Amanda of Honeymoon Hill
Drawing of Ruth Russell by actor-singer Norman Sweetser (1894-1980)
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| Genre | Daytime serial drama |
|---|---|
| Running time | 15 minutes |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Language(s) | English |
| Syndicates | Blue Network, CBS |
| Starring | Joy Hathaway Arlene Francis |
| Announcer |
Frank Gallop George Ansbro Howard Claney Hugh Conover |
| Created by | Frank and Anne Hummert |
| Written by | Anne Hummert |
| Directed by | Arnold Michaelis |
| Original release | February 5, 1940 – April 26, 1946 |
| Audio format | Mono |
| Opening theme | "Jeanie with the Light Brown Hair" |
| Sponsored by | Cal-Aspirin Haley's MO Phillips Milk of Magnesia Phillips Toothpaste Ironized Yeast Mulsified Cocoanut Oil Shampoo |
Amanda of Honeymoon Hill was a 15-minute daily radio soap opera produced by Frank and Anne Hummert. Broadway actress Joy Hathaway had the title role, sometimes described as "the beauty of flaming red hair." The series was broadcast from February 5, 1940, until April 26, 1946, initially on the Blue Network at 3:15 p.m. until August 1942. It then moved to CBS, airing at 10:30am until 1943 when it was heard at 11 a.m.
The story followed the travails of the beautiful Charity Amanda Dyke Leighton (Joy Hathaway), who lived on Honeymoon Hill in Virginia with her husband, wealthy Southerner Edward Leighton (Boyd Crawford, George Lambert, Staats Cotsworth). As an artist, Edward made many portraits of Amanda. They had a son, Robert Elijah, but they were separated by events prompted by World War II. He left for Abbeyville to run his factory, converted for war production, while Amanda remained in Honeymoon Hill to supervise her nursery for the children of war workers.
Dot was portrayed by Linda Watkins (1908-1976), and Helen Shields (1900–1963) had the role of Sylvia Meadows. Arlene Francis was a cast member in 1941. Also in the cast: Ruth Russell and John Brown (as Mr. Lenord), later a familiar radio voice as friendly undertaker Digger O'Dell on The Life of Riley. Organist Ann Leaf supplied the program's background music, and the opening theme was Stephen Foster's 1854 tune, "Jeanie with the Light Brown Hair." In addition to Frank Gallop and George Ansbro, other announcers were Howard Claney and Hugh Conover.
Anne Hummert unintentionally scripted a prominent double meaning into the show's opening, and this amused many since it was heard for years without change, as described by George Ansbro in his book, I Have a Lady in the Balcony:
The program was sponsored by Cal-Aspirin, Haley's MO, Phillips Milk of Magnesia, Phillips Toothpaste, Ironized Yeast and Mulsified Cocoanut Oil Shampoo.
Cal-Aspirin sponsored several daytime dramas, as advertising historian Danny Goodwin explained:
Newspaper ads promoted the program with an extreme use of exclamation marks, a contrast with modern advertising approaches.
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