Skippy Hollywood Theatre is an American radio dramatic anthology program that began as a syndicated series and later was broadcast on CBS from December 1, 1949, through September 21, 1950.
Origin Rosenfield Packing Company initially ventured into radio as an advertising medium for its Skippy peanut butter when it sponsored Superman in Fresno, California, and San Francisco. After that start, it added half-sponsorship of Superman in Los Angeles. Successful results led the company to seek to sponsor the program in other markets, but none were available. The company then worked with its advertising agency "to develop a program which would be reasonable in cost, would belong to Skippy, and would permit unlimited expansion as Rosefield grew."
The manufacturer and the agency consulted with C. P. MacGregor, who had experience in producing radio transcriptions. He suggested that the company create a 30-minute dramatic program in Hollywood using "minor screen names and experienced radio talent". The result was Skippy Hollywood Theatre. Plans called for Skippy to sponsor the show in areas in which it was distributed, while it would be made available (without Skippy in the title) to non-competing advertisers where Skippy was not distributed. With few exceptions, the show "never entered a market until good evening time on a top-rated station was available."
The trade publication Variety reported in November 1945 that Skippy Hollywood Theatre was being heard on more 50,000-watt radio stations west of Chicago than any other program. It added that the show might be the only recorded program "heard regularly week in and week out from WOR, New York, to KGMB, Honolulu."
Overview Skippy Hollywood Theatre presented original 30-minute dramas. Its format was modeled after that of Lux Radio Theatre, and it was so similar that some people called the show "the poor man's Lux". MacGregor was the original host, with Les Mitchel as host later. Van Des Autels was the announcer.
Actors who appeared on the program "who were still unknowns when 'Skippy' handed them parts" included Vanessa Brown, Peggy Knudsen and Gale Storm. Equally obscure—at least to American listeners—were the Abbey Theatre Players of Dublin, who made their American radio debut on December 29, 1949 with "The Great Emptiness" (the second of six consecutive episodes recorded when Mitchel was in London earlier that year), featuring, among others, Dermot Walsh and Sheila Manahan. The first of those six episodes was an adaptation of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol, whose cast included Alec Guinness, Jean Simmons, John Mills, Dirk Bogarde, Googie Withers, and Derek Bond. Others featured in the London episodes include Michael Redgrave, Clive Brook, and Margaret Lockwood, as well as American expatriates Bebe Daniels, Ben Lyon and Barbara Lyon.
Another notable debut aired in April 1944, when New York Yankees centerfielder Joe DiMaggio appeared alongside then popular child actor Dix Davis"Today's Radio Program". The Record American. July 28, 1943. p. 5. in the episode, "One Hit—Two Errors". New futures are predicted for Joe DiMaggio, the baseball son of California dear to the hearts of the Yanks and now on duty with the Army! Come curtain time for Skippy Hollywood Theater tonight, Joe becomes a Thespian. Batting the 'clean-up' spot in the radio drama, 'One Hit, Two Errors,' Joe's first dramatic appearance is sure to endear him even further to baseball fans.
Episodes Syndicated + Partial List of Episodes of Skippy Hollywood Theatre Date Episode Actor(s) November 15, 1942 "Murder for Fun" Gale Page"WCCO, Serving Listeners 24 Hours Every Day: Hear Gale Page in 'Murder for Fun'". Quad-City Times. November 15, 1942. p. M11. January 16, 1943 "Meet Mrs. Chandler" Ona Munson"Tops on Your Dial: Is She Twins?". The Sacramento Union. January 16, 1943. p. 11. January 18, 1943 "Wagon Wheels Rolling" Roy RogersLittle, Mary (January 18, 1943). "Tops on Your Dial: Is She Twins?". The Sacramento Union. January 16, 1943. p. 11. March 10, 1943 "Kathrine of the Bridle Bit" Anita Louise"Skippy Will Be Weekly Feature on KMJ". The Fresno Bee. March 10, 1943. p. 5-B. March 19, 1943 "Little Miss Fortune" Elaine Barrymore"Tonight! KIRO, Top in Programs; 710 on your Dial, Top in Power". The Seattle Star. March 19, 1943. p. 16. March 24, 1943 "Taxi, Mister?" Isabel Jewell"Time to Smile Show to Feature Screen Celebrity". The Fresno Bee. March 24, 1943. p. 5-B. April 2, 1943 "The Seal of the Pharoah" [sic] Gale Page"Tonight! KIRO, Top in Programs; 710 on your Dial, Top in Power". The Seattle Star. April 2, 1943. p. 16. April 9, 1943 "Cloud Seventeen" Ona Munson"Tonight! KIRO, Top in Programs; 710 on your Dial, Top in Power". The Seattle Star. April 9, 1943. p. 6. April 18, 1943 "Marriage for Wages" Gale Page"WCCO, Serving Listeners 24 Hours Every Day: Coming Sunday! Hear Gale Page in 'Marriage for Wages'". Quad-City Times. April 17, 1943. p. 13. June 12, 1943 "Ashes of Victory" Anita Louise"On the Air Tonight". Quad-City Times. June 12, 1943. p. . October 17, 1943 "Emotions for Sale" Anita Louise"Weekend Specials". Los Angeles Daily News. October 17, 1943. p. 44. November 7, 1943 "Snow Man" Anita Louise"Air Fare". Long Beach Independent. November 7, 1943. p. 35. "Lovely Anita Louise is starred in the 'Skippy Hollywood Theater' presentation of the 'Snow Man' on KFI tonight at 9:30. The special radio adaptation was written by Elizabeth Hiestand from an O. Henry story." November 21, 1943 "Young Lady, Be Good" Jane Withers"Air Fare". Long Beach Independent. November 21, 1943. p. 31. "Young and lovely Jane withers has the starring role in the 'Skippy Hollywood Theater' production on KFI tonight at 9:30. Jane takes the lead in an original comedy drama entitled 'Young Lady, Be Good.'" December 19, 1943 "Blessed Are They" Roddy McDowell"Air Fare". Long Beach Independent. December 19, 1943. p. 35. January 9, 1944 "The Peacock Screen" Annabella"Dial Notes". Wilmington Daily Press Journal. January 8, 1944. p. 5. April 16, 1944 "Crichton Plays Cupid" Eric Blore"On the Air with Johnny Dare". Minneapolis Star Tribune. April 16, 1944. p. 37. April 22, 1944 "One Hit—Two Errors" Joe DiMaggio,"On the Air Today". The Central New Jersey Home News. April 22, 1944. p. 8. "Joe DiMaggio, former star [sic] of the New York Yankees, appears tonight in the leading role in 'One Hit, Two Errors' on the Skippy Hollywood Theatre program via WEAF at 6:30 p. m.""On the Air Tonight". Hawaii Tribune-Herald. May 26, 1944. p. 7. "New futures are predicted for Joe DiMaggio, the baseball son of California dear to the hearts of the Yanks and now on duty with the Army! Come curtain time for Skippy Hollywood Theater tonight, Joe becomes a Thespian. Batting the 'clean-up' spot in the radio drama, 'One Hit, Two Errors,' Joe's first dramatic appearance is sure to endear him even further to baseball fans." Dix DavisMote, James (1989). Everything Baseball. New York: Prentice Hall Press. p. 112. . "ONE HIT, TWO ERRORS, 1948 (Hollywood Theatre of Stars) Mutual, 30 minutes, October 12, 1948 Cast: Joe DiMaggio as Joe Collins, and Dix Davis as Lefty Collins. [...] Light-hearted story in which two major league scouts use subterfuge against each other in their efforts to sign an unassuming small-town slugger." April 23, 1944 "Understudy" John Sutton"On the Air with Johnny Dare". Minneapolis Star Tribune. April 16, 1944. p. 37. May 28, 1944 "Mary, Mary, Quite Contrary" Margo"On the Air with Johnny Dare". Minneapolis Star Tribune. May 28, 1944. p. 29. June 4, 1944 "Love Divided by Two" Jon Hall"On the Air with Johnny Dare". Minneapolis Star Tribune. June 4, 1944. p. 35. June 18, 1944 "Love Pays Five to Two" Carole Landis"On the Air with Johnny Dare". Minneapolis Star Tribune. June 18, 1944. p. 31. July 9, 1944 "The Silver Gown" Ruth Chatterton"On the Air with Johnny Dare". Minneapolis Star Tribune. July 9, 1944. p. 33. October 8, 1944 "Strange Journey" Vincent Price"Sinatra Is Guest Star With Benny Tonight Tonight". Asbury Press. October 8, 1944. p. 11. November 5, 1944 "Every Time It Rains" Edward Everett Horton November 9, 1945 "Two Hearts in Pigskin" Charles Starrett, Rosemary Reddins, Robert Clarke, Tyler McVey, Harold Cowan"On the Air Tonight". Quad-City Times. October 4, 1947 "Return to America" Ginger Rogers October 24, 1947 "Pranks for Parents" Bebe Daniels, Ben Lyon, Barbara Lyon, Richard Lyon December 17, 1947 "The Heart Remembers" Patricia MorisonPalmer, Zuma (December 17, 1947). "Radio: Writing Awards Not New to Betty Mears". Los Angeles Evening Citizen-News. p. . September 24, 1948 "Angelica" Victor Mature February 23, 1949 "The Man From Jamestown" Basil RathboneBird, Bill (February 23, 1949). "Radio on Review". Pasadena Independent. p. 20. April 1, 1949 "Mr. God Johnson" Peter Lorre, Lurene Tuttle, Charlie Lung, Earl Lee, Herb Butterfield"Radio Program Highlights: 'Ski-Nose' to Visit 'Schnozzola' in WIBA Fun-Fest at 7:30 Tonight; Screenland to Radio". The Capital Times. April 1, 1949. p. 26. July 18, 1949 "Death Accidental" Marie Windsor November 24, 1949 "Song of Thanksgiving" Stephen McNally
CBS