First Nighter, otherwise known as The First Nighter Program, was a two-decade radio drama-comedy series that aired on various radio stations from 1930 to 1953. It debuted on NBC Blue Radio and remained there for three years, before its transfer to other stations such as NBC (1933-1937, 1938, and 1952-1953), CBS (1937, 1938-1952, 1945-1946, 1947-1949), and Mutual (1942 to 1944). Charles Hughes starred as Mr. First Nighter, the show's host.
The series presented several romantic comedies that featured radio personalities such as Don Ameche, June Meredith, Betty Lou Gerson, Les Tremayne, Barbara Luddy, and Olan Soule.
| Air Date |
Title |
Synopsis |
| 1939-10-13 |
59 A Symphony With Your Spaghetti |
|
| 1941-03-25 |
Love And Gazozza |
+ CBS net. "Love and Gazooza". Sponsored by: Campana cosmetics ($10,000 contest). A comedy about love and hate and a strange Mexican soft drink. See also "Same Time, Same Station," cat. #18220. Barbara Luddy, Les Tremayne. |
|
| 1947-10-18 |
1503 Wolf W Sheepskin |
+ CBS net, WBBM, Chicago aircheck. "Wolf With Sheepskin". Sponsored by: Campana cosmetics, Cotton Blossom Perfume. A comedy about an innocent college professor mistaken for a murdering safe cracker. Jack Kelsey (writer), Barbara Luddy, Olan Soule, Jerry Hausner, Ken Christy, Ed McDonald, Frank Worth and His Orchestra, Larry Keating (announcer). |
|
| 1947-12-25 |
1502 Little Town Of Bethleham |
+ CBS net. "Oh, Little Town Of Bethlehem". Sponsored by: Campana cosmetics. The ninth presentation of the show's annual Christmas show. The show may be dated December, 1945. Anthony Wayne (author), Barbara Luddy, Herb Butterfield, Hugh Studebaker, Olan Soule, Phillips H. Lord, Willard Waterman. |
|
| 1948-05-06 |
1621 The Tin Box |
+ CBS net. "The Tin Box". Sponsored by: Campana cosmetics. A comedy-mystery about a $10,000 ransom. How does one give it back? Barbara Luddy, Olan Soule, Willard Waterman, Lawrence Dobkin, David Ellis, Jean Fromhurst (writer), Larry Keating (commercial spokesman). |
|
| 1948-06-17 |
1627 Old Lady Shakespeare |
+ CBS net. "Old Lady Shakespeare". Sponsored by: Campana cosmetics. A grand old lady of the theatre decides to make a comeback. See cat. #23517 for a production of the same script four years earlier. Olan Soule, Verna Felton, Forrest Barnes (writer), Sammie Hill, Herb Butterfield, Parley Baer, Frank Worth and His Orchestra, Larry Keating (commercial spokesman). |
|
| 1948-12-16 |
1638 Honest Dope |
|
| 1949-03-10 |
1649 No Greater Need |
+ CBS net. "No Greater Need". Sponsored by: Campana cosmetics. Two Italian waifs start on a life of crime by stealing a shipment of vital drugs. Barbara Luddy, Olan Soule, Norma Jean Nilsson. |
|
| 1952-07-20 |
Speak Ever So Gently |
+ NBC net. "Speak Ever So Gently". Sponsored by: Miller Beer. A comedy/romance about a movie star and his beautiful agent. She wants him to dedicate a children's home in Beaver, Ohio. The script was ptreviously used on the program on May 28, 1944 (see cat. #30773). Barbara Luddy, Olan Soule, Peggy Blake (writer), Rye Billsbury ("Mr. First Nighter"), Betty Lou Gerson, Mary McGovern, Eddie Firestone, Vincent Pelletier (commercial spokesman), Joseph Ainsley (producer, director). |
|
| 1953-01-06 |
14 A Good Joe |
+ NBC net. "A Good Joe". Sponsored by: Miller Beer. A waitress teams up with a Broadway pitchman, until she's offered a job in the movies. A well-done love story. Olan Soule, Barbara Luddy, Floyd Miller (writer), Rye Billsbury ("Mr. First Nighter"), Gerald Mohr, Bob Jellison, Paul Dubov, Sidney Miller, Joseph Ainsley (director), Vincent Pelletier (commercial spokesman). |
|
| 1953-09-01 |
47 Honest Dope |
|
