The Lux Radio Theater was the most important and prestigious dramatic program on radio. During the show's heyday almost a third of the country could tune in on any given week and its producers had at their service the biggest stars in Hollywood, who viewed an appearance on the program as something approaching an honor or privilege.

The Lux Theater first began in New York City making modest radio adaptations of Broadway stage productions of the day. The guiding principle for the program was to buy the rights to a good play, adapt it into a one-hour radio format, and try hiring the biggest stars possible in hopes that audiences would tune in. In New York the competition for big name actors was fierce; by then most film stars had migrated to Hollywood and when they did come east, it was usually just a short stint between movies or a stopover on their way to Europe. Whenever a star arrived in town, they were mobbed by hordes of agents seeking their appearances on various variety shows. To appear on one of the big radio-variety programs was far less demanding than the commitment of learning the part for an entire play; this made the Lux Theater’s work at attracting stars all the more difficult! It was said that on one occasion a Lux Theater scout managed to steal Leslie Howard from a gauntlet of waiting agents by taking the actor’s suitcases and marching them straight to a waiting cab.

In 1935, with big-name talent growing rarer by the day and the Lux Theater’s ratings on the wane, a Danny Danker was hired to revamp the show. Danker recommended moving the program to Hollywood, for ready access to major stars and, once there, making extravagant radio adaptations of popular films. Executives followed Danker’s advice moving the show West in 1936 and went a further step by hiring film-mogul Cecil B. Demille as the program’s host and “contributing producer.” The Lux Radio Theater made an overnight sensation. The Music Box Theater, broadcast sight for the program, was filled to capacity for each show -and on one occasion was the scene of a small riot, when Robert Taylor and Gene Harlow fans invaded the theater by storming a fire door.

The size of the radio theater productions were unprecedented; a minimum of 50 people were involved in each program -the orchestra alone numbered 25 persons, with 20 or more speaking roles and the remainder consisting of various technicians. Each play was a five-day commitment for the actors, including transcribed recordings and dress rehearsals. At the program’s peak, Hollywood movie sets were know to halt production for a week, if one of their top stars was appearing on Lux. Even the biggest of stars, once thrown into the unfamiliar environment of radio, sometimes reacted with severe cases of stage fright when confronted with the live microphone and the invisible specter of 40 million fans across the nation listening in.

The Lux Radio Theater went through several hosts over its 20-year broadcast life. During the show's New York days the role was played by John Anthony, who carried the stage name “Douglass Gerrick” for the broadcasts. The illustrious Cecil B. DeMille carried the program through the bulk of its Hollywood heyday, enjoying the program immensely. He was once quoted to say that, "I wouldn’t take a million for the experience I’ve had in radio.” But in 1945 he was released from the program over a dispute in which he refused to pay a $1 union due to the American Federation of Radio Artists. William Keighly took over as host from 1945 – 1952, with the program’s final few years presided over by Irving Cummings.

Near the end of The Lux Theater’s run it was estimated that the program had gone through 52,000 pages of script, 500 stars, and 1500 supporting actors. The two stars to top the list for number of appearances on the program are Fred MacMurray and Loretta Young, with 26 and 25 roles respectively –other frequent guests include: Claudette Colbert (24), Barbara Stanwyck (23), Cary Grant (22) and Don Ameche (21).

Today there's a library of several hundred archived Lux Radio Theater recordings from which Lux fans can draw, though not all the recordings are of the live broadcasts (and audio quality can vary). The featured recording for Today’s Sounds from the Past is Lux’s radio production of “The Miracle Of The Bells,“ which first aired May 31, 1948 -staring Frank Sinatra and (of course) Fred MacMurray! ---–Chris Plunkett

Psalm 119:13-14 The Message Bible, Navigator Press, Colorado Springs, CO.

This certainly seems to be an uncharacteristic verse for Psalms -- normally a book of praise.

For 157 years, Americans have had fun with eating conversational candy hearts. "Be Mine, Love You, On Time, With It, Real Cool, ... and the wording is even longer on the quarter-sized hearts. Fifty years ago there were some 25 different ways that expressed one's feelings toward another. In 2004 there are nearly 100 sayings.

Click the link below to have a fun trip to NECCO in Revere, MA They have announced new Sweetheart Sayings for 2005:

“#1 Fan,” “Fit for Love,” “Dream Team,” “Love Life,” “Be A Sport,” “Love My Team,” “Cheer Me On,”  “Be My Hero,” “© Of Gold” and “All-Star.”

Their publicity reads, NECCO TAKES AN “ALL-STAR” APPROACH TO LOVE FOR VALENTINE’S DAY 2005. This season of love the New England Confectionery Company (NECCO®) goes for the gold.  For Valentine’s Day 2005, Sweethearts® Conversation Hearts have 10 newsports-inspired sayings to cheer on that special someone.  While the new sayings, printed above, add a fun twist, the Sweethearts original recipe remains the same.  With only three to six calories a-piece, the candies are sure to hit a home run with that special someone. 

They also have announced a brand new product just in time for Valentine’s Day 2005. Sweethearts™ Gum is the world’s first heart-shaped, blister pack gum with assorted flavors and colors. Sweethearts gum has zero net carbs and is made with Splenda which sure to bring a smile to sweethearts of all ages.  Adding a twist to the iconic candy, Sweethearts Gum features two-sided sweet sentiments like “Be Mine/Be True,” “It’s Love/Marry Me,” “Sweet Talk/Cool” and “Kiss Me/Hug Me.”  Sweethearts Gum comes in five intense fruity flavors including Boomin Berry, Fruit Blast, Juicy Orange, Green Apple and Luscious Lemonade.  The suggested retail price for the 12-piece package of Sweethearts Gum is $.99  The product is available at all stores now.

But that's enough of the NOW. Let's talk about the THEN. How carefully we "handled the little candies with our dirty fingers." We would select a candy heart or hearts that seemed to express a message of our inner feelings toward the one we were giving it to. But we would "simple die" if we knew that the message got through as intended -- at least in grade school.

The infamous candy hearts were floating around in most boy's pockets around Valentine's Day -- along with coins minted in the 1940's, usually a pocket knife, couple of marbles, a rubber band or two and appropirate lint that was always present in a boy's pocket. And the person who was given the candied message from that unsanitary storehouse would read the message, innocently eat the candy, and smile with approval.

This was a sure way to express our embarassed affection for the girls. It was silent, sweet, and clear. Good thing there was a limit on negative sayings that would convey a cool, quiet message of derision to my male friends.

At other times of the year, this same company used the same candy recipe for a nickle sized wafer. They would have denominations on them printed in food color -- denominations of 5, 10, and 25 with a circle on the edge. Some of you will remember and others will be able to say I bought one of those last week since they are still made after 155 years. Packaged in a six-inch waxed paper roll, NECCO wafters were a saple in my diet when I was a boy -- last year.

I used to pretend they were coins but had one in my mouth so often. The corn starch power they had on them mixed with the different flavors was wonderful. There was also a smaller two-inch package that sold for a penny. The large roll was a nickle. I always liked to lick the surface to remove the powder and see the rich color of the wafer itself and a clearer image of the denomination that was printed on it. Sometimes we would put four or five wafers in our mouth and weld them together with our spit ( That's saliva in a little boy's mouth. )

Pastel-colored little candy disks called NECCO wafers first appear in 1902, named for the acronym of the New England Confectionery Company.

As some "sidetrack information" check this out. In the 1930s, Admiral Byrd took 2 1/2 tons of NECCO Wafers to the South Pole -- almost a pound a week for each of his men during their two-year stay in the Antarctic. During World War II, the U.S. government ordered a major portion of the production of the wafers. Since the candy doesn't melt and is 'practically indestructible' during transit, it was the perfect food to ship overseas to the troops.

The New England Confectionary company, popularly know as NECCO, was founded in 1847. Each year there is a press release telling the public that NECCO is still manufacturing the wafers and hearts we all love. Home base has been Cambridge, Massachusetts since 1902, when it started making conversational hearts that are available between Christmas and Valentine's Day -- even though production of the hearts goes on all year. Today, three plants turn out 100,000 pounds of candies EVERY SINGLE DAY! That translates into 26 million pounds a year.

This familiar candy that symbolizes love, has a shelf life of three to five years. With nearly 10 billion conversational hearts being sold at this time of the year, it's the single largest selling Valentine based product on the market, according to NECCO.

If you plan a special event for next year's Valentine Day be aware that you can order your own hearts with any custom sayings you select or write. Wouldnt that be fun with friends? By the way, to do that you must have a minimum order of 3,600 pounds.

Many of the sayings have been popular for over a hundred-years and are still used today. You can't improve on "Be Mine," or "I Love You." But each year, out of date sayings are discontinued and new ones added. One of the latest is "Fax Me."

So when you pop one of the conversational hears in your mouth this Valentine's season, pause and think that you are not unique. 8.5 billion others are being popped into mouths just like you.

Depends on where you live, naturally -- or unnaturally. Regional climate and all that stuff.

The most famous forecaster is Punxsutawney Phil. He lives in Pennsylvania and has a festival around "his day" and has even had a movie made about him that repeats and repeats and repeats. You can see the details of Phi's prediction at www.groundhog.org. We have the link below. By the way, New England and the Big East will have six more weeks of winter, hea, hea, hea.

In southeastern Michigan, students, friends and forecasters were scheduled to wait this morning for Woody the woodchuck, or groundhog, at the Howell Nature Center. Trying to break into the action and publicity. Bet he (or she) saw the ignominious shadow. And from what I know and understand because of my love for old time radio..... "the Shadow knows!"

BUT THE MOST ACCURATE FURRY FORECASTER RESIDES NEAR STONE MOUNTAIN, GEORGIA. General Beauregard Lee, Ph.D., Georgia’s Official Weather Prognosticator braved a dismal drizzle and nearly freezing breezes Wednesday morning, to exit his newly-renovated Weathering Heights Mansion just after sunrise at The Yellow River Game Ranch in Lilburn, Georgia, a 24-acre animal preserve.

Beau was awakened by the traditional ringing of the antique farm bell, a duty professionally performed in this, the 25th year of Beau's annual prediction, by 11-year-old Christopher Allen. Christopher, who was selected for the honor via an Internet trivia contest, was joined by a committed crowd of bleary-eyed, faithful supporters to rouse the groundhog from his slumber.

After conferring with the huddled crowd, Game Ranch CEO Col. Art Rilling proclaimed Beau’s prediction: “PACK YOUR PARKAS AND BREAK OUT THE LAWNMOWER...! NO SHADOW THIS YEAR-- IT'S AN EARLY SPRING!"

Beau's Silver Celebration of Groundhog Day brought accolades from far and wide. In addition to recognition by five successive Georgia Governors, Beau was proclaimed "Gwinnett's Official Weather Prognosticator," an honor bestowed upon him this morning by County Commissioner Mike Beaudreau. Beau's 96% accuracy rating was also lauded by U.S. Congressman John Linder, who noted in a letter that the National Weather Service had twice commended Beau's uncanny ability.

So, where it really counts for those who habitat the Southeast, "We done got us an EARLY SPRING based on Beau's 96% record of accuracy." Gonna grease up them garden tools right away.

They had the very best prizes inside the carton, “between the cardboard and the protective wax bag liner that protects the quality of Kellogg’s PEP! The prizes were mainly pin buttons. I have a collection of comic strip characters like the ones I used to wear on my “propeller, beanie cap.”

Seeing myself in that cap through movies and photos was cleara evidence that I looked quite dorky in my pre-adolescence days. Man, that dumb hat was so ugly, -- I thought it made me so tough and there was nothing better. It was a brown beanie complete with the jagged edges on the vertical brim. The pins included full color pictures of Superman, The Phanton, Perry Winkle, Sandy, Minnie Gump, Henry, Flash Gordon, and on I could go.

Back in the 1940's, cereal buying pivoted on the premium inside the box and the material printed on the box. (So what's changed in 60 years?) There was a time when cereal eatin came to a crisis in our home. My brothers and I were buying Kellogg’s Pep every chance we had but we ate Shredded Wheat, Puffed Rice (shot from guns, of course), puffed wheat, and Cheerios.

One day, Mom found the stash. “WHAT’S ALL THIS KELLOG’S PEP HIDDEN IN THE BACK OF THE PANTRY?" During the cereal eatin recovery days and mid course correction of the "overbuy" we got so sick of Kellogg's PEP.

In 1972, arbitrary remodeling was done that removed the school's tower and the "plastering over" of the WPA murals in the main entrance lobby. Our friend, Ray Py, whom has been featured many times in Norm's Ramblins, did some investigating and discovered that the murals were not removed before plastering but just covered over with a half inch of the stuff and the wire that holds everything in place. In addition, drywall covered the beautiful art deco tile and a dropped ceiling covered the stunning multi-level ceiling and the gorgious sunburst where the original chandelier hung. Wonder who got that?

Ray Py began agitating, which he is an expert at doing, and three years ago began the movement to remove the plaster and restore the artwork. It's a great story you might be interested in reading. Use the link below to go to the Web site Peachtree Media does for my old high school. The home page of The Raider Room has an article that appeared in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel that gives an account of the last year of discovery and restoration of the mural.

The Dedication of the Mural Restoration will be Sunday, March 6, at 2 p.m. Everyone is invited to participate. That might be a good opportunity for a "cross-class" mini Tosa reunion. Afterwards, everyone could go to a local restaurant for coffee, an adult beverage, and good conversation that would allow "everyone"there to catch up on "everybody" there.

I also suggest that, while you're there, you click the TOSA ALERT button to learn about the events as they happened -- there are several monthly ALERTS that are written by Ray Py. Ray is a retired investigative reporter for UPI and was based in D.C. for many years. It will be a fun trip for you and an exciting one for those interested in art.

If you click the photos, you can get a larger view and really examine the detail.