Broadcast: June 1, 1936

Starring: Cecil B DeMille, Clark Gable, Marlene Dietrich, Melville Ruick

Added: Jul 23 2001

Originally when this Blue Network Program was broadcast on Sunday afternoons from New York in 1934 it was presented by Antony Stanford and featured hour long adaptations of Broadway plays, usually starring Broadway actors. But Lever Brothers, the show sponsors decided to move the show to Hollywood and so it was that on Monday June 1st 1936, Cecil B. De Mille the famous film director stepped forward to the microphone to introduce for the first time “Lux Presents Hollywood” brought to you by “Lux Radio Theatre”. The format was similar, but different, in as much as the shows now became adaptations of films and sometimes featured the original stars, as did this first one, “The Legionnaire and the Lady” with Clark Gable and Marlene Dietrich, adapted from the film, “Morocco”.

This show has atmosphere, it will take you right back to the days when you regularly visited your favorite movie theatre and became so involved with the story which was unfolding on the silver screen. It makes you realize the changes which have taken place throughout the world in this last fifty or sixty years with regard to heroes, ladies and love. Incidentally make sure you settle down to listen with a coke or something cool, it’s thirsty work in the desert.

Reviewed by Chas (2001)