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| Image of "Little Red Riding Hood" WCKY star from What's On The Air magazine June 1931 |
There are many interesting finds when searching old radio magazines for yesterday's children's shows. The "Little Red Riding Hood" radio program from station WCKY is just one of them.
Jeanne Ellis (originally named Jean Barber) (c. 1925 - 2007) was a radio child prodigy who became more famous for her time with Paul Whiteman's band around 1937. She began her radio career at age four singing for station KNOX. By age six she was cast as Little Red Riding Hood for Covington, Kentucky station WCKY (W, C, KY...get it) beginning about 1931.
According to the June 5, 1931 issue of Radio Dial, many people could not believe a child so young was the star of a radio program and could have such a singing range. A publicity photo of the little girl was published to dispel any doubts.
Exact contents of the "Red Riding Hood Kiddie Klub" are unknown, asides from little Jeanne
s singing. The program was reportedly so popular that the little girl's sixth birthday party held at a theater attracted over 5,000 children. While the program seems to have drawn a lot of promotion and attention, it is not know if it aired after September 1931.
Bibliography:
"Child Prodigy to be heard; got start over WCKY" The Cincinnati Enquirer, Sun. Sept. 12, 1937
Rayno, Don. 2003. Paul Whiteman: pioneer in American music. Lanham, Md: Scarecrow Press.
