Brenda Curtis is an old-time radio soap opera in the United States. It was broadcast on CBS from September 11, 1939 to January 19, 1940.[1]

Brenda Curtis
Brenda Curtis star Vicki Vola
GenreSoap opera
Running time15 minutes
Country of originUnited States
Language(s)English
SyndicatesCBS
StarringVicki Vola
AnnouncerKen Roberts
Written byLee Gebhart
Produced byDiana Bourbon
Original releaseSeptember 11, 1939 –
January 19, 1940
Opening themeMelody in F
Sponsored byCampbell Soups

Premise edit

The A to Z of American Radio Soap Operas, by Jim Cox, summarized the plot line of the program as follows: "Brenda Curtis was a promising actress who relinquished her career to be a homemaker in New York City. Domestic troubles included the downturn of her husband Jim's law practice."[2] The couple had been married five years and had a 4-year-old daughter.[3]

The 15-minute program was heard on weekdays and was sponsored by Campbell Soups.[1]

Personnel edit

Characters in Brenda Curtis and the actors who portrayed them are shown in the table below.

Character Actor
Brenda Curtis Vicki Vola
Jim Curtis Michael Fitzmaurice
Hugh Marlowe
Myra Belden Helen Choate
Brenda's mother Agnes Moorehead
Stacey Gordon Matt Crowley[4]
Ziggy Bernstein Charles Cantor[4]
Cleo Ann Elsner[3]
Juanita Hall[4]
Peggy Curtis Margaret R. Lipper[4]
Gloria Bennett Kathleen Niday[4]
Judge Harmon Parker Fennelly[3]

Source: Radio Programs, 1924-1984: A Catalog of More Than 1800 Shows[5] except as noted.

Ken Roberts was the announcer. Lew White and George Heninger provided the music. Lee Gebhart was the writer, and Diana Bourbon was the producer.[4]

References edit

  1. ^ a b Dunning, John (1998). On the Air: The Encyclopedia of Old-Time Radio (Revised ed.). New York, NY: Oxford University Press. p. 118. ISBN 978-0-19-507678-3. Retrieved 2018-08-11.
  2. ^ Cox, Jim (2009). The A to Z of American Radio Soap Operas. Scarecrow Press. p. 48. ISBN 9780810863491. Retrieved 31 December 2016.
  3. ^ a b c "New Morning Story Presents 'Brenda Curtis'". Harrisburg Telegraph. Pennsylvania, Harrisburg. September 22, 1939. p. 28. Retrieved December 18, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ a b c d e f Grunwald, Edgar A. (1940). Variety Radio Directory (PDF). New York, N.Y.: Variety, Inc. p. 290. Retrieved 31 December 2016.
  5. ^ Terrace, Vincent (1999). Radio Programs, 1924-1984: A Catalog of More Than 1800 Shows. McFarland & Company, Inc. ISBN 978-0-7864-4513-4. P. 51.