THE 1940'S RADIO HOUR Play with Music by Walton Jones. Based on an idea by Walton Jones and Carol Lees. St. James Theatre, Broadway. Opened 7th October, 1979; Closed 6 January, 1980 (105 perfs & 14 previews) Full of 1940s music, dancing and old-time sound effects the play portrays the final holiday broadcast of the Mutual Manhattan Variety Cavalcade on the New York radio station WOV in December 1942. SYNOPSIS Fabled WOV, a seedy little New York radio station takes to the air at the beginning of World War II, this time to record a broadcast for the troops overseas. The narrative concerns the harassed producer whose leading singer is often drunk, the delivery boy who wants a chance in front of the mike, the second banana who dreams of singing a ballad, and the trumpetplaying sound effects man who chooses a fighter plane over Glenn Miller. CAST of CHARACTERS • Clifton Feddington: The announcer and general manager (head of everything at WOV). He has ulcers from it all and is sometimes hysterical. • Ann Collier: The 'old standard' in the Radio show since its start in 1936. She sings like Dinah Shore, Doris Day, and Peggy Lee (all rolled into one). She is a secretary by day, and at looker by night who is dating Johnny. • Johnny Cantone: Featured vocalist with the Cavalcade who is on Sinatra's bandwagon. He's an ex-boxer and a rough guy who drinks too much and has a voice like velvet. • Ginger Brooks: A bubble-headed waitress-turned-singer. She has a pinup, Betty Grable look with lots of makeup and speaks with a Gracie Allen vacancy. • Neal Tilden: Cab driver by day and singer, dancer, and choreographer at night. He is hopeful for the 'featured vocalist' slot. • B.J. Gibson: The third of the Gibson brothers to work for the Cavalcade. He is squeaky-clean, good looking, and a preppy student at Yale. • Connie Miller: A bobbysoxer from Ogden, Utah. She is perennially in love and runs an elevator by day. • Pops Bailey: A crotchety, wizened stage doorkeeper who is a racing bookie on the company phone and reads hidden copies of Show Girl magazine. • Lou Cohn: A big shot (at least in his own mind) who tries to impress the girls and is sometimes obnoxious. He runs the show and is the sound effects man. • Wally Ferguson: Young hopeful from Altoona, Pennsylvania who came to NYC to work for his uncle at the drugstore to get his big show-biz break. • Biff Baker: A young trumpet player with the Zoot Doubleman orchestra who will be leaving after the concert for Army duty. • Stanley: Lugs cable and runs around a lot and otherwise lives in the control booth. • Zoot Doubleman: WOV Orchestra Leader
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