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Katharine Hepburn, had recently been labelled “Box Office Poison“ by the Independent Theatre Owners of America after a succession of box office failures, when she accepted a gift from her good friend Howard Hughes… a gift that had the effect of turning her career around and enabling her to take total control of her film career. It’s just one of the amazing stories in the life of this magnificent actress to be told on “From The Vault’s Evening With Katharine Hepburn,“ an event well worth hearing on the next ‘From The Vault’ program.

On Wednesday night (7th January)

At 6:00 pm on The Shoalhaven’s own Community Radio Station, Shoalhaven FM, ‘From The Vault,’ Harold Ellison’s program of Old-Time Radio Shows, will present two hours of some of the rarest old radio show recordings in his collection on a program we’re calling, “From The Vault’s Evening with Katharine Hepburn.” Unfortunately, or fortunately, depending upon how you look at it, the great lady was usually far too much in demand by other mediums, especially motion pictures, to settle for the comparatively paltry fee paid by radio. But, there were a few gems and we’ve got them for you on the next ’From The Vault’ program.

We’ll begin with the ‘Lux Radio Theatre,’ which for a while was being called the Victory Theatre and instead of selling soap, they sold war bonds. Katharine stars with Cary Grant, Jimmy Stewart and Ruth Hussey in the screwball comedy that literally turned her flagging career around (something which will be explained in detail), “The Philadelphia Story.” In a nutshell, the film is about a socialite whose wedding plans are complicated by the simultaneous arrival of her ex-husband and an attractive journalist. It is considered one of the best examples of a comedy of remarriage, a genre popular in the 1930s and 40s, in which a couple divorce, flirt with outsiders and then remarry. This was an extremely useful story-telling ploy at a time when depicting extramarital affairs was banned in American films. How times have changed. Well, obviously the U.S. Government didn’t want to send men off to war and have them losing sleep worrying about who their wives may or may not have been sharing their beds with at home. This is a unique example of an instance where radio used the entire major film cast to make the radio recreation very nearly as exciting as the original film version.

Then, in another ‘Lux Radio Theatre’ production, Ms. Hepburn stars alongside Robert Taylor in “Undercurrent,” the 1946 film noir drama directed by Vincente Minnelli. Katharine Hepburn plays Ann Hamilton, a young bride who begins to suspect that her charming new husband Alan Garroway (superbly played by Robert Taylor) is really a psychotic who plans to murder her. Typical of the film critic’s universal praise for the motion picture was this comment: “Miss Hepburn gives a crisp and taut performance of a lady overcome by mounting fears and Mr. Taylor, back in films from his war service, accelerates a brooding meanness as her spouse.”

And you’ll be hearing the actual soundtrack from a short WWll film that Kate narrated called “Women In Defence,” which stressed the vitally important role of women in the war effort. It’s very short, but was written by the always eloquent Eleanor Roosevelt, wife of the then President Franklin D. Roosevelt. And Katharine Hepburn does her usual outstanding job of selling the concept that women at home are indispensable to the troops fighting overseas.

And then, we have other Katharine Hepburn material suitable for radio. It simply depends upon how much time is left over as to how much of it can be played for you.
‘From The Vault’ airs immediately after Harold Ellison's other program, ‘The Jazz Café,’ relaxes you with the soothing sounds of mellow, Smooth Jazz, 4 to 6 pm. Wednesdays.

Ray Barrett, craggy-faced and heavily built, this Australian star was quite a heart-throb on British TV in the 60s, as star of the long-running series ‘The Troubleshooters’. To telefantasy fans, however, Barrett’s primary importance was as a voice artist on the immortal ‘Thunderbirds.’ Born in Brisbane, as a boy he was fascinated by radio, and made his first appearance on the medium at aged 12. His presenting, interviewing and even occasionally singing on radio led to him participating in plays, and doing so well that he became the first actor to be put under an exclusive contract by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Barrett was a special guest on 1952’s ‘The Ford Show’ Christmas Eve episode on Australian radio, a first-class musical variety show hosted by Hayes Gordon that is well worth hearing on the next ‘From The Vault’ program.

On Wednesday night (24th December - Christmas Eve)

At 6:00 pm on The Shoalhaven’s own Community Radio Station, Shoalhaven FM, ‘From The Vault,’ Harold Ellison’s program of Old-Time Radio Shows, will present our third and final evening of Christmas shows for this season. And being Christmas Eve, we’ve pulled out all stops to bring you a selection of the absolute finest Australian and American old radio shows with Christmas themes ever broadcast on a program we’re calling, “From The Vault’s Old Time Radio Christmas Shows Night - Number 3.”

We’ll begin by travelling back to the Hollywood of 56 years ago, 1952, when on the program ‘Family Theatre,’ the lovely Hollywood actress Ruth Hussey introduces a Christmas fantasy set in a framework of Christmas music. Roddy McDowell narrates Charles Kazwell’s classic heart-warming “Lullaby of Christmas,” presented with the aid of a full symphony orchestra and a fine supporting cast. This beautiful story will be enjoyed by all the family.

Then, from that same year, 1952, we‘ll tune in to Australian radio to hear a Christmas Eve episode of ‘The Ford Show’ and 30 minutes of Christmas joy for young and old alike. Master of Ceremonies, Hayes Gordon, introduces Peggy Brooks, Darryl Stewart, Ray Dixon and the Ford Show Orchestra and Singers lead by Bob Gibson. The show’s noteworthy Christmas Eve guest is one of Australia’s finest as well as one of Australian and British radio’s best known dramatic stars, Ray Barrett, who presents a special Christmas story. ‘The Ford Show’ was broadcast over an Australia-wide network and to the country’s armed forces and short wave listeners around the world through Radio Australia.

And then Raymond Burr, star of television‘s ‘Perry Mason’ and ‘Ironsides,’ is heard in a tale well calculated to keep you in… ‘Suspense.’ This Christmas episode tells the story of a man released from Prison for Christmas on good behaviour, but who tragically has revenge in mind. He plans to kill the man responsible for putting him behind bars and who married his ex-fiancé after he was sent off to prison. In fact, he now plans to kill them both, a plan that changes just in the knick of time.

The one group that probably feels most alienated from Christmas celebrations due to their circumstances and responsibilities are our fighting troops in uniform and that’s why entertainers like Dinah Shore toured Allied bases during WWII to bring them a little Christmas cheer from home. Her shows were recorded for world-wide radio distribution. In this Christmas 1942 ‘Dinah Shore Show,’ not only are her feelings for the “fellas” very apparent, but the appreciation and love coming back at her from the military audience is really something to hear, as is her beautiful voice.

Then it’s “the Australian show for all the family,” ‘Life With Dexter.’ Christmas comes but once a year, and maybe that’s just as well for the Dutton family. A few years ago, as usual, things became awfully complicated for them and it all began one morning at the breakfast table when Dexter’s wife Jessie announced that she would like a new fridge for Christmas. Dexter entered an art union with the hope of winning enough money to buy her one. But Ashley, aware of the fact that if Mum getting her new fridge depended upon Dexter winning the art union prize, that she had “Buckley’s” chance of getting one, so he’s cooked up a very sneaky plan to force Dexter into buying Mum her new fridge… a plan that just might work. After the program, as an unusual and very nice touch, the entire cast of ‘Life With Dexter’ is introduced to the radio audience and they each get to wish listeners a Happy Christmas. This is another show that the entire family will thoroughly enjoy.

‘From The Vault’ airs immediately after Harold Ellison's other program, ‘The Jazz Café,’ relaxes you with the soothing sounds of mellow, Smooth Jazz, 4 to 6 pm. Wednesdays.

Cary Grant made many appearances on old-time radio shows, but certainly the majority of his most critically acclaimed performances were on ‘The Lux Radio Theatre,’ where he was often directed by Cecil B. DeMille. Grant was a ‘natural’ comedian, a talent that shone through in such superb productions as “The Bishop’s Wife,” a beautiful Christmas story presented for your sheer and unadulterated pleasure on the next ‘From The Vault’ program.

On Wednesday night (17th December)

At 6:00 pm on The Shoalhaven’s own Community Radio Station, Shoalhaven FM, ‘From The Vault,’ Harold Ellison’s program of Old-Time Radio Shows, will continue our annual Holiday custom, by presenting the second of three Christmas programs, each consisting of a wide variety of old radio shows with Christmas themes on a program we’re calling, “From The Vault’s Old Time Radio Christmas Shows Night - Number 2.”

First ‘The Lux Radio Theatre’ presents Cary Grant and Phyllis Thaxter in “The Bishop’s Wife.” Cary is the perfect angel in this delicious Frank Capra-style story where an Episcopal Bishop, has been working for months on the plans for a new cathedral paid for by a stubborn widow. He is losing sight of his family and of why he became a churchman in the first place. As Christmas approaches, an angel named Dudley (Grant) is sent to help him. Dudley does help everyone he meets, but not necessarily in the way they would have preferred. With the exception of Henry, everyone loves him, but Henry begins to believe that Dudley is there to replace him, at work, and with his wife, Julia (Thaxter).

That will be followed by the ‘Challenge of The Yukon’ episode, “The Sargent’s Present.” A gold miner admits to stealing a small quantity of gold to help pay for some urgent family medical expenses. His boss wants him jailed in spite of the circumstances, and Sargent Preston must comply, but when they stop off at the miner’s home on the way to jail, the heartless boss’s heart is wrenched by the miner‘s young daughter who shows him love at Christmas time.

Then get ready for some huge belly laughs with Stan Freberg’s Christmas Parody - “Dragnet Christmas.” This was one of Stan’s comedy records that was played so often on radio that it went on to sell millions of copies.

And then, as a Christmas gift to fans of our continuing serial from New Zealand, ‘Claybourne,’ we’ll play the concluding episodes of this long-running serial. The Finale is sure to shock many listeners.

‘From The Vault’ airs immediately after Harold Ellison's other program, ‘The Jazz Café,’ relaxes you with the soothing sounds of mellow, Smooth Jazz, 4 to 6 pm. Wednesdays.

Bud Abbott and Lou Costello were an American comedy duo whose work in radio, film and television made them one of the most popular teams in the history of comedy. Thanks to the endurance of their most popular and influential routine, "Who's on First?," they are the only comedians known to have been inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. Don’t miss their Christmas Show on the next ‘From The Vault’ program.

On Wednesday night (10th December)

At 6:00 pm on The Shoalhaven’s own Community Radio Station, Shoalhaven FM, ‘From The Vault,’ Harold Ellison’s program of Old-Time Radio Shows, continues our annual custom of playing primarily Christmas shows of every conceivable type you could possibly think of in preparation for the Christmas Season on a program we’re calling, “From The Vault’s Old Time Radio Christmas Shows Night - Number 1,” the first of three such planned evenings of fabulous Christmas entertainment.

Turning our Time Machine back to 1944, we’ll begin with Candice Bergen’s Daddy and one of her dolls on ‘The Edgar Bergen & Charlie McCarthy Christmas Show.’ You’ll find this show absolutely overflowing with wonderful music, guest stars and of course that famous wit of Mr. Bergen’s that strangely enough carries across right into the mind of Little Charlie. It’s a Christmas treat for the entire family.

That will be followed by one of the loveliest versions of Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol,” starring the brilliant British actor Ronald Colman in the role of Scrooge along with a superb supporting cast. The Musical Director, Victor Young, conducts a full symphony orchestra making it a genuine treat to the ears. This version of this famous story is not quite as dark and scary as some of the others you may have read, heard or seen, so the kiddies can enjoy it right along with you.

Then we’ll have another of our listener’s favourites, we’ll travel back to 1945 to hear “The Abbott & Costello Christmas Show” which is jammed packed with lots of that loony Abbott and Costello humour that made them one of the most popular comedy teams of the day. Amongst their guests is a 1000 man choir to sing Christmas Carols. You’ve got to hear this to believe it!

And as a special Christmas treat for fans of our continuing serial from New Zealand, ‘Claybourne,’ we’ll have another breath-taking extended episode. Although the story has little to do with Christmas, this extended episode (as well as the one planned for next week) will enable us to conclude the serial prior to Christmas and those of you who’ve been following this serial for all these many months will finally get to hear how it ends.

‘From The Vault’ airs immediately after Harold Ellison's other program, ‘The Jazz Café,’ relaxes you with the soothing sounds of mellow, Smooth Jazz, 4 to 6 pm. Wednesdays.