Thanks for stopping by A Mind Forever Wandering Old Time Radio (or AMFWOTR for short), a blog devoted to the enjoyment of the wonderful but sometimes forgotten magic of radio entertainment. You’ll find some of the best classic shows right here, with new posts each and every day!
Only one more episode to go, it’s getting down to the nitty gritty.
Who doesn’t love a parade?
With a flourish Captain Tintop presents the Silver Star to Judy and Jimmy. Let’s not celebrate too quickly, because the the Crazy Quilt Dragon has other plans for the Star!
This time around, the Flying Hat takes everyone to Snowland where Jimmy and Judy ask the Snowman where to find Nickie Frudle. But just who is Nickie Frudle???
The Grand Monkey enters the fray and banishes the Wintergreen Witch. Then the mysterious Flying Hat is found.
And in case you’ve been wondering, you have been hearing the voice of Gale Gordon throughout the series.
Born Charles T. Aldrich, Jr. in New York City, Gordon was the son of British actress Gloria Gordon and her vaudevillian husband Charles Aldrich Gordon’s first big radio break came via the recurring roles of Mayor La Trivia and Foggy Williams on Fibber McGee and Molly, before playing Rumson Bullard on that show’s successful spinoff, The Great Gildersleeve. Gordon and his character of Mayor La Trivia briefly left the show in December of 1942. You see both had enlisted in World War 2.
Gordon was the first actor to play the role of Flash Gordon, in the 1935 radio serial The Amazing Interplanetary Adventures of Flash Gordon. In 1950, Gordon played John Granby in the radio series Granby’s Green Acres, which became the basis for the 1960s television series, Green Acres. Gordon went on to create the role of pompous principal Osgood Conklin on Our Miss Brooks, carrying the role to television when the show moved there in 1952.
In the interim, Gordon turned up as Rudolph Atterbury on My Favorite Husband, which starred Lucille Ball in a precursor to I Love Lucy. Gordon and Ball previously worked together on The Wonder Show, starring Jack Haley, from 1938 to 1939. The two had a long friendship as well as recurring professional partnership. Gordon also had a recurring role as the fictitious Rexall Drugs sponsor representative Mr. Scott on yet another radio hit, The Phil Harris-Alice Faye Show, staying with the role as long as Rexall sponsored the show.
Most people no doubt remember Gordon from his television role as Mr. Mooney in The Lucy Show. A master of the slow burn, Gordon was actually the first choice to play Fred Mertz on I Love Lucy but, due to his commitment to Our Miss Brooks, had to decline the offer.
Gale Gordon in 1949
In 1999, Gordon was inducted posthumously into the Radio Hall of Fame.
You’d think that Judy and Jimmy were travelling across some sort of bizarre Fight Club world because now the Wooden Indians attack. I’m a bit surprised just how many scraps our adventurers get into. As if the indians weren’t bad enough, the Wintergreen Witch changes everyone into frogs!
Our story comes to a close and, while I’m sure there’s a parent or two out there who feel that it was a long time coming, a fun time was had by all.
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