In the third episode for 2026 we use Casablanca as an example to explore how and why hit movies transferred rapidly to radio..

 

Friday Number 5 

EPISODE 22 | JULY 31 | SERIES 2026

 

CAST

Cecil B deMille, Owen Kelly, Alan Ladd, Hedy Lamarr

 

COMMENTARY

On months that have a fifth Friday we break from our normal schedule. This year, as we did in 2022, we delve into the history of radio to bring back some examples that let us hear unfiltered aspects of the world as it seemed to our grandparents. 

Today go back to January 24, 1944 to listen to the Lux Radio Theater version of Casablanca. This constituted the second radio adaptation.

The first one lasted thirty minutes and starred the original cast: Bogart, Bergman, et al. This version lasted an hour and, because the studio said that Bogart was not available, the parts were all recast and the leads were played by Hedy Lamarr and Alan Ladd.

Owen Kelly introduces the episode and explains how and why this happened.

 

References

Old World Radio, a source of historic broadcasts https://www.oldradioworld.com

Old Time Radio notes on Casablanca https://oldtime.radio/episode/lux_radio_theatre-casablanca

Screen Guild Theatre version with original movie cast: https://oldtime.radio/episode/screen_guild_theater-casablanca

World Radio History: downloadable publications https://www.worldradiohistory.com/BOOKSHELF-ARH/Bookshelf_History.htm