Lost Kids Radio: The Musical Rag Bag with Majorie Arnold on WSM Radio

The Musical Rag Bag, WSM Radio, May 1935 - c. 1936. 

Host. Majorie Arnold

The Hook (what makes this show interesting): A college student with no prior experience in radio stars in a hit kids show from of America's greatest radio stations. All that may exist today is a well staged press photo. 

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OCR (optical character recognition) the software that allows a computer to read text isn't perfect. It could not read the text in the charming photograph seen below of a young children's hostess for WSM Nashville radio. It was only by randomly perusing for children's programs in the "Radio Stars Junior" section of Radio Stars magazine that I found the image. 

Page from Radio Stars, October 1935, with Majorie Arnold at the piano. 

Majorie Arnold, (b. 1914) was a daughter of Vanderbilt University's law school dean and a student of Northwestern University's School of Speech and the Chicago Conservatory. While a senior at Vanderbilt, she was a star on some of WSM programs, including "The Musical Rag Bag" where she sang songs, recited poems and told stories embellished with sound effects and music. 

Billboard described the series as a rising "hit" on WSM's hands. From that May 1935 Billboard review and accounts in the Nashville Tennessean paper, the program was appealing to children and adults alike after just 2 weeks on the air. The photo of Arnold at the piano surrounded by dolls stuffed animals and a house with the name "Ruffles", makes one wonder if she had recurring characters who she told stories about, or assistance from other voice actors. This same image was used in the Tennessean.

Broadcasting a successful children's program from WSM was a big deal. Known as "The Aircastle of the South" WSM was and still is home to the "Grand Ole Opry". Its radio frequency range was powerful then and now so it is natural that the "Rag Bag" series was seen (or heard) in the same company as "Let's Pretend" and "The Singing Lady" in Radio Stars magazine.  More research is needed, but one can also ask if this was the first children's program from WSM. 

While at the station Marjorie Arnold met her husband Col. Edward M. Kirby (1906-1974) who was at the time an insurance sales executive and director for public relations at WSM. The Kirby's had a lasting legacy in radio. They relocated to Washington D.C. when Ed Kirby became director of public relations for the National Association of Broadcasters. It is assumed that "The Musical Rag Bag" ended prior to their move by the end of 1937. 

Among his many, many accomplishments, Col. Kirby was a Peabody award winning producer of Command Performance, Hymns For The Home, GI Jive, and The Army Show. The Kirbys later returned to Nashville where they established station WMAK (currently WNQM) in 1948. WMAK stood for Majorie Arnold Kirby

Marjorie Arnold Kirby passed away in Nashville in 2006 at the age of 92. It is hoped that scripts, scrapbooks, or even a single transcription disc may still exist of "The Musical Rag Bag". 

NOTES:

Untitled Section. page 10. (1935, May 26). Nashville Tennessean

"Station Notes" Billboard, May 25, 1935. 

Obituary: Majorie A. Kirby, Crawford Funeral Home, 2006 - https://www.crawfordservices.com/obituary/57871  

Young Hollywood (1927), A Lost Madeline Brandeis Production

 

Eileen O'Malley daughter of Pat O'Malley and Eric Von Stroheim Jr. in a scene from "Young Hollywood". Image from Motion Picture News, April 22, 1927. 

"Young Hollywood" (1927) produced and directed by Madeline Brandeis

Starring: Eileen O'Malley, Eric Von Stroheim Jr., Billy Reid, Barbara Denny, Mike McCoy, George Bosworth, Tim Holt, and Mary Jo Desmond.

Madeline Brandeis (1897-1937) was a prolific author and producer of books and films about and featuring children. She is still a revered figure in the early history of women filmmakers. Nearly all of the films she produced featured children as the primary cast members. In 1927 she made a two-reel comedy short which might still be considered a novelty in 2023. 

“Young Hollywood” starred the children of well known Hollywood stars of the silent era. Eileen O'Malley (1917-1988) was the daughter of Pat O'Malley. Eric Von Stroheim Jr. (1916 - 1968), was named for his famous director father. "Billy" Reid was the son of the late Wallace Reid, and he was usually credited as Wallace Reid Jr (1917 - 1990).  Reginald Denny's daughter Barbara (1916 - 1948) was also in the cast with Hobart Bosworth's son George. 

Jack Holt would become just as famous, or more so than his father action legend Jack Holt. Tim McCoy's son Mike McCoy was also in the short, but credited in some sources as "D'Archy" McCoy.

Mary Jo Desmond (Walser) (1919 – 2014) was a daughter of William Desmond "King of the Silent Serials" (not to be confused with slain director William Desmond Taylor). Mary Jo was probably the last surviving star of the film. She co-starred with her father and Lon Chaney Jr. in the 1932 serial “The Last Frontier”. 

Also in the cast was child actress Nancy McKee. McKee had appeared in other child comedies in the 1920s. Very little is known about her today, esepcially if she was the daughter of another actor. 

Based on reviews of the time, the short was appealing. It is listed in many papers as part of children's matinees.

In an interview in Screenland Magazine Mrs. Brandeis described how Young Hollywood came to be. "It seemed to me a great idea to use the children of stars in a film. I knew that it would be impossible to get them through casting directors, but I knew their parents, so I suggested that it might be fun to have them work during the holidays. Then they needn’t miss school and they'd have the experience".

“We rented space at the Metropolitan Studios, where no other company was working, which was a very good thing since my small actors were all over the

place. Their parents evidently trusted me for only one mother appeared on the set —mothers are usually the curse of the director!'—‘Darling, what's the matter?— She doesn’t want to play with the doll, she'd rather have the engine!’ and ‘Laugh, lover—show Mrs. Brandeis your dimples!’ or ‘Couldn't you let Gertie do the big scene. She's much cleverer than Elizabeth!’ —Just a sample of the screen mother at times!"

Of the completed film Brandeis remarked, "The picture was a great success and the happiest engagement I ever had.”

According to IMDB, Robert Thornby (1888 - 1953) was the director of at least 96 films in the silent era, Young Hollywood being his very last. 

It is too bad Young Hollywood can not be seen today. Or, even the concept of having a film starring a cast of actor’s children has never been duplicated in nearly a century (not counting teen flicks).

Even more tantalizing, the Screenland article claimed that two sequels. "The Young Visitor" and "The Young Visitor Among the Stars". Even less is known about these films today.

The Radio Adventures of Jean Derby

"The Adventures of Helen and Mary" (1929-1934) was the CBS children's radio series that eventually became the Peabody award winning "Let's Pretend" (1934-1954) under the direction of Nila Mack. The program depicted the two little girls as they had fantasy adventures with characters enacted by adults. 

Estelle Levy (later Gwen Davies) and Jean Derby from "What's On The Air" magazine, 1930.

In most published histories Helen was Estelle Levy (later "Gwen Davies", the late Gwen Greenhaus d. 2022). Mary is usually listed as Patricia "Pat " Ryan (1921-1949), often called CBS's first child star. Both actresses would crossover when the series became "Let's Pretend", with an all juvenile cast. However, in some of the early publicity articles for "Helen and Mary", the first Mary was a little girl named Jean Derby. In one article Ryan was Helen and Derby was Mary. Not much is printed about Jean except that she was 9 years old in 1930 and starred in other radio programs directed by Yolande Langworthy (real name Frances Reade, 1892-1976) the head of CBS children's programs (1928-1930) who proceeded Nila Mack.

Jean Derby from Radio Revue, February 1930.

Jean Derby was also in the cast of the CBS Sunday morning series "The Land O' Make Believe" (often confused for "Let's Pretend") also starring Langworthy, child actress Winifred Toomey, and Pat Ryan. She also acted in "Littmann's Mountainville True Life Sketches", a dramatic small town series with a mostly child cast also directed by Langworhty, and sponsored by Littman's clothing stores. In the premiere broadcast of October 14, 1929, she was cast as "Fatty Jinks" a "little darky girl". It is unknown if this was a recurring character, and if Derby played other parts. 

In 1927 - 1928 New York radio listings Langworthy was also a contralto singer on station WSGH. Also in the listings for that station in 1928 was a program called "Jean Derby, reader". While it could be a coincidence, it would be interesting if Derby had her own program at about 7 or 8 years of age. There are accounts of children as young as 2 reading and singing on local radio stations in the 1920s. 

In New York census records, there was a Jean Derby born in 1921 with a father named John and a mother named Rita. From genealogical research, I believe Derby married in her 20s, and passed away in 1995. It is still unconfirmed if I have absolutely found the right person, so I am not publicly sharing what I believe her name was at the time of death. All references to Derby in radio end after 1930. I hope to find more sources referencing her brief career in radio.

If you have more information about Jean Derby, please leave a comment, or email archivebuilder@gmail.com with "Jean Derby" as a subject heading.

Juvenile Mystery Collection 004: Building A Donald J. Sobol Collection

This year is the 60th anniversary of the famed boy detective Leroy "Encyclopedia" Brown. Created by Donald J. Sobol (1924-2012) and first published in 1963, the Encyclopedia Brown mysteries remain in print for 21st century readers.

It has been fun finding and examining different editions of the series, especially first editions.

As a childhood fan, I was recently surprised to learn Sobol had created another juvenile detective, Angie. "Angie's First Case" may have been an unsuccessful first entry into a girl detective who had a police officer for a sister, similar to how Encyclopedia Brown helped his police Chief father.

Juvenile Mystery Collection 003 - Biff, Nancy, & Trixie

It has been nearly 5 years, but here is a another round of teen detectives that may have helped you pass the EOG reading tests.

Trixie Belden and the Happy Valley Mystery was the 9th adventure of the popular 13 year old detective. Published in 1962 it was the 3rd book written by "Kathryn Kenny" a Western Publishing nom de plume.

Hawaiian Sea Hunt Mystery was the 3rd of Grosset & Dunlap's Biff Brewster Adventures. Published in 1960, the series of 15 books were written by "Andy Adams" an in-house name shared by authors. Walter B. Gibson, Edward Pastore, and Peter Harkins.

The Scarlet Slipper Mystery was originally the 32nd adventure in the Nancy Drew Mystery Stories. Published in 1954, it was written by Charles Stanley Strong, under the Grosset & Dunlap house pseudonym "Carolyn Keene".

Howdy Doody at 75: Looking at 75 Significant Moments

Image from Howdy Doody Comics # 10, September 1951. Dell Comics

TV's legendary Howdy Doody Show premiered 75 years ago today (December 27 1947), as the Puppet Playhouse for NBC-TV Affliates. Howdy Doody is too significant a series to try to recognize in a single day. So, why not look at 75 key moments in the the series history across a years. Is this a realistic goal? Maybe, maybe not. Let's see where this research will be next December 27th.

Christmas Gems From The Golden Age of Radio

 

Before TV dominated the American home, radio provided all the beloved Christmas specials. It has been said that no broadcast was more eagerly awaited each year than Lionel Barrymore's annual Christmas day performance as Ebeneezer Scrooge (1934 - 1953). Presented here is a 30 minute adaptation from 1949, the 15th annual performance.

If you like Christmas movies....you will like old-time radio treats like this episode of Stars Over Hollywood. "Time For Christmas" is the story of a war widow and single mom (Anita Louise) who wants to keep Christmas for her little girl. Louise's leading man is a very young John Stephenson, best remembered today as the voice of Mr. Slate from The Flintstones. Hearing him in this radio drama shows his versatility as a voice actor.