The Chicago Theater of the Air

The Chicago Theater of the Air broadcast weekly hour-long adaptions of operas, operettas, and musicals. The show started locally over WGN radio in the spring of 1940 and went national on the Mutual Broadcasting System the next fall, airing until 1954. The show was hosted by Marian Claire Weber, the conductor's wife, who also sang in many of the episodes. Local Chicago talent provided most of the other performers.

Some of the productions have a rather formal, almost stilted air, but, I must say, I found the presentation of The Mikado to be quite enjoyable. I think this was because they slowed down the pace of the songs a bit, making them more understandable to the American ear; the fast-paced music that Gilbert and Sullivan wrote often leads to rapid-fire vocals.

The show's "intermission" features a short talk. Initially this was presented by the show's conductor Henry Weber; later by Robert McCormick, legendary long-time publisher of the Chicago Tribune took over the task.

For more information, see Wikipedia.

Series description provided by Frank Bell.