Arnold Grimm's Daughter is an American radio soap opera that was broadcast from July 5, 1937, until June 26, 1942, first on CBS and later on NBC.[1]
Premise edit
After Connie Grimm eloped with Dallas Tremaine[2] (her childhood sweetheart) her tyrannical father, Arnold,[1] opposed the marriage so much that he disowned Connie,[3] while Dal's mother ("a schemer") "disliked Connie and plotted against her".[1] Connie found second-hand furniture and an old house in which to set up their home while artist Dal never finished the pictures that he began painting.[2] She also provided financial support by operating a business in partnership with French lingerie dealer Madame Babette.[1] At one point Dal took all of the money from Connie's purse and used it on a fling in Chicago. She forgave him when he returned, but he continued to brood over their poverty.[2]
Gladys Grimm was Arnold's wife. Jimmy Kent was a designer and Bill Hartley was Arnold Grimm's business partner. Judy was Connie's outspoken and sometimes funny maid. Mr. Tweedy was a lovable, good man. Sonia Kirkoff was a loyal friend to Connie.[1]
As the series progressed, Connie became pregnant. Before Little Dal was born, Dal died while saving a child from being hit by a fire engine. After her husband's death, Connie's attention turned to helping her father and his struggling business.[1]
Cast edit
| Character | Actor(s) |
|---|---|
| Connie Grimm Tremaine | Margarette Shanna[1] Betty Lou Gerson[1] Luise Barclay[1] |
| Dal Tremaine | Ed Prentiss[1] Robert Ellis[1] |
| Arnold Grimm | Don Merrifield[1] |
| Sonia Kirkoff | Genelle Gibbs[1] |
| Madame Babette | Jeanne Juvelier[1] |
| Jimmy Kent | Frank Dane[1] |
| Bill Hartley | Verne Smith[1] |
| Judy | Mento Everett[1] |
| Dal's mother | Gertrude Bondhill[1] |
| Dal's father | Orson Brandon[1] |
| Gladys Grimm | Jeanne Dixon[1] Bonita Kay[1] |
| Mr. Tweedy | Butler Mandeville[1] |
Production edit
Arnold Grimm's Daughter began as a local program on WGN radio in Chicago on April 19, 1937.[4] Frank and Anne Hummert produced the series.[1] Margaret Sangster was the writer.[4] W. P. Wright was the production manager. Directors included Wright[5] and Edwin H. Morse was the director. The theme song was "Modern Cinderella".[1]
The program replaced Modern Cinderella when it debuted on CBS.[6] Sponsored by Softasilk, it was broadcast daily at 1:30 p.m. Eastern time from July 5, 1937, until May 27, 1938. It was moved to NBC, where it was broadcast daily at 2:15 p.m. E. T. from May 30, 1938 until March 1941. It was moved to 2:45 p.m. E. T., where it stayed through its last broadcast on June 26, 1942.[1] It was replaced on NBC by Lonely Women.[7]
References edit
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y Dunning, John (May 7, 1998). On the Air: The Encyclopedia of Old-Time Radio. Oxford University Press. p. 42. ISBN 978-0-19-977078-6. Retrieved October 27, 2023.
- ^ a b c "The Radio Playbill: This Week — Arnold Grimm's Daughter". Radio Guide. September 17, 1938. pp. 8–9. Retrieved October 28, 2023.
- ^ Cox, Jim (21 May 2003). Frank and Anne Hummert's Radio Factory: The Programs and Personalities of Broadcasting's Most Prolific Producers. McFarland. pp. 158–159. ISBN 978-0-7864-1631-8. Retrieved October 27, 2023.
- ^ a b "Chicago". Radio Daily. April 20, 1937. p. 6. Retrieved October 27, 2023.
- ^ Thompson, Dan (October 1940). "Who Are the Men Behind the Microphone?". Radio Varieties. p. 12. Retrieved October 28, 2023.
- ^ "NBC to Broadcast O'Neill - A Screen Idol in Radio". The Indianapolis Star. July 4, 1937. p. 22. Retrieved October 27, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Serials Won't Dry Those Tears". Billboard. June 27, 1942. p. 6. Retrieved October 27, 2023.