Welcome back to my five-part series on quasi-Biblical Christmas programs heard in old-time radio. After three outings by author Charles Tazewell, it's time for another author: Frank Pachling. Pachling wrote the story "The Boy Who Sang for the King," which was heard during an episode of A Day in the Life of Dennis Day on December 25, 1946. You might recall that's the same day Bing Crosby read "the Small One." These were clearly the salad days for quasi-Biblical Christmas stories!
A Day in the Life of Dennis Day is something of a spin-off from the Jack Benny Program. Supposedly it was about what Dennis was up to while not singing for Mr. Benny. Really, it was its own show; it was made by many of the people who worked on the sitcom radio program the Life of Riley; if you like the Life of Riley you might like this program too (you'll certainly hear a lot of familiar voices and product jingles).
Like the story "the Lullaby of Christmas," this one concerns a boy who visits the newborn Christ child. In this instance, it's a boy who is determined to one day sing for a king; in Bethlehem, his hope is granted.
You can hear the episode of a Day in the Life of Dennis Day featuring "The Boy Who Sang for the King" at the Old-Time Radio Researchers' Library!
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