Family Theater was an explicitly Christian program. In this tale, they feature the story of the Nativity from the perspective of the innkeeper and his wife; it makes a few additions to the story of the Nativity, primarily by suggesting the innkeeper's family would cross paths with Jesus later in life...
"The Crossroads of Christmas" originally aired December 17, 1952. It was written by John McGreavy.
Tomorrow: Quiet, Please!
Today's program is an episode of the Armed Forces' program Proudly We Hail. It's the tale of the Wise Men at Epiphany, told virtually entirely from their perspective as they journey to Bethlehem.
"Keeping Faith" originally aired December 21, 1952.
Tomorrow: Family Theater!
Today's program is the story of Dr. Mason, who accompanies an ambulance driver on a night full of crises. The ambulance driver is very cynical about the world, due to what he's seen driving his ambulance. Dr. Mason, however, seems to be something more than a mere man, and offers the driver a glimpse of hope.
"Miracle for Christmas" was written by Jay Bennett and broadcast at least 7 times on Grand Central Station; I'm presenting the version from December 24, 1949.
Tomorrow: Proudly We Hail!
Today's program is "A Stable in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania," an episode of Matinee Theater. The story opens on two rich men in a club who both feel cynical about the holidays. A waiter comes to tend on the two men and starts telling them a story about a young married couple who came to the town of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, as something of a contemporary retelling of the Nativity.
"A Stable in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania" originally aired December 24, 1944. It was written by Charles Tazewell, who also authored many Christmas radio plays I've featured before including "The Littlest Angel", "The Lullaby of Christmas", "The Small One" and "The Boy Who Sang for the King."
Tomorrow: Grand Central Station!
Today's program is about a cynical hotel owner. On Christmas Eve, his inn is visited by a number of unusual characters, such as husband and wife who are expecting a child and three men bringing gifts. While his wife keeps insisting these parallels to the Nativity mean something, the innkeeper resists her line of thinking.
"The Desert Shall Rejoice" originally aired December 16, 1948. It was adapted from a Warner Bros. short film titled Star in the Night, written by Robert Finch and directed by Don Siegel; it won the 1945 Academy Award for Best Live Action Short Film!
Tomorrow: Matinee Theater!
Today's program is an episode of Orson Welles' series Hello, Americans. This was a wartime program designed to foster good relations among the Americas and it primarily featured Welles teaching facts about South American countries in a fun way. But for Christmas, Welles came up with a full narrative, something quite different; it concerns an American businessman travelling in South America who refuses to give up his seat on an airplane to a child who wants to go home for Christmas. From then on, everywhere he goes, the businessman is followed by a man known only as "Señor" who seems to be silently judging him.
"The Bad Will Ambassador" originally aired December 27, 1942.
Tomorrow: The Hallmark Playhouse!
Today's program is an episode of The Theater of Romance (a series often called "Romance"). As a Christmas offering, "The Messiah" tells the story of how George Frideric Handel was inspired to compose his choral "Messiah." It includes some brief choir performances of the selfsame piece of music.
"The Messiah" originally aired December 25, 1945. It was written by Jean Holloway and narrated by Edward Arnold.
Tomorrow: Hello, Americans!
