Frank Capra’s timeless It’s a Wonderful Life was released in 1946, featuring Lionel Barrymore as sniveling miser Mr. Potter.
But first things first.
The 1939 radio play of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol features Barrymore cast as another miserly cad.
Narrator Orson Welles refers to lead actor Barrymore as “the best loved actor of our time.”
840WHAS Radio replays this incredible production every Christmas Eve. It warms the cockles of my heart. My holiday is not complete until I hear this play cackling over WHAS Radio.
And now…meet some of my friends. My long broadcast career has allowed me to work with the best of the best in media. Just as the “Wonderful Life” angel Clarence wrote to George Bailey: Remember no man is a failure who has friends. My broadcast friends are of the highest quality.
In 1994, our 840WHAS Radio personalities and office staffers recreated the Dickens classic for a one time airing. Many of those WHAS personalities have passed away but their voices live on through this holiday production. Merry Christmas!
CAST: Rush Limbaugh (solicitor), Milton Metz (narrator), Wayne Perkey (Ebeneezer Scrooge), Terry Meiners (Bob Cratchit), Van Vance (Jacob Marley’s ghost), Jane Norris (Christmas past ghost), Joe Donovan (Christmas present ghost), Joe Elliot (Christmas Yet to Come ghost), Fred Wiche (nephew Fred), Laura Shirley (Mrs. Cratchit), Ken Schulz (Peter), Mary Jeffries (Belle), Beth Merrill (Martha Cratchit), Frederick Speck (Tiny Tim), Brian Rublein (1st man), John Asher (2nd man), Skip Essick (Joe), Tony Cruise (man), Christopher Holcombe (1st boy), Edward Pratt (2nd boy), and Sara Greiling (3rd boy. — Directed by David Holland — Produced by Scott Goettel — special thanks to Louisville Youth Choir, conducted by Donna Barnett and conducted by Frank Heller. Thanks to WHAS engineers Charlie Strickland, Larry Baysinger, and Harry Sonnheim. All proceeds from sales went to the WHAS Crusade for Children. Thanks to Taylor Drug Stores for distribution. (1994) Merry Christmas from 84WHAS Radio, Louisville, Kentucky, USA