By Eric George Tauber
CARLSBAD, California — Once upon a time, families huddled around wooden boxes in rapt attention. The radio gave us our news, music, comedy and drama. Sound effects planted pictures in our minds and our imaginations took it from there. This was the world of Walton Jones’ 1940s Radio Hour playing at New Village Arts in Carlsbad.
It’s December 21st, 1943 and we are the studio audience of WOV in New York City. The studio is complete with a sound effects table and a blinking “applause” sign. The sound booth provides us with some great comic bits. We can see the arguments happening, but can only guess at what’s being said.
The ensemble is coming together for their Christmas show. In those days, commercials were an intrinsic part of the show with the players selling everything from war bonds to Pepsi, soap and even laxatives.
Jack Missett is lovably gruff as Pops, an old curmedgeon who takes bets on horses on the company pay phone, much to the consternation of Clifton, his boss. Kevane La’Marr Coleman cut a dapper figure in his two-tone shoes and his sonorous voice reminded me of Nat King Cole as he crooned “Gal from Kalamazoo.”
Jake Bradford plays Wally, a wide-eyed delivery boy with puppy-dog eagerness. He has learned all of the routines, dreaming of his own voice going out over the airwaves. Tonight he gets his shot. He has a lot of three-stooges style slapstick with AJ Knox, who really hams it up with a variety of silly character voices as Neil.
Li-Anne Rowswell is a natural comic as Lou the stage manager. Dressed like Rosie the Riveter, she’s the mama hen to these incorrigible chicks.
Marlene Montes is a hoot as Ginger, playing a vampy little gold-digger in “Daddy,” while the sultry pipes of Kelly Derouin practically melt the copper wires in “After you’ve gone.”
Eric M Casalini is as slick as the palmade in his hair as the tuxedo clad crooner, Johnny Cantone. He knows how to make a gal swoon in “I’ll never smile again.”
Zackary Scot Wolfe and Danielle Levas made a cute couple as BJ and Connie. Their swing dancing number was exhilerating and Danielle is quite the hoofer to boot. But it was Zackary, dressed in his GI uniform and ready to serve his country, who really pulled our heart-strings in “I’ll be home for Christmas.” Victory was ultimately ours, but it cost us dearly.
Hats off to Director Dana Case for putting together a tight ensemble and creative team. It took a lot of hard work, but they obviously had a lot of fun doing it. The costumes and hair designed by Kate Bishop captured the era and complemented each character quite nicely.
If you have any nostalgia for the Golden Age of Radio, check out the delightful 1940s Radio Hour. It will take you back to the days when Swing was King. The music of Benny Goodman, Irving Berlin and the Andrews Sisters were a vital part of the war effort as it gave us hope during some very dark days.
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Tauber is a freelance writer who specializes in coverage of the arts. He may be contacted via eric.tauber@sdjewishworld.com