Monday, December 21, 2015

The Plot to Overthrow Christmas (COLW)

The Devil and the historic denizens of Hell plot to kill Santa Claus and eliminate the celebration of Christmas. A story told in clever verse.

On Sunday, December 4, 1938, Norman Corwin’s Words Without Music debuted, beginning its 26-week run. The fourth program was to air on Christmas Day and Corwin was asked by the CBS publicity department for a title to advertise. Impulsively he replied, The Plot to Overthrow Christmas. After the publicity man left, Corwin realized that no such poem existed to adapt for radio. So, he would write it himself. The resulting program, told entirely in rhyme, won Corwin new fans, including Edward R. Murrow.

The Columbia Workshop
The Plot to Overthrow Christmas
24 December 1942
19421224(000)_COLW_PlotToOverthrowChristmas.mp3
CBS net. Norman Corwin (writer, producer, director), Martin Gabel, Ray Collins, Karl Swenson, Luis Van Rooten, Everett Sloane.



Norman Corwin, 1973

No comments:

Post a Comment

I moderate all comments to prevent spam and nonsense. It may take a few moments for your words to appear.