Mourning Becomes Electra The Chase and Sanborn Hour
Broadcast:
NBC - Sunday, August 15, 1937
Lavinia Mannon - Alice
Brady Orin Mannon -
Don Ameche Peter Niles -
Nelson Eddy
The Chase and Sanborn Hour served as the launching pad for Edgar Bergen
and Charlie McCarthy’s fame, was an hour-long
extravaganza that debuted over NBC on May 9, 1937 and featured quite a
few stars in addition to the soon-to-be-famous ventriloquist and his
dummy. Diverse performers like W.C. Fields, Dorothy Lamour, Nelson Eddy,
The Canovas (Judy, Zeke and Annie), and the Stroud Twins (Clarence and
Claude) all were regulars at one time from 1937-40. One
of the most important featured players was Don Ameche, who served as an
emcee/singer/straight man for the Chase & Sanborn proceedings.
[August 14, 1937 Circleville (OH) Herald]
ALICE BRADY
IN PLAY
Alice Brady brings one of her greatest roles
to the air Sunday when she plays a scene from Eugene O'Neill's "Mourning
Becomes Electra." This will be the dramatic feature of the big full hour
variety show with Nelson Eddy, W. C. Fields, Edgar Bergen and Charlie
(Dummy) McCarthy, Dorothy Lamour, and as master of ceremonies Don
Ameche.
"Mourning Becomes Electra" was the high point
of Alice Brady's stage career before she went to Hollywood. The role is
tragic in high contrast to the comedy parts she has since played on the
screen.
Nelson Eddy, making his second appearance
since his return to the air on the hour, sings light opera grand opera
and a traditional Irish ballad. His program includes "Will You
Remember?" from "Maytime," his great screen success; "Vision Fugitive"
from Massenet's opera "Herodiade;" and "The Cork Leg," a gay Irish
ballad.