Valiant Lady is an American radio soap opera that was broadcast on ABC, CBS, and NBC at various times from March 7, 1938, through August 23, 1946, and later between October 8, 1951, and February 19, 1952.Dunning, John. (1998). On the Air: The Encyclopedia of Old-Time Radio. Oxford University Press. . Pp. 692-694.

Characteristics Episodes of Valiant Lady were introduced with the summary: "... the story of a woman and her brilliant but unstable husband -- the story of her struggle to keep his feet firmly planted on the pathway to success." The main character was "an actress who relinquishes her career to marry Truman Scott, a noted plastic surgeon."Terrace, Vincent (1999). Radio Programs, 1924-1984: A Catalog of More Than 1800 Shows. McFarland & Company, Inc. . P. 346. Because "Truman was extremely jealous and unstable," the story centered on "efforts to guide his life."

A 1946 article in the trade publication Broadcasting noted:

Joan Blaine, the program's star for most of its time on the air, wrote in a 1942 Pittsburgh Press article:

In a 1943 article in The Milwaukee Journal, Blaine commented that Valiant Lady "deals with current issues — all substantial contemporary material."

Origin Valiant Lady was created by Frank and Anne Hummert. General Mills test-marketed the program on WGN in Chicago, Illinois, beginning January 3, 1938. An article in a trade publication noted that the tentative title Magnificent Lady had been changed to the permanent title Valiant Lady. Initial cast members were Joan Blaine, Francis X. Bushman, Sally Agnes Smith and Olan Soule. The author was Sandra Michaels.

Networks Beginning March 7, 1938, after two months of testing on WGN, Valiant Lady was moved to CBS to be broadcast "five mornings weekly," replacing Hollywood in Person as part of the Gold Medal Hour. The 15-minute program continued to originate in Chicago.

On May 30, 1938, General Mills moved Valiant Lady and four other programs from CBS to NBC. By that time, Valiant Lady was originating from New York City. General Mills ended its sponsorship of the Valiant Lady and Light of the World effective August 23, 1946, citing "government restrictions on wheat and labor difficulties"; the programs advertised Gold Medal Flour and Cheerios, respectively. An article in a trade publication estimated, "Cancellation means a $1,000,000 loss in billing for CBS."

Personnel Joan Blaine was the star, playing "an actress with a wide assortment of personal problems" who gave up her acting career to care for her injured father.Reinehr, Robert C. and Swartz, Jon D. (2008). The A to Z of Old-Time Radio. Scarecrow Press, Inc. . P. 269. The character's name is given in various old-time radio reference works as Joan Blake,Sies, Luther F. (2014). Encyclopedia of American Radio, 1920-1960, 2nd Edition, Volume 1. McFarland & Company, Inc. . P. 714. Joan Barrett, Joan Scott,Terrace, Vincent (1981), Radio's Golden Years: The Encyclopedia of Radio Programs 1930-1960. A.S. Barnes & Company, Inc. . Pp. 277-278. and Joan Hargrave-Scott.Buxton, Frank and Owen, Bill (1972). The Big Broadcast: 1920-1950. The Viking Press. SBN 670-16240-x. P. 249. Blaine's importance to the program was such that she received "billing up front before the title."Dunning, John. (1976). Tune in Yesterday: The Ultimate Encyclopedia of Old-Time Radio, 1925-1976. Prentice-Hall, Inc. . P. 628.

The program's characters and the actors and actresses who played them are as follows. (Source except as noted.) Character Actor/Actress The Valiant Lady Joan BlaineJoan BanksFlorence Freeman Jim Barrett Richard GordonBill JohnstoneGene Leonard Mike Hagen Teddy BergmanParker FennellyBill Adams Mr. Wright Teddy Bergman Paul Morrison Raymond Edward Johnson Emma Stevens Judith Lowry Agnes Westcott Linda Carlon Estelle Cummings Elsie Mae Gordon Clarissa Clarke Ethel Intropidi Edward Curran Adelaide Klein Mr. Collins Dwight Weist Mr. Barclay Maurice Tarplin Grace Wilson Jeannette McGrady Norman Price Albert Hayes Mr. Carson Bernard Lenrow Judge Kruger Jerry Macy Mr. Trent Sidney Slon Lilienthal Milton Herman Billy Kingsley ColtonJackie Grimes Abbey Trowbridge Ethel Owen Dudley Trowbridge Shirling Oliver Carla Scott Elsa Grsi Emilio Luis van Rooten Mrs. Scott Charme Allen Dr. Lanson James Trantor Oliver Jackie Kelk Lafe Simms Lawson Zerbe Thomas R. Clark Charles Webster Jeffrey Clark Lawson Zerbe Margie Cook Jean Ellyn Mrs. Evans Kate McComb Nelson, the butler A.T. Kaye Eleanor Richards Elspeth Eric Mr. Richards Everett Sloane Lester Brennan Everett Sloane Jolly Rogers Clifford StorkCraig McDonnell Pamela Stanley Ethel Intropidi Dr. Abendroth William Shelley Dr. Alec Gordon Eric Dressler Myra Gordon Irene Winston Mrs. Scott Charlotte Garrity Dr. Truman "Tubby" Scott Charles CarrollBartlett RobinsonMartin Blaine Monica Brewster Cathleen Cordell Colin Kirby Ned Wever Amy Bingham Elaine Kent Pixie Jefferys Joan Lazer Dr. Christopher Ellerbe Frank Lovejoy Norman Price Sr. John Brewster Edward Curran Santos Ortega Ivy Lane Joan Vitez Dr. Malcolm Donaldson Julian Noa Jack Eastman Ralph Bell Mrs. Hunter Blanche Yurka Mrs. Selby Eleanore Audley

Others who acted in the program over the years included Vivian Holt, Sue Reed,Alicoate, Jack, Ed. (1943). The 1943 Radio Annual. Radio Daily Corp. Pp. 721, 732. Richard Sanders,Alicoate, Jack, Ed. (1942). The 1942 Radio Annual. Radio Daily Corp. P. 759. Florence Malone, Barbara Lee, Arthur Elmer, Gilbert Mack,Alicoate, Jack, Ed. (1941). The 1941 Radio Annual. Radio Daily Corp. Pp. 715, 717. Roy Fant, Ray Morgan, Louise Larabee, Jackson Beck, Howard St. John, George Herman, and Aileen Poe.Alicoate, Jack, Ed. (1944). The 1944 Radio Annual. Radio Daily Corp. Pp. 731, 737, 739, 742, 747, 753.

Announcers were Art MilletAlicoate, Jack, Ed. (1940). The 1940 Radio Annual. Radio Daily Corp. Pp. 712, 740, 764. and Dwight Weist, and the organists were Jesse Crawford and Theodore Wick.

Directors were Ted Corday, Basil Loughrane, Roy Lockwood, Ernest Ricca, and Rikel Kent. Writers were Sandra Michael, Ruth Borden, Addy Richton, Lynn Stone, Lawrence Klee, and Howard Teichman. Laughrane was also the producer for part of the program's run. Other producers were Dan Sutter and Wynn Orr.

References

External links Episodic log of Valiant Lady from Calfkiller Old Time Radio Episodic log of Valiant Lady from Jerry Haendiges Vintage Radio Logs Episodic log of Valiant Lady from radioGOLDINdex