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The MGM Theater of the Air
Genre	Dramatic anthology; film adaptations
Running time	1 hour
Country of origin	United States
Language(s)	English
Home station	WMGM
Syndicates	Mutual
Hosted by	Howard Dietz
Starring	Hollywood movie stars
Announcer	Ed Stokes
Directed by	Max Loeb
Produced by	Raymond Katz
Original release	October 14, 1949 –; December 27, 1952

The MGM Theater of the Air is a one-hour radio dramatic anthology in the United States. It was broadcast on WMGM in New York City and syndicated to other stations via electrical transcription October 14, 1949 – December 7, 1951. It was carried on Mutual January 5-December 27, 1952.^[1]

Format

A 1950 trade publication described the program as a "Big time production ... featuring adaptions of MGM and other screen properties with top-ranking names of screen and theater."^[2]

Development and syndication

Development of The MGM Theater of the Air was a departure from the parent company's previous practices. An article in a 1949 issue of Billboard noted that MGM "thruout [sic] the years has extended scant co-operation on the program level" to WMGM (which had been WHN).^[3] "Theater of the Air" and five other programs were set to be produced by MGM for broadcast on WMGM and KMGM (an FM station in Hollywood) and syndicated to other stations.^[3] The programs totaled about six hours of air time per week.^[4]

Beginning September 1, 1949, eight programs (including The Story of Dr. Kildare, The Adventures of Maisie, Crime Does Not Pay and The Hardy Family)^[5] were available to "big stations and little stations," as promoted in an ad for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Radio Attractions.^[6] The programs attracted interest from stations even before the official date when they would be available. Between 150 and 200 stations sought information about the shows "within a few days of the initial public announcement."^[7] An initial estimate was "The eight programs will cost MGM close to $1,500,000 per year for production and talent charges."^[7]

A reviewer of an early episode of The MGM Theater of the Air commented, "In slickness of production this hour-long program compares very favorably with many of its network brothers."^[8]

Move to Mutual Broadcasting System

The MGM Theater of the Air and other MGM-produced programs moved from syndication to network distribution the week of December 31, 1951. Mutual began carrying the MGM productions Woman of the Year (based on the movie of the same name), Crime Does Not Pay, The Black Museum, The Story of Dr. Kildare, MGM Musical Comedy Theater of the Air, The Modern Adventures of Casanova, The Gracie Fields Show, The Adventures of Maisie, The Hardy Family and The MGM Theater of the Air.^[9]

Broadcasting magazine reported on Mutual's "extensive promotion campaign" for the MGM package: "The campaign was launched via distribution -- to advertisers, agencies and radio editors -- of boxes of gingerbread men in the shape of Mutual's 'Mr. Plus' trademarks and MGM's 'Leo the Lion,' along with details of the Mutual-MGM program tie-up."^[10] Despite the network's promotional efforts, however, the program lasted only one year on Mutual.^[1]

Personnel

By its nature, The MGM Theater of the Air had no regular cast. Different MGM movie stars of the era were featured each week. They included Marlene Dietrich,^[8] Ronald Reagan, Joan Bennett,^[1] George Murphy and Nina Foch.^[11]

Howard Dietz, vice-president of MGM, was the program's host,^[1] with Carey Wilson as substitute host.^[12] Ed Stokes was the announcer, with Bob Williams as his substitute.^[13] Marx Loeb was the director.^[1] Raymond Katz was the producer.^[8] Joel Herron was the music conductor.^[14]

References

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e Dunning, John (1998). On the Air: The Encyclopedia of Old-Time Radio (Revised ed.). New York: Oxford University Press. p. 458. ISBN 978-0-19-507678-3. Retrieved 2019-09-13.
^ Alicoate, Jack, Ed. (1950). Shows: 1950 Radio Daily Program Buyers Guide. Radio Daily Corp. P. 40.
^ ^a ^b "MGM Toes the AM Rubber, Winds Up, and Here Comes 'At Ole Production Pitch". Billboard. February 5, 1949. Retrieved 24 December 2014.
^ "WMGM Shows" (PDF). Broadcasting. February 7, 1949. Retrieved 24 December 2014.
^ "MGM Programs To Be Syndicated" (PDF). Broadcasting. July 4, 1949. Retrieved 24 December 2014.
^ "(Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Radio Attractions ad)". Billboard. November 5, 1949. Retrieved 24 December 2014.
^ ^a ^b "MGM Heading Toward Boff Wax Profit; May Hit $1 Mil". Broadcasting. July 9, 1949. Retrieved 24 December 2014.
^ ^a ^b ^c Morse, Leon (October 22, 1949). "The MGM Theater of the Air". Billboard. Retrieved 25 December 2014.
^ "MGM Program Line-Up Finalized by Mutual". Billboard. November 17, 1951. Retrieved 26 December 2014.
^ "MBS Promotion" (PDF). Broadcasting. December 10, 1951. Retrieved 27 December 2014.
^ "MGM Theatre of the Air Does Mystery Tomorrow". The Montreal Gazette. September 29, 1951. Retrieved 25 December 2014.
^ "Allied Arts" (PDF). Broadcasting. August 28, 1950. Retrieved 25 December 2014.
^ "Ed Stokes Recovering" (PDF). Radio Daily. January 16, 1950. p. 6. Retrieved 26 December 2014.
^ Friedwald, Will (1997). Sinatra: The Song Is You. Da Capo Press. ISBN 0-306-80742-4. Retrieved 23 June 2023.