Oxford University Press. pp. 669–670. ISBN 978-0-19-507678-3.
  2. ↑ Guest, Edgar A. Jr. (December 19, 1937). "Dial Dope". Detroit Free Press. p. 8. Retrieved December 2, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. 1 2 Siegel, Norman (February 1, 1938). "And That's How Radio Programs Are Born! You'll Learn From This". Chillicothe Gazette. NEA. p. 5. Retrieved December 3, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ↑ Canfield, Homer (January 4, 1938). "Radiologic". Monrovia News-Post. p. 5. Retrieved December 3, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "The Radio Playbill: This Week --'Those We Love" (PDF). Radio Guide. February 18, 1939. p. 6. Retrieved December 2, 2022.
  6. ↑ "Two Shows Replace Vallee". The Kansas City Star. October 1, 1939. p. 4 D. Retrieved December 3, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ↑ "Mr. Fairfax Replies" (PDF). Radio Guide. March 11, 1939. p. 40. Retrieved December 2, 2022.
  8. ↑ Little, Mary (January 11, 1938). "Behind the Airwaves". The Des Moines Register. p. 4. Retrieved December 2, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. 1 2 3 4 "Over the Networks". Bradford Evening Star and Daily Record. October 12, 1939. p. 11. Retrieved December 3, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ↑ "Will Re-Shuffle Radio Stations". The Wichita Eagle. March 23, 1941. p. 30. Retrieved November 19, 2023.
  11. ↑ "'Those We Love' Cast & Crew". OTRRpedia. Retrieved November 19, 2023.
  12. 1 2 3 "'Those We Love' -- People vs. Sponsors" (PDF). Tune In. May 1943. pp. 21–22. Retrieved December 2, 2022.
  13. ↑ Lackman, Ron (1970). Remember Radio (PDF). G. P. Putnam's Sons. p. 39.
  14. ↑ "New Shows Pep-Up Summer Radio" (PDF). Radio News Tower. July 1, 1942. p. 1. Retrieved December 2, 2022.
  15. 1 2 "'Those We Love'". Variety. January 12, 1938. p. 34. Retrieved December 2, 2022.
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