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.

Children's Comics 008: Tizzie's Thanksgiving Dinner

From Polly Pigtails November 1948, this is a humorous story with their recurring comic star Tizzie.

FCC

An ad for a Tizzie marionette from the same issue.

The Lost Adventures of Breezy Eason Jr.

Born 108 years ago today, (November 19, 1914) was child actor "Breezy" Reeves Eason Jr. "Universal's Littlest Cowboy". Named Barnes Reeves Eason Jr., at birth, he was the son of serial and action film director B. Reeves Eason Sr. (1886-1955) and actress Jimsy Maye (1893-1968).

Image from Wikimedia Commons

After starring in a dozen films, mostly westerns for Universal Studios directed by his father, Eason  Jr. was tragically killed from injuries sustained in an accident involving a runaway truck outside the family home in 1921 at the age of six. He reportedly died at a hospital with his parents and actor Harry Carey at his bedside. 

After learning about this story, I always think about Breezy Jr when I watch "The Phantom Empire" (1935) Undersea Kingdom "(1936) and other cliffhanger serials directed by Breezy Sr.

Oakland Tribune, October 26, 1921.

Profile article on the Eason family. From Moving Picture Weekly, December 18, 1920.

Of the twelve** films Eason Jr starred in, none of his westerns have survived; at least as far as my research has shown. Unless otherwise stated all of the films listed below were directed by his father B. Reeves Eason Sr. If found, his complete filmography would be in the public domain today. BOLD = Extant

Gold and the Woman** (1916) - A Fox Films Drama starring Theda Bara. Breezy Jr's role was minor. This was on of hundreds of films lost in the infamous Fox Vault Fire in 1937. 

Nine-Tenths of the Law (1918) - A drama of the Northwoods that also co-starred his father B. Reeves Eason Sr. 

The Kid and the Cowboy (1919) - In this western film, serial hero and rodeo champion Art Acord played Breezy Jr.'s father. Universal Film Co. 

The Thunderbolt (1919) - Dir. Colin Campbell. A drama starring Katherine MacDonald and Thomas Meighan. Eason Jr. plays their son. 

Two Kinds of Love (1920) - This was the last film to star actress Jimsy Maye a.k.a. Mrs. B. Reeves Eason Sr and Breezy Jr's mother. She also co-starred with her son in "Nine-Tenths of the Law". 

The Prospector's Vengeance (1920) - A western short starring Pat O'Malley. 

The Texas Kid [a.k.a. "His Nose in the Book"] (1920) - Hoot Gibson stars in this western short, with Breezy Jr. as "Bobby Carson"/

Pink Tights (1920) - A melodrama starring Jack Perrin as a local minister who aids a circus performer. Breezy Jr. has a supporting role as a boy named Johnny Bump. 

The Lone Ranger (1920) - This short film starring Leo D. Maloney has nothing to do with "that masked man"

Blue Streak McCoy (1920) - Harry Carey is the cowboy this time. Another child star legend from the time Ben Alexander is also in this film. Alexander was later Sgt. Frank Smith on "Dragnet". 

Guthrie, (Guthrie OK) Daily Leader, April 22, 1921

The Big Adventure (1921) - Of all his lost films, this is the one that I wished would resurface today. Eason is the lead in a story of Patches an orphan who runs away from his cruel stepfather. His adventure with his dog leads to a kind hearted woman who is the sister of judge in a small town. 

The Fox (1921) - Teamed up with Harry Carey again as the boy "Pard" to the hero who turns out to be a government agent. Directed by Robert Thornby. 

Sure Fire (1921) - A western directed by John Ford and starring Hoot Gibson. His last completed film It was released to theaters a few weeks after Eason's death, on November 5th, 1921. 

The 1920 drama "Pink Tights" may be his only available film today. A print was found in the Danish Film Institute. It is available online via YouTube and "Silents Are Golden" Channel with restored English subtitles. 

Further research on the life of B. Reeves Eason Jr. will go into his impact on children who saw him on the big screen just a little over a century ago. He was a boy whose father was a director, his mother an actress, and who bonded with Harry Carey and other movie heroes of the time. On can imagine that many boys and girls of the time imagined themselves in his shoes. 

Fort Worth Star-Telegram

 08 May 1921

Information about the existence of these films comes from SilentEra.com. If this information is incorrect and you know of surviving prints of these films, please leave a comment, or write to archivebuilder@gmail.com with "Breezy Eason" in the subject header. 

** Only Wikipedia claims that Eason Jr. had a role in 1916's "Gold and the Woman" His IMDB filmography begins with "Nine-Tenths of the Law".