Lorenzo Jones

Lorenzo Jones (Lorenzo de Angelis) was a daytime radio series which aired on NBC in different timeslots over an 18-year span.

Produced by Frank and Anne Hummert, the series could be classified with its own unique category of "comedy soap opera", highlighted by organist Rosa Rio's rollicking rendition of the opening theme music, "Funiculi, Funicula". During the early 1950s, the 15-minute program served as a comedy lead-in to Bob and Ray. Each episode opened with this introduction:

The daydreaming Lorenzo Jones (Karl Swenson) was employed as an auto mechanic at a garage owned by Jim Barker (John Brown, Frank Behrens). Barker's wife Irma (Mary Wickes, Grace Keddy, Nancy Sheridan) had her own opinions about Lorenzo's inventions. Lorenzo's friend Sandy Matson (Joseph Julian) listened patiently as Lorenzo told him how fame and fortune were just around the corner, even though Lorenzo's dreams and schemes rarely surfaced in the marketplace. However, his wife Belle (Betty Garde, Lucille Wall) always remained faithful as Lorenzo devised such curiosities as an outdoor vacuum cleaner and a teapot with three spouts (for strong, medium and weak tea).

Lorenzo and Belle were able to buy their rented house after his invention of an automatic foot-warmer became a success, bringing them $2500. During the early 1950s, when science fiction became increasingly popular, Lorenzo spent many days attempting to construct a rocket ship in his basement. As time passed, the plots became a bit more like conventional soap operas, notably during a story arc in which Lorenzo was kidnapped by jewel thieves, received a blow to the head and wandered about with amnesia for more than a year.

The program was launched by NBC at 4 pm on April 26, 1937, airing in that time period until the following year. In 1938-39, it was heard at 11:15 am, moving to 4:30 pm (1939–51), then to 5:30 pm (1951-54), concluding the series run at 5:15 pm (1954–55). From 1937 to 1949, the sponsors were Phillips Milk of Magnesia and Bayer Aspirin, followed by Procter & Gamble (1949–55).

The show was scripted by Ted Ferro (who also collaborated on the Barnaby comic strip in 1946-47) and his wife, Mathilde Ferro. The announcers were Don Lowe, Norman Sweetser and George Putnam. Directors included Stephen Gross and Ernest Ricca. This show is widely acclaimed in the novel In Country.

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