''Family Skeleton'' is an American

old-time radio The Golden Age of Radio, also known as the old-time radio (OTR) era, was an era of radio in the United States where it was the dominant electronic home entertainment medium. It began with the birth of commercial radio broadcasting in the earl ...

serial drama In television and radio programming, a serial is a show that has a continuing plot that unfolds in a sequential episode-by-episode fashion. Serials typically follow main story arcs that span entire television seasons or even the complete run of ...

, "the story of a girl with a dark past and highly uncertain future." It was broadcast on CBS from June 8, 1953, to March 5, 1954. ''Family Skeleton'' focused on Sara Ann Spence and her problems. She became the "family skeleton" because she arrived at her home pregnant "with her marriage license obliterated by bloodstains" and could not prove her marital status. The sponsors were Sweetheart Soap, Prom Home Permanent and Toni Creme Rinse.

Personnel

Mercedes McCambridge Carlotta Mercedes Agnes McCambridge (March 16, 1916 – March 2, 2004) was an American actress of radio, stage, film, and television. Orson Welles called her "the world's greatest living radio actress." She won an Academy Award for Best Support ...

starred in the program. Others in the cast included

Parley Baer Parley Edward Baer (August 5, 1914 – November 22, 2002) was an American actor in radio and later in television and film. Despite dozens of appearances in television series and theatrical films, he remains best known as the original "Cheste ...

, Michael Ann Barrett, Tony Barrett,

Mary Jane Croft Mary Jane Croft (February 15, 1916 – August 24, 1999) was an American actress best known for her roles as Betty Ramsey on '' I Love Lucy'', Miss Daisy Enright on the radio and television versions of ''Our Miss Brooks'', Mary Jane Lewis on '' ...

, Dix Davis,

John Dehner John Dehner (DAY-ner) (born John Dehner Forkum, also credited Dehner Forkum; November 23, 1915February 4, 1992) was an American stage, radio, film, and television actor. From the late 1930s to the late 1980s, he amassed a long list of performan ...

, Sam Edwards,

Eddie Firestone Eddie Firestone (December 11, 1920 – March 1, 2007) was an American radio, television, and film actor who accumulated over 200 total credits during his performing career. Early life When he was 12, Firestone was in the cast of ''Wheatenavil ...

Frank Gerstle Francis M. Gerstle (September 27, 1915 – February 23, 1970) was an American character actor who appeared in supporting roles in numerous films, radio programs and TV shows following World War II. Biography Gerstle's notable appearances inc ...

, Robert Griffin,

Bill Idelson Bill Idelson (August 21, 1919 – December 31, 2007) was an actor, writer, director and producer widely known for his teenage role as Rush Gook on the radio comedy ''Vic and Sade'' and his recurring television role as Herman Glimscher on ''The ...

, Byron Kane, Lou Krugman, Earl Lee,

Forrest Lewis Raymond Forrest Lewis (November 5, 1899 – June 2, 1977) was an American actor of the theater, radio, motion pictures and television. Early years Lewis was born in Knightstown, Indiana, the son of Joseph Saint Lewis and Myla Leota Lewis ...

, James McCallion, Kate McKenna, Howard McNear,

Marvin Miller Marvin Julian Miller (April 14, 1917 – November 27, 2012) was an American baseball executive who served as the executive director of the Major League Baseball Players Association (MLBPA) from 1966 to 1982. Under Miller's direction, the players ...

, George Neise,

Jeanette Nolan Jeanette Nolan (December 30, 1911 – June 5, 1998) was an American actress. Nominated for four Emmy Awards, she had roles in the television series '' The Virginian'' (1962–1971) and ''Dirty Sally'' (1974), and in films such as ''Macbeth'' ...

, Jay Novello, Ruth Perrott, Ken Peters, George Pirrone,

Alice Reinheart Alice Reinheart (May 6, 1910 – June 10, 1993) was an American actress, best known for her work in old-time radio. An article in the September 1940 issue of Radio and Television Mirror magazine described her as "pert, vivacious, beautiful and ...

, Janet Scott, Marilyn Steiner,

Russell Thorson Russell Thorson (October 14, 1906 – July 6, 1982 ) was an American actor, perhaps best known for his co-starring role as Det. Lt. Otto Lindstrom in ABC's 1959–1962 hit crime drama, '' The Detectives Starring Robert Taylor''. Backgro ...

Les Tremayne Lester Tremayne (16 April 1913 – 19 December 2003) was an English actor. Early life Born in Balham, London, he moved with his family at the age of four to Chicago, Illinois, where he began in community theater. His mother was Dolly Trema ...

, David Vail, and Ben Wright. Charles Lyon was the announcer. Carlton E. Morse, who created ''Family Skeleton'' specifically for McCambridge, produced the program and wrote its scripts. Ron Lackmann, in his biography of McCambridge, described the show as being "loosely based on Morse's immensely successful ''One Man's Family'' program." Sidney Marshall also wrote for the show. Jack Johnstone was the director.

References

{{Reflist 1953 radio programme debuts 1954 radio programme endings 1950s American radio programs CBS Radio programs American radio dramas American radio soap operas

Personnel

See also

References