Lydia McMillan, now an elderly woman honored at the dedication of a charity institute in her name, is visited by four men from her past: Michael, Bob, Frank, and Richard. Their reunion sends her back forty years to the Boston of 1897, when she was a young debutante courted by all of them. The Lux Radio Theatre production stars Merle Oberon in the title role, with Edna May Oliver, Alan Marshall, Joseph Cotton, and George Reeves, and is adapted from the Alexander Korda film Lydia. The episode follows Lydia's romances, her grandmother's strict household, and her choices among her suitors, with Michael, the doctor's son, at its center. The broadcast was aired on September 22, 1941.
Characters: Lydia McMillan, Granny, Michael Fitzpatrick, Bob, Frank, Richard, James, Dr. Fitzpatrick
The transcript of “Lydia”, an episode of Lux Radio Theatre first broadcast September 22, 1941. Press a time to play from that line (a 60-second preview; Potato Plus plays it all). Lux Radio Theatre plays Lux Radio Theatre free, live around the clock. Search inside this transcript.
Transcript
Lux presents Hollywood. The Lux Radio Theatre brings you Merle Oberon in Lydia, with Edna May Oliver, Alan Marshall, Joseph Cotton, and George Reeves. Ladies and gentlemen, your producer, Mr. Cecil B. DeMille. Greetings from Hollywood, ladies and gentlemen.
In the words of the very sound philosopher, there's more than one way to skin a cat, and there's more than one way to find good drama for the Lux Radio Theatre. Ordinarily, we wait until a picture or stage play becomes a hit before selecting it for the air.
But we pick tonight's drama long before it became a hit. In fact, even before it became a drama. And for that we have to thank our evening star, Merle Oberon. At a rehearsal here many months ago, Merle told me the idea of a picture she was going to make.
An idea that sounded so good, I put in my radio bid the very next day. And that was even before the script was written. Under the practice production hand of Alexander Korda, the idea became the screenplay Lydia, which has just been released nationally.
It's already a hit on the screen, and that should be assurance. It'll be a hit over your loud speaker tonight, especially with Merle Oberon playing her original role, supported by four other members of the picture cast, Edna Mae Oliver, Alan Marshall, Joseph Cotton, and George Reeves.
Mrs. Miss Oliver's maiden voyage on this stage, and as one who gives a mental cheer every time she appears on the screen, I feel like giving her a 21 gun salute tonight. In this play, the lovely Lydia Macmillan makes her choice among four men who are in love with her.
…
There's a sasselbi de meil saying good night to you from Hollywood. Here is important news for those of you who live in communities not operating on daylight saving time. If you live in a community which does not operate on daylight saving time, you will hear this program beginning next Monday night, one hour later than here to four.
Alan Marshall appeared tonight through the courtesy of David O. Selznick Productions, Joseph Cotton through the courtesy of RKO, and George Reeves through the courtesy of 20th Century Fox. Heard in tonight's play where Jeff Corey is, Frank, Bruce Payne as James, and Dix Davis, Barbara Jean Wong, Verna Felton, Thomas Mills, You Know White, Stanley Ferrar and Ferdinand Munier.
Our music was directed by Lewis Silvers, and your announcer has been Melville Rooick. This is the Columbia Broadcasting System.
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