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Backstage Wife

Backstage Wife
Vivian Fridell Backstage Wife 1942.jpg
Vivian Fridell portrayed Mary Noble on Backstage Wife in the 1930s and early 1940s
Other names Mary Noble, Backstage Wife
Genre Daytime serial drama
Running time 15 minutes
Country United States
Language(s) English
Syndicates MBS
Blue
CBS
Starring Vivian Fridell
Ken Griffin
Announcer Pierre Andre
Created by Frank and Anne Hummert
Air dates August 5, 1935 to January 2, 1959
Audio format Mono
Opening theme "Stay As Sweet As You Are"
Sponsored by Double Danderine
Dr. Lyons Tooth Powder
Ironized Yeast
Mulsified Cocoanut Oil Shampoo
Procter & Gamble

Backstage Wife is an American soap opera radio program that details the travails of Mary Noble, a girl from a small town in Iowa who came to New York seeking her future.

Vivian Fridell had the title role from 1935 until the early 1940s. It was then taken over by Claire Niesen, who played Mary Noble for 14 years, until the end of the series. Mary's husband, Larry Noble, was portrayed by Ken Griffin, then James Meighan and finally, Guy Sorel. The music was supplied by organist Chet Kingsbury.

Each episode opened with the announcer (Pierre Andre, Roger Krupp, Stuart V. Dawson) explaining:

In 1946, when the program was in its 12th year, a newspaper article summarized the plot's status as follows:

The show was created by Frank and Anne Hummert, who produced many radio daytime drama series, including Amanda of Honeymoon Hill, Front Page Farrell, John’s Other Wife, Little Orphan Annie, Ma Perkins, Mr. Chameleon, Mr. Keen, Tracer of Lost Persons and Our Gal Sunday.

Backstage Wife debuted August 5, 1935 on the Mutual Broadcasting System, continued on NBC Radio and concluded on January 2, 1959 on CBS Radio. The sponsors included Dr. Lyons Tooth Powder and Procter & Gamble.

The program was parodied by Bob and Ray as their continuing satirical soap opera, Mary Backstayge, Noble Wife, serialized for such a long period of time that it became better known to many listeners than the show it lampooned. Ray Goulding played Mary Backstayge, playwright Gregg Marlowe and other characters, while Bob Elliott portrayed Harry Backstayge and stage doorman Pop Beloved.

In the Hogan's Heroes episode "The 43rd, A Moving Story", Hogan and Kinch find out from their secret radio that the bank is going to foreclose on Mary Noble, Backstage Wife.


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